Tangled Emotions (Port Stella #4)

1. Chapter 1

Edith

18 years old

My stomach felt like I’d been on a tilt-a-whirl as I made my way to the kitchen. Mom sat at the table with a laptop and a stack of bills.

“Mom.”

She looked up and removed her glasses. “Edith.”

With a sigh, I moved over to the table and sat down. “I, uh, need to talk to you.”

She sat back. “How far along?”

“Wha …”

She sighed at me. “Edith. It’s one in the morning and you need to talk. How far along are you?”

I swiped at the lone tear making its way down my cheek and shrugged. “I don’t know. The test just showed positive.”

“Okay, we’ll get you in the doctors.” Her face remained neutral. “Does Greg know?”

“Not yet.”

“Do you want to keep the baby?” She cleared her throat and took a drink of her water.

“I know I’m eighteen and this isn’t the ideal situation …”

“Edith Rose Malone. That’s not what I asked.”

“Yes.” More tears spilled out onto my cheeks.

Mom gave a nod and got up from the table. “Then we’ll make a doctor’s appointment and go from there.”

“What’s wrong?” Dad walked into the kitchen. “Are you sick, Edie?”

Shit. All I wanted to do was have a talk with mom about this.

“Irv.” Mom shook her head.

I watched him look at her, then slowly turned his head back to me. “No.”

“Irv.” Mom’s eyebrows moved up on her forehead.

Outstanding. Now Dad knows.

Dad paced in the kitchen. “Does Greg know? Is that why he hasn’t been around?”

“I don’t know what’s up with him.” I reached for a napkin. “He’s been acting weird the last couple weeks.”

I don’t need you to be upset with me. I’m already beating myself up.

My oldest brother, Enoch, came into the kitchen from the back door. “What’s everyone doing up?”

“We live here.” Dad shook his head. “Why are you here?”

“I’m outta bread.” Big E shrugged. “The diner sold out, and I know mom always keeps a loaf or two here.”

“Let me understand this.” Dad’s foot tapped impatiently on the floor. “You still shop at home for food?”

“Irving!” Mom pushed up from the table and went over to the bread box, taking out a loaf. “He can have a loaf of bread.”

Big E looked over at me, his head tilted. “Edie?”

“Enoch, here’s the loaf.” Mom held it out, but he ignored her. She was doing her best to distract him, but he wasn’t having it.

“Edie?”

“Mother!” Evelyn came running into the kitchen, holding my pregnancy test. “I thought you said I was the last. No more babies!”

Can this get any worse?

“Shit.” I groaned and felt my brother’s gaze turn deadly.

“You’re pregnant?!” He roared, which brought our other brother into the kitchen.

Eugene looked between our parents and the hysterical Evelyn. “Edie’s pregnant?”

“Thank. God!” She covered her heart with her hand. “I knew mom was too old to get knocked up.”

“Evelyn Marie!” Mom lunged for her, dad caught mom and Big E’s eye twitched.

“I’m gonna fuckin’ kill him,”

“Dad! Big E said fuck!” Evelyn stomped her foot.

“Evie don’t say fuck!” Eugene reached for her and slapped a hand over her mouth. “Wait. Edith really is pregnant?”

“Oh yeah.” Big E’s nostrils flared as he turned and stormed back out. “I’m gonna kill that motherfucker!”

“Ew, Evie, stop licking my hand, that’s gross.” Gene rubbed his wet hand over her face and ran after Big E.

“Geno! Talk your brother down!” Mom yelled after him, and then spun to Evie. “Where did you learn such language. You don’t call it getting knocked up.”

“Well.” Evie shrugged. “Isn’t that what it is?”

“Irene.” Dad threw his hands up in frustration. “Where did we go wrong?”

“We didn’t.” Mom let out a barking laugh. “Evelyn. Go to bed.”

“I don’t get why I’m being yelled at.” Evie stomped from the room.

“Irv.” Mom ran her hands through her hair. “I might strangle your daughter.”

“Oh no. That’s Edie’s sister.” He chuckled.

All I wanted to do was talk to my mom. Alone.

“Um.” I shook my head. “She can be Big E’s sister tonight.”

Dad followed Evie out of the room. “C’mon, little bit, I’ll tuck you back in.”

Mom shook her head and went to the fridge getting the bottle of wine out. “How far along?”

“I don’t know.”

She came back to the table and sat beside me. “You’re eighteen and out of school. That doesn’t make this the ideal situation, but it does make it easier for you.”

“If you’re going to lecture me or ground me could you just do it?” I dropped my head on the table. “I already feel like a screw up.”

“Edith Rose.” She stroked my hair. “You’re anything but a screw up.”

I lifted my head and looked at her.

“You’ve always been my responsible child. Accidents happen.” She reached for my hand. “I’m not mad, but I am concerned. Eighteen is so young to be a mom.”

“How old were you when you had Big E?”

She drained her glass. “Eighteen.”

“Ah.”

“Did I think I would become a grandma at forty?” She snorted with laughter. “No.”

Dad came back into the room. “We also never expected having another baby six years after you.” He sat down on the other side of me. “And while your sister wasn’t planned, it never meant she wasn’t loved or wanted.”

Need to talk to Greg, make a doctor’s appointment, figure out my life.

“Why aren’t you yelling at me?”

“Well, Edith, there’s a time and a place for that. It’s not like you blew off work, or broke curfew.” Dad sighed. “You’re out of school, have a job and can legally move out if you want.”

“You want me to leave?” Tears ran down my face.

“No.” He wiped them away. “You’re my little girl. You’ll always be my little girl.”

“Let’s get through one day at a time.” Mom wrapped an arm around me, and Dad joined her. “How do you eat an elephant?”

I laughed and blew snot on the table. “One bite at a time.”

We sat there in silence until Gene came back. “He’s cooling off at home.”

“So no bail money needed?” Dad laughed. “At least for tonight.”

“Let’s get some sleep and we can handle things in the morning.” Mom stood up. “C’mon, Edie, I’ll tuck you in.”

I wanted to scream. I’m not a kid , but something about being tucked in made me feel like everything would be okay.

Morning sickness can kiss my fat ass.

I clung to the toilet as I dry heaved. None of my friends talked about this part.

Assholes.

When my stomach stopped revolting, I stood up and splashed some cold water on my face before brushing my teeth.

The doc said this part should settle down in about six more weeks, unless I was one of the unlucky women who had morning sickness the entire time.

That’s reassuring.

My cheeks were rosy, and I had bags under my eyes.

Real attractive.

There was a soft knock on the bathroom door and then Evie’s head poked in. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” I nodded and looked at her in the mirror.

“Last year when Mrs. Jordan was pregnant, she had ginger candy that she said helped.” She held her hand out, handing me a small bag. “I thought maybe they would help you too.”

Tears filled my eyes.

Damn these hormones.

“I didn’t mean to make you cry. Please don’t tell mom.” Her eyes were wide with fear. “She will kick my ass for upsetting you, and that’s not what I was doing. I swear I was trying to help.”

“Evie, I’m not mad.” I opened the door and pulled her into the bathroom for a hug. “This was really sweet. Thank you.”

“Whew.”

I laughed with my baby sister and felt relief. She might be an unhinged gremlin, but she’s our unhinged gremlin. “How do I look?”

“Really pretty.” She smiled. “Where’re you going?”

“I’m meeting Greg at the pub for lunch.”

“I don’t like him.” She scowled.

“He knows.” I gave her braid a tug. “Trust me.”

She harrumphed and left the bathroom. “You deserve better. Just sayin’.”

Honestly, I’m pretty sure everyone in Port Stella knew Evie didn’t hide her feelings.

I gave myself one last look in the mirror and then grabbed my purse and walked over to the Bearded Barrels Pub.

Paul manned the bar and Veronica waited tables. At the end of the bar sat Lucy, Charlie, and Baxter. They were dogs, and you’d think they were the owners.

Lucy howled at me as I made my way to an empty table and I motioned with my head for her to come join me.

“You’re not helping, Edie.” Paul shook his head.

“She’s the best worker here.” I tossed back and noticed Lori Barron and her stooges sitting at a table near the bathrooms.

Lori had been a pain in my ass through high school, calling me everything but a white girl because she had a crush on Greg.

Greg walked in a moment later, looking like he just sucked on a lemon. He made his way over to me and sat across, where he could see Lori.

Odd. But okay.

Lucy paused when she saw him and went back to the bar.

No kiss? No hug?

“How’s your day?” I smiled at him, expecting him to smile back.

“It’s been a day.” He grumped. “Are you ready to order?”

“Did I do something to piss you off?” I sat back in my chair and balled my hands up on my lap.

“No.” He sighed. “Look we need to talk. And I know we need to talk, but can we order food first?”

I shrugged. “Sure.”

Veronica came over with two waters. “Know what you want?”

He smiled at her as he spoke. “Sure thing, sweetness, I’ll have a burger and fries.”

What the hell?

Ronnie glared at him and then turned to me, smiling. “How about you?”

“Same.”

“I’ll get that in for you.” She walked away and then I heard Lori’s big mouth.

“Funny, she wants to eat here instead of where she works, but either way she’s still a lard ass.”

Anger flowed through my veins, and I felt my eyes narrow as I quietly spoke the words. “I’m pregnant.”

“Come again?” Greg’s eyes narrowed.

“You heard me.”

“What the fuck, Edie?”

“What do you mean, what the fuck?” I sat forward. “I sure as shit didn’t do this to myself.”

He pushed back from the table. “I need to piss.”

The scowl on my face made me feel ugly. Something felt off, and I couldn’t put my finger on it. Glancing over my shoulder, I noticed Lori had disappeared.

And then Evie flew by my table. “Aw, hell naw.”

I looked up at the bar to see Paul and Veronica trip on each other as they raced toward the bathrooms, which made me jump up and join them.

“You sick, disgusting, piece of poop!” Evie’s voice echoed in the hall. “My sister deserves better!” Greg dropped to the ground as she spun to Lori. “And you!” Lori shrieked as my sister shoved her against the wall. “If you ever call my sister anything but her name I’ll have Big E hold you down while I cut out your tongue!”

“Paul, fucking get her!” Greg grumbled.

“She’s moving too fast!” Paul snapped. “And she’s not wrong.”

“I don’t want to see either of your faces in That One Place ever again! We reserve the right to deny service and your service by my family is revoked!”

“You can’t do that!” Lori snapped.

“Oh, yes, she can.” I stepped up. “You are no longer welcome in that establishment.”

Evie kicked Greg in the stomach and then elbowed Lori. “Told ya.”

“Nor this one.” Paul finally wrapped his arms around the gremlin. “Easy baby girl.”

“Unhand me!” She struggled against him.

“Evelyn.” Big E’s voice filled the hall and Evie stopped struggling.

“I got him. And her.”

“That’s my girl.” He chuckled. “Let her go, Paulie, I got her.”

Paul released Evie, and she walked over to me. “I told you.”

“You are the best unhinged gremlin of a sister anyone could have.” I hugged her tight.

“Good. Let’s go home and have ice cream.”

Big E motioned for us to go, and I walked out of there with a smile. I had a feeling Greg would bail, but I didn’t see it ending like this.