Chapter 3
CHAPTER
IT WAS BARELY nine-fifteen when I walked into the coffee shop Sunday. I’d gotten there early on purpose. My strategy was to be the first to arrive—then I’d get to watch them as they walked in, like they were the ones on display, rather than me.
I ordered a decaf latte and sat down. As I waited, competing voices in my head talked over each other.
Max says she wants to help—isn’t that a good thing?
Who cares what she thinks of you, anyway?
You don’t want to be with Max, and you don’t need to be her friend. So just meet her and get it over with and be on your way.
I didn’t have to wait long—a couple of minutes later, an attractive couple entered the Coffee Bean. I took a deep breath and steeled myself for whatever was about to happen.
First came Max, holding the door open for his girlfriend.
Whoa. I’d never seen him so dressed up. He wore a pair of pressed khakis, dark brown dress shoes, a blue and white checkered button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled to just below his elbows, and a navy blue tie.
His hair was slightly wet and combed flat and neat, and he wore a pair of stylish aviator sunglasses.
What looked like a brand-new, very expensive silver watch gleamed on his wrist, catching the sun.
His girlfriend sashayed in past him. She appeared charming and put-together, dressed in a bright floral sundress and a white cardigan.
Her chocolate-brown hair hung in curly waves down past her shoulders, held back with a thin headband.
Was that a diamond tennis bracelet on her wrist?
And a Birkin bag on her arm? She looked up at him with an adoring smile as the door closed behind them.
Jesus, could she look any more the part of a Stepford wife?
I looked down at my yoga pants, hoodie, and sneakers, and brushed a lock of unwashed hair that had escaped my ponytail out of my eyes, swallowing a bit of regret. This isn’t a competition, I reminded myself. It doesn’t matter what they think of you!
“Hi, Savannah.” Max smiled as they approached me. He took off his sunglasses and slid them into the breast pocket of his shirt.
I stood up awkwardly and gave as bright a smile as I could muster. “Hi.”
Madison’s arm was linked with Max’s, her face frozen in a smile.
“Savannah, this is Madison.”
“Hi, Savannah!” she said with cheerful force.
I felt my mind go blank as her perfectly straight, gleaming white teeth distracted me. I blinked. “It’s nice to meet you.” I gestured behind me at my table. “Um … do you want to join me? Or you probably want to get some coffee first, right?”
Madison turned to Max. “Sweetie, why don’t you get us a couple of coffees?”
“Sure, sweetheart. Savannah, can I get you anything?”
I held up my drink. “I’m good, thanks.”
Max got in line to order. The line was even longer than before, as the place filled with more Sunday morning patrons. Madison and I both watched him for a beat, then our eyes came together. “Let’s sit, shall we?” she said and took the seat across from me at the table.
I felt like I was about to give a job interview. This is so weird.
We were both silent for a moment, staring at each other. Is she going to speak first? Or should I? But what do I say? Then suddenly Madison let out a laugh.
“Sorry,” she said, covering her mouth. “It’s just—this is so weird, right?”
I laughed too, some of the tension in my shoulders loosening. “Yeah. Yeah, it is.”
“I can’t imagine what you must have been thinking, coming here today. Like—why does this girl want to meet me?”
I let out another nervous laugh. “To be honest, yeah.”
“Well, please don’t be nervous. I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable. It’s just, this is a crazy situation—for all three of us—and I just wanted to meet you, and tell you that you have nothing to worry about.”
I took a deep breath, feeling myself relax a tiny bit more. Well, so far, so good. She seems nice enough.
“I know this … pregnancy … isn’t something either of you expected or wanted,” she continued.
My cheeks colored. I made a noncommittal murmur.
Madison leaned forward and grabbed my hand, squeezing my fingers. “So … do you want to be a mother, Savannah? I mean, I can’t imagine how you must be feeling after such a huge surprise.”
I bit my lip, smiling sheepishly. “Yeah, definitely a shock, and I’m nervous, for sure. But yeah, I’m looking forward to being a mother.” I surprised myself as I realized, for the first time, that was actually true. I was looking forward to meeting my child.
For a second, Madison almost looked surprised, like that wasn’t the answer she’d expected.
“Really?” she said, tilting her head. “Wow. I mean, that’s so admirable.
If I were you—young, carefree—I’d be pretty bummed to leave the single life behind and be tied down to a world of pumping breast milk and changing dirty diapers! ”
I nodded with what I hoped was a brave smile. “Yeah, I’m sure it’s going to be difficult. But I think I’m up to the challenge.”
Madison pursed her lips in a polite smile, then leaned forward to grab my hand again. “Well, don’t you worry, Savannah—Max and I are here to help. Everything is going to be just fine. We’re happy to take care of the baby for you.”
My instinct was to smile and thank her, until I realized the way she’d phrased it—take care of the baby for me?
Stop being paranoid. She’s offering to help, so you don’t have to do it all alone! Remember, it could be so much worse!
I opened my mouth to say something, but Max was just arriving with two coffees. “How are we doing, ladies?”
“Oh, we’re just getting to know each other.” Madison smiled sweetly as he handed her one of the drinks. She took a sip, then her face pinched into a frown. “Oh, sweetie, is this skim milk? It doesn’t taste like skim milk.”
“Oh, shoot—I’m sorry, sweetheart.” Max looked chagrined. “Do you want me to get you a new coffee?”
She pursed her lips. “No, it’s fine,” she said, patting the chair next to her and gesturing for him to sit. She turned back to me. “So, have you picked out an obstetrician?”
“Uh, yes—my regular gynecologist, Dr. Quinlan, at the Women’s Care Clinic downtown. I’ve been seeing her since I first moved to the city.”
“Lovely! And when is the baby’s due date?”
“The doctor estimates November eighth.”
Madison clapped her hands like an excited child. “Oh, how wonderful! The baby will be here for the holidays!”
I smiled in wonder as I absorbed this new fact. Wow. By Thanksgiving, I’ll have a baby. “Yeah.”
Again, Madison leaned forward and took my hand tightly in hers. Why did she keep insisting on touching me? It was unnerving—we’d just met barely fifteen minutes before. “So, how have you been feeling?”
“Alright. I’ve been tired, and I felt a little queasy for the first time yesterday, but it hasn’t been too bad. I can’t complain, so far.”
“Well, I’m glad to hear that.” She paused, withdrawing her hand and looking me up and down.
“And just look at you. You’re so … pretty.
I can just tell you’re going to be one of those lucky pregnant women who just glows and stays tiny all over—everywhere except for your cute little basketball belly. ”
My cheeks flushed. I gave a short laugh, feeling the weight of her eyes on my body.
I shifted uncomfortably in my chair. I glanced at Max, but he was looking down at his hands, fidgeting with the clasp on his watch.
“I don’t know about that,” I said. “We’ll see, I guess. But that’s nice of you to say.”
“And after the baby comes, I’m sure you’ll bounce right back, and I bet you meet someone very special, in no time,” she continued. “Well, that is, unless … are you seeing anyone now?”
Max’s head popped back up at that question. My eyes darted back and forth between them. Feeling awkward and exposed, I reached up to tighten my ponytail.
“Uh … not currently, no.”
It may have been my imagination, but I thought I heard Max slowly let out a breath at my response.
Madison turned to look at him. An adoring smile spread across her face. “I just know Max is going to be a wonderful father.” He smiled back at her, then leaned in and gave her a slow, tender kiss. I averted my eyes and rooted around in my purse for my phone.
“Oh, hey, listen—I’m sorry to cut this short, but I do need to be getting on the road.” I stood up.
“Oh, of course,” Madison said. She and Max both stood up. “Max says you’re off to visit your mother. Where does she live?”
“About an hour outside the city.”
“Oh, really? Where?”
“Pleasanton, in the East Bay.”
“Ah, that’s nice. Well, it was lovely to meet you, Savannah. We have to get going too. My mother is coming into the city to meet us for brunch. My parents live in Sausalito.”
Sausalito is one of the most beautiful and wealthy communities on the Northern California coastline. That explains the tennis bracelet and Birkin bag, I guess.
“Well, I hope you have a great time.”
Max reached out and put a hand on my arm. “Thanks for coming, Savannah. We really appreciate it.”
As I made a move to walk away, Madison grabbed my arm tight, startling me. Her face held the same wide, frozen smile it had when she’d first entered the coffee shop. “I’d really like us to be friends, Savannah. I hope we can be.”
Wow. She’s eager.
I smiled back politely. “Thanks, Madison.” I put my sunglasses on and opened the coffee shop door. “Bye, now.”