Chapter 10
Brian
By the time we walk out to the front of our hotel, Katie is already idling in her car with Jacob in the passenger seat next to her. Mischief is painted all over her face, and I stare at her, trying to convey, “Don’t you dare say anything about Celia and me.”
So, of course, as soon as we walk up to the car, she starts giggling and says, “Sleep well last night?” She raises one ginger eyebrow in challenge.
Jacob starts making kissing noises, and Cee chuckles lowly.
“Knock it off, you two,” Celia says with a smirk, but she doesn’t deny anything.
Already, I can feel my cheeks going molten as Celia and I climb into the back seat of the car.
“So what’s this big brunch we’re going to?” Celia asks. “Because I would have been just fine with room service.”
“I just bet you would,” Katie says with a giggle. Celia kicks the back of her seat. “Fine, fine. I’m not totally sure. Amelia called me this morning and wanted us to meet her at the Huddle House. Said she had something important to tell us.”
“Do you think she’s pregnant?” Celia gasps. “Katie, do you think you’re going to be an aunt?”
Katie’s eyes widen with an unhinged sort of frenzy. “My brother a dad? I didn’t even think of that.” She giddily taps her hands on the steering wheel, then picks up speed.
I watch the volley between my two best friends, and a smile sneaks across my lips. I ease back into the seat, finding comfort in their predictable banter. And, I admit, I kind of hope Amelia is pregnant. Not only would that be exciting for Katie, but that would take the attention off of Celia and me.
As if sensing what I’m thinking, Celia sneaks her hand across the seat and over mine. She squeezes gently, and I glance up at her, my dark hair falling across my eyes. Her warm smile lights up her face, snagging my heart and burying it even more deeply in the palm of her hand. I squeeze back. It feels almost sneaky, sitting in Katie and Jacob’s back seat holding hands like this.
When we pull into the Huddle House parking lot, my stomach flutters in anticipation. Of what? I’m not entirely sure, but this feels special somehow. As we exit the car, Celia clasps my hand, holding it in public for everyone to see. The piranhas that have taken up residence in my stomach start gnawing more fiercely.
Glancing at our linked hands, Katie cheers, “I knew it!” pumping her fist. “I called it, didn’t I, Jay?”
“I think everyone called it Katie,” he chuckles. “But yes, you were certainly their biggest cheerleader.”
I start to let go of Celia’s hand in embarrassment, but she clasps it tighter and pulls me forward, ignoring them both. We stride into the diner, hand in hand. I feel proud that she’s publicly claimed me like this, so I straighten my spine as we walk in and squeeze her hand a little more tightly. As we enter, I look around for Amelia and freeze.
There, at a big table in the middle of the small restaurant, sit Amelia and Rhett surrounded by Ceila’s entire family. Her parents are there, as are all four of her siblings. What in the world is going on? I feel her lock up beside me and turn to look at her. Confusion darts across her face, followed by a wave of uncertainty.
“Celia Faustina!” Her mother cries, jumping up from the table and running to her.
She wraps her daughter tightly in a hug and squeezes. I try to let go of her hand, but she only hangs on tighter. When her mom releases her, she turns to me, a wide grin spreading across her round cheeks.
“Brian, my dear,” she says delightedly. Her arms wrap around me.
Katie, Celia, and I spent most of our nights in high school bouncing between our houses. And I know Mrs. Martinez and Celia’s siblings like my own family. When she pulls back from our hug, she places a hand on my shoulder and another on Celia’s, before declaring. “It’s about time, my little lovebirds.”
My battle with keeping my embarrassment at bay is in shambles. My dignity litters the floor like it just got hit by an F5 tornado. I immediately look down.
“And what of it?” Celia demands defiantly.
“Come now, baby. Don’t be like that. We are happy for you both. Come, sit, sit,” she encourages.
“Is this some sort of elaborate event so that we have to tell my whole family we’re together?” Celia angrily whispers to Katie.
Katie loses all color as she shakes her head no. “Of course not, Cee. I’d never do that. Amelia told me we all needed to be here this morning but didn’t tell me why. I swear.”
I believe our friend. She loves us both, and while she’s impulsive, Katie would never do anything she thought might hurt us. Amelia jumps up and runs over to us, cheeks dimpling.
“It’s so good to see you both,” she says, hugging us. “Come, sit down. Breakfast is paid for by the Chamber of Commerce.”
“What the hell is going on?” I whisper to no one in particular. The last time I checked, we were disqualified from last night’s race. If anything, we should be staying far away from the race administrators.
We take our seats in the vintage chairs, inhaling the grease that hangs in the air of the old diner.
“So,” Amelia starts, excitement practically leaping out of her body. “I brought you all here today to share some exciting news.”
“You’re pregnant!” Katie shouts.
Everyone around the table turns to look at Amelia and Rhett. Rhett is scarlet and staring at Amelia like she just punched him in the chest.
“No!” Amelia spits out. “Why would I invite Celia’s family here if I was telling you I was pregnant?”
Katie shrugs but doesn’t apologize.
Celia’s mom makes a gurgling choking sound. I leap up, ready to perform the Heimlich maneuver and realize that she is not, in fact, choking. No, she’s crying.
“Celia!” she gasps through tears. “You’re pregnant, aren’t you?” She sobs again and wraps her daughter in a tight embrace.
“Mom, no!” Celia declares. “I’m not…”
“It’s okay, baby. We would welcome any child into this family. And I know Brian will be an excellent father.”
I choke on the sip of water I just took. Jacob thumps me solidly on the back as I sputter and gasp for air.
“Oh, I have always wanted to be a grandma! This little baby is going to have the best family and–”
“Mama!” Celia shouts. “For the love, calm down. I am NOT pregnant. Brian and I just started whatever this is between us. I repeat, there are no babies on the way. At least not out of my uterus.”
The whole restaurant falls silent, the sound of a fork hitting the ground the only thing that dares to break the tension.
“Then why are we all gathered here?” Mrs. Martinez asks, visibly upset that Celia is not carrying my child.
Amelia clears her throat, then tosses her long brown ponytail over her shoulder. She reaches into her purse and withdraws an envelope.
“I have some wonderful news,” Amelia presses on, determined to salvage this quickly devolving breakfast of false pregnancies.
“Maria,” she says, turning to Celia’s eighteen-year-old sister. “Congratulations are in order. Your portfolio submission is the winner of the Chamber of Commerce’s scholarship competition! Your entry packet was impressive. And, thanks to the support of our local businesses, we are awarding you a college scholarship for $50,000.”
The silence holds for a beat, and then the entire Martinez clan erupts with a mix of sobs, cheers, and clapping. My thundering heart eases a bit at the news. Maria sits in stunned silence as each family member claps her shoulder and hugs her. Celia sits beside me, unmoving. When I turn to her, I see tears tracking down her face.
She slowly turns to me. “I didn’t mess it up for her. With the race, I mean.”
I lean over and wrap my arm around her shoulder. I bend my head and whisper into Celia’s ear. “She didn’t need you to do it for her.” I brush my nose against the little hairs above her ear. “Because you showed her that there is always a path forward, one that she can make for herself.”
Celia leans against me, then stands and walks around the table to Maria. She bends down and wraps her arms around her sister, squeezing tightly. Maria clings to her, and the sisters remain like statues in the midst of the Huddle House chaos around them, tears scattering from long, dark lashes.