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“Well, you did add some things to the menu, dear.”
“I did, didn’t I?” Shaking her head, she flicked her gaze over to Grams. “Why’d I do that?”
“You tell me.” Smirking, she sorted through the bag of foodstuffs. “Just a year ago I was teaching you how to bake a pie, and look at you now.”
“Ice water. The trick to a perfect crust.”
“That’s right.” Grams subtly nodded, a smile coming onto her face.
“Seems like only yesterday, and like forever ago.”
“Time is funny that way.” Her smile turning wistful, she tucked a lock of butter-blonde hair behind her ear. “Just yesterday Tanner was born, then I blinked, and he’s turning twenty-three.”
“Day after tomorrow.” At least his birthday cake didn’t have to compete with pumpkin pie this year. Arien got everything she needed to make him his favorite—white chocolate with pistachios.
“I swear, the older you get, the faster time flies.” Turning around, Grams leaned back against the black granite counter and sighed. “We seem to mark its passage by the milestones of those who come after us. One of these days you’ll understand my meaning.”
“I think maybe I already do.” Unbidden tears filling her eyes, Arien’s gaze went to the baby, fast asleep in his swing. “Benjamin’s this reminder of how long my mom’s been gone. Almost six months already. I hate that in my mind, his birth will always be tied to her passing.”
“As it must be for Matthew, too. I remember how he would get sad when the boys’ birthdays came around. Same goes for John Jacoby, I imagine.” Grams drew her in for a hug. “I’m not saying you’re ever going to forget, because you won’t, but life has a way of giving us our joy back. You’re always going to miss her, Arien, but as time passes it won’t hurt as much, and one day you’ll see Benjamin as a reminder she’s still here with you.”
Maybe.
She wanted to believe that, see it that way. But right now the wound was too new, the pain too fresh, to imagine when that day might come. She had dreams of her mom that were so vivid and real, she’d wake up forgetting she was gone. Arien would go down to the kitchen, expecting to see her sitting there with her coffee, and upon finding it empty, she’d remember.
Grams began emptying another bag. Kellan’s body wash. Her shampoo…
Oh, shit.
Shit, shit, shit.
…a pregnancy test.
“I think this is yours, dear.” Like she was passing her a tube of toothpaste, Grams handed her the box.
She’d meant to slip it into her purse. “Yeah, thanks.”
“How late are you?”
Arien chewed on her cuticle. “Ten days.”
Grams embraced her once more. Holding Arien’s head on her shoulder, she smoothed the hair down her back. “See, what did I tell you? Life has a way.”
Two pink lines.
Not that she was surprised. Her period came every month like clockwork. She’d never been late before. Not once.
Arien brushed her teeth, misted her face with thermal spring water before slathering it with moisturizer, and exhaled. She knew Kellan and Tanner would be thrilled about the baby, and she was too, but she wasn’t sure how to tell them. Because it should be a special moment, right? Should she casually blurt it out? Can I have the popcorn? Oh, by the way, I’m pregnant. Leave the stick on the table and let them make the discovery themselves? Ewww, but I peed on it.
“What’s takin’ you so long in there?” Kellan asked from the other side of the door. “C’mon, baby cakes, the movie’s all queued up.”
“Keep your britches on.” They were going to watch National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. It was Tanner’s favorite holiday movie. “I’ll be out in a minute.”
“We got snacks.” He poked his head through the door and winked. “And just so you know, these britches are comin’ off.”
She didn’t doubt it for a second.
Kicked back on the sofa, munching on Chex Mix, her husbands waited for her, the opening credits of the movie frozen on the big TV screen. Taking her place between them, they settled in closer, cuddling up to her on either side. Tanner reached for the remote.
