Page 13 of Married to Lies

5 Rei

Present Day

With Jada and her newborn baby in the hospital healthy and safe, I took a few days off work to help get their house ready with her grandma, lovingly referred to as “Glamma” because of her obsession with fashion.

Since Twyla had come so early, there hadn’t been time to move into their new home and get ready like I knew Jada had hoped to do. Although everything was here and put together thanks to hired movers, there was still lots to do to make this house a home, ready for a new mom and baby.

Together, Glamma and I made sure the fridge was stocked with easy-to-make meals, the cadre of diapers and wipes were unwrapped and easily accessible, and Jada had a selection of comfortable clothes and pajamas freshly washed for recovering from childbirth. I also went through the kitchen, organizing the drawers and cabinets in a way the movers just couldn’t manage because they were doing a job for money and not for love.

Glamma’s main focus was baby Twyla’s outfits. Each one was freshly washed with gentle soap and hung up on the cutest, tiniest hangers known to man. She organized dozens of headbands for the baby, displaying them on a hanging rack like precious gems in a museum. The smallest of socks had been carefully folded, stuffing an entire dresser drawer to the brim. Glamma sat while she worked, every so often complaining of her aching knee between telling me enough stories to fill a book.

Finally, the two of us had run out of things to do, resting on the cushy living room couch while her second-favorite game show played on the TV. “I love Ru Paul, but does he have to make a joke about balls every episode?”

Glamma lifted the remote, muting it. “You ever think of having a baby?” she asked me. Like she was asking me if I liked mushrooms on my burgers.

“You know you’re not supposed to ask women that,” I told her with a side-eye. “It’s a sensitive subject.”

“Everything’s sensitive these days,” she grumbled, dropping the remote on the cushion beside her.

“You sound old,” I retorted.

“I am old,” she replied. Then paused. “Why’s it sensitive?”

“Some women can’t have babies,” I told her, eyes still on the TV. “They don’t want to feel pressured by someone to do something they can’t do. Or be reminded of a painful subject.”

She frowned, lines deepening around her mouth. “Some women? Or you?”

I raised my hands and dropped them on my lap in exasperation. “We’re getting personal I guess?”

“Everything’s personal—keep up!” She grinned mischievously.

I shook my head at her, holding back a smile. “It’s hard to think of having a baby knowing my mom gave me up.” My smile fell at the thought. No matter how old I got, that fact still hurt.

“Oh, sugar,” Glamma said, reaching out to squeeze my hand.

“Besides, I’m not sure anyone would want this DNA,” I only half-joked in an attempt to lighten the mood.

“Don’t be self deprecating. We both know you’re fabulous.” Then Glamma got a wolfish grin. “Swapping DNA can be the best part, if you know what I mean.”

I cackled. “I know what you mean.”

My phone vibrated with a message, and I picked it up to see who it was from. Some silly part of my brain hoped it was Mystery Man, even though I’d told him not to text me. Probably spurred on by Glamma’s suggestion about swapping DNA. But it was a message from Jada.

There was a picture of her and Bryce in the back seat of the car. I couldn’t see Twyla’s face, just the top of her head with a mop of short curly hair adorned with a pink, frilly headband.

Jada: On our way home!

I smiled, showing Glamma the photo. She pulled ruby-red reading glasses from the chain around her neck and held them to her eyes to read the message. She smiled warmly. “They’re so cute together.”

“I know.” Pushing up from the couch, I said, “We better get going. They’re on their way home, and I don’t want to overwhelm them with company.”

Glamma nodded her agreement. “I remember my mother-in-law wouldn’t leave me alone for weeks after my baby was born. I waited until I knew the baby had a good poop coming and went for a walk. One blowout was all it took for mother dearest to pack her bags and go home to Amarillo.”

I laughed loudly at the thought. “Mental note, wear waterproof clothes around here or keep my distance.”

Glamma tapped her nose, then pushed up on the chair, wincing as she straightened.

Trying to hide my worried look, I held up my phone and texted Jada back.