Page 129 of The Trouble with Flings

“Don’t be silly, honey,” my mother says. “We’re just excited that we’ve gotten to spend some time getting to know Jennifer.”

I reach for Jennifer. “Are you okay, or did they terrorize you?”

“I’m fine,” she says with a laugh. “They’re amazing.”

“And we love her,” Margot says.

“So much,” Shelley adds.

“We were just telling Jen how we hope we’ll see a lot more of her this summer,” Gail says.

“You look so handsome, honey,” my mother says.

“I’m wearing a frog costume, Mom.”

“A frog prince, and you wear it beautifully,” Shelley says.

Gail nods. “It’s very fitting.”

Jennifer looks away, futilely trying to stifle a laugh.

“But you must be hot. Let’s get you out of that thing.” My mother moves behind me to unzip the costume, and suddenly all four of them are peeling it off me, straightening my shirt, and fixing my hair.

I put my hands up, stepping out of their reach. “Okay, what is going on?”

“Nothing,” they say in unison.

“We just love you, honey,” my mother says.

“I love you, too, but you ladies haven’t paid this much attention to me since the time I broke my arm when I was a kid. What is going on? Did you tell Jennifer all of my embarrassing stories?”

“Yes!” my mother says. “You caught us.”

“Can’t get anything past this guy,” Shelley says.

“Handsome and smart. What a catch!” Lenore adds.

Crossing my arms, I look between them. Something’s off. I just can’t place it. I glance at Jennifer. “Should I be worried about…this?”

“No,” the ladies exclaim in unison.

Jennifer’s smile breaks free, as apologetic as it is adorable. “I told them that I’m…that we’re…They know about the baby. I’m sorry. It just came out.”

It takes me a second to process what she said. My mother and the others look like they want to burst. I drag a hand down my face and shake my head. “Remind me never to trust any of you with state secrets.”

Relief floods Jennifer’s face so fast, it nearly levels me. She lifts her chin and says, “It’s not totally my fault. A dragonfly is partially responsible.”

“Our lips are sealed,” my mother says.

“We won’t tell a soul,” Lenore adds.

“Promise,” Shelley and Gail say.

Jennifer is watching me, worrying her hands. “Are you upset?”

“Hell no. I’m elated!” I pull her into a hug. “It’s been torture keeping this secret from everyone when I want to shout it from the rooftops.”

“Oh, Fitz, honey, this is the best news,” my mother says with hushed excitement, and throws her arms around me.