Page 39 of Peach Cobbler Confessions
“You’re welcome.” She makes a face at my tummy. “And if you want people to stop thinking you’re having a litter, I’d recommend scaling back on the donuts.”
I suck in a quick breath, but before I can reprimand her for the slight, Collette Jenner appears in a spray of pink and blue stars, holding a donut.
“It’s nice to see the dead have a sense of humor.”
The redhead chortles. “I thought it was a nice touch.” She peers over my shoulder and tsks. “I wouldn’t leave those two men alone with that piranha. Come on, girls. We’re going in.”
“Not me.” Carlotta cinches her purse over her shoulder. “If I’m not around, one of your baby daddies might just foot the bill for my new ride. After all, I’ll be driving Junior to and from soccer practice.”
“Oh, you will not,” I say. “And they’re not paying for your car.”
“Fine,” Carlotta smarts. “Call me when it’s time to cut a check. I’ll be at the vending machine.” She trots off, and Collette and I head on into the office.
Everett pulls up a seat for me, and I land right between him and Noah.
Jade looks up at me from over her glasses.
“Well, I’ve got good news, Lottie. These two men saved both you and your mother a fortune. You’ve got quite the negotiators on your side.” She squints over at the two of them. “I’m sorry, which of you is her husband?”
“That would be me.” Everett’s chest expands with pride.
Collette grunts, “I leave him alone for one minute and he decides he’s the marrying kind.”
“Congratulations to the two of you.” Jade sheds a quick smile our way before getting back to the paperwork at hand. “When’s the baby due? I’m sure the two of you are thrilled.”
“Actually”—my mouth contorts—“I’m not really sure when the baby is due. I haven’t seen anyone about it yet.” Not quite true. I did see someone about it and they saiditdidn’t exist. A thought hits me. “And we’re not sure who the father is.” I shrug. “It could be either of these guys.”
Her jaw comes unhinged as she inspects the three of us.
Collette chortles up a storm. “That look on her face is priceless. You’re going to have to get used to it, Lottie. You’ll have people looking at you that way for the next nine months or so.”
I make a face over at the perky poltergeist.
Wait? Didn’t I already tell Collette that this baby is just a figment of Carlotta’s imagination and a case of bad gas? Oh well, there’s always later. If Keelie knew my memory was being tested, she’d swear I had what she calls baby brain. Keelie says she can’t remember anything. She walks around in a fog all day.
“You don’t know who the father is?” Jade wrinkles her nose my way. “Really?”
“Really.” I nod and Noah lifts his brows as if I had just amused him. “Men can be so complicated. Relationships can be so complicated. Anyway, I was with Noah first, then Everett, then Noah, and now I’m back with Everett. And well, now there’s a baby involved. I guess I wasn’t being as careful as I thought. But it’s happening and they’ve both stepped up to the plate.”
Jade leans in. “Oh my goodness. So when will you know who the father is?”
Noah nods. “When it’s born. I’ve looked into it.” He shrugs my way. “There is a procedure that allows you to find out before the baby arrives, but there’s a risk involved and I don’t think either Everett or I want to risk anything.”
“Good idea,” Everett agrees. “Better safe than sorry, Lemon.” He turns to Jade. “Did you and Dane ever think about marriage or children?”
Beautiful transition. I nod his way and give a pat to his knee to reward him.
Jade takes a breath. “Dane was a good guy deep down. He just had a very hard time being faithful.”
Collette bubbles with laughter. “You’re telling me. I was usually the girl he was cheating with.” She blows me a kiss as she says it.
Wonderful. The touch of pride she infused it with was the icing on the cake.
Noah frowns. “Lottie can commiserate. Everett is a virtual playboy.”
Collette is right back to giggling, but I choose to ignore her ghostly titter.
Everett looks to Noah. “Not anymore. I’m a one-woman man, and this woman is it for me. Nice try, Fox.”