Page 64 of Wild Card (Men of Action #4)
WILLOW
You did it, Willow.
It’s done… At least for today.
Small victories.
Now I wait…
As if waiting for any scrap of news from Talon wasn’t enough, now I have five days of nerve-wracking torment before knowing if my career as a Physical Therapist is a reality.
Discovering I’m going to be a mom put things into perspective.
I mean, my life was already turned on its axis, so why not keep things hopping?
Pushing up my exam date seemed like a good idea.
It gave me enough incentive to keep my mind busy.
Almost…
I didn’t take into consideration the waiting game that comes along with the results.
Nor the pressure of harboring two very large secrets.
Bex and Lucas will understand my rash decision once they know my situation.
It’s about planning my future.
If I don’t pass the exam, my job offer could be rescinded, and then there needs to be an alternative until I can retake the test.
Only, there is no contingency plan.
And I’m at a loss.
Another point of irony in this world that has become my life. Months ago, I was kinda a loner. Even though I refused to admit it because there was my family, Bex and Lucas, and work.
Now my social calendar is jam-packed, my circle of friends is bursting, and I’m possibly engaged.
And yet, loneliness hangs heavy.
The one person I want to talk to is traipsing through a jungle, staking out illegal smuggling rings, bringing down cartels, or something else no one can tell me.
Captain fucking America… with a gun instead of a shield.
There’s no way I can go back to the house. I’m too wired. The chance of running into any of the girls is a possibility. Jewls mentioned Ronnie and the ladies bringing the boys to the pool this afternoon.
Ronnie is sly, but Janice scares me. The woman can pick up on everything.
The last thing I need is to spill my guts to a bunch of Nosey Netties.
I’ll drive around for a bit to loosen up, let the anxiety of the test simmer down.
Or go shopping… except the last time I did that, it cost me over four hundred dollars, an unpleasant encounter with my ex, and ended up with a life-altering discovery.
Maybe see a movie… what is even playing?
I pull out of the parking lot, racking my brain for places to go.
Speaking of Nosey Netties, my phone rings and I inwardly groan.
Time for her daily ‘check in on Willow’ call.
“Hey, Grandma,” I greet her with the most cheery voice possible.
“Are you okay?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Because you sound like one of those robotic women on Wisteria Lane. Those women are always hiding secrets.”
God, I almost forgot about her newfound obsession with Desperate Housewives .
“I told Grandpa to cancel your Netflix membership.”
“He’d better not. He’s benefitting. Netflix and Chill is his favorite pastime.”
“Oh my God! Grandma, I do not need to hear this!”
“Willow, we’re old, not dead.”
“Stop, stop, stop, please… It’s not right to brutalize me this way.”
“Suit yourself. Tell me what’s wrong.”
“Nothing, today has been productive and thrilling.”
“Sarcasm isn’t cute.”
“I’m really okay. You shouldn’t worry about me every day. I told you things are better.”
“Something doesn’t feel right. I woke up this morning with a tic.”
Shit, her and her damn tics.
“You probably slept wrong.”
“That, or you or Chase are hiding something.”
“It’s Chase, he’s the culprit. He’s got the track record for sneakiness.” I throw my brother right under the bus.
“Nothing sneaky with him. It’s you.”
“Maybe it’s just a tic.”
“Come over for dinner, let me see you. We’ll make barbeque sliders.”
My stomach protests at the thought of barbeque. The pea-sized human in my uterus dictates most of my appetite lately, and apparently, barbeque sliders aren’t appealing.
Think quick, Willow! Stalling gives this woman more ammunition.
“Actually, I’m headed over to Dad’s. He’s been working a lot and I thought I’d make him dinner.”
Good alibi. Going to Dad’s is the perfect escape. He’ll be at work for a few more hours and no chance of running into anyone.
“That’s thoughtful of you, sweet girl. But your dad shops less than you. Likely there are no groceries in the kitchen.”
“Well then, I’ll stock his fridge.”
“You sure you don’t want to re-route and come here?”
“Love you, but stop hovering.”
She sighs and I hold my breath to see what comes next. She’s either gearing up to argue, or she’s giving in.
“Fine, but I expect you to come by soon.”
“Deal.”
“You may want to give Sterling a call.”
“It won’t be a surprise if I call.”
She pauses again. “Okay, Willow. See you soon.”
It’s been a while since Dad and I spent any time alone together. For so long, it was easy to blame the strain on Rylee and Stacy. Then I met Talon, and he consumed most of my time.
My heart pings at the thought of my baby. In twenty-something years, will he or she make time for me? Or will they get so wrapped up in their life, they can’t fit me in.
The thought pains me and I decide, from this day forward, I’ll make more time for my parents.
When I pull into the parking garage, Dad’s truck is in his reserved spot.
Odd, but a pleasant surprise.
Suddenly, I’m starved.
The high-rise development is in the heart of Nashville. Maybe we’ll go out to eat.
I’m mentally going through restaurants in walking distance when I step off the elevator and let myself into his place.
Thoughts of spicy noodles, succulent seared chicken, and vegetables have my stomach growling.
“Dad? I dropped by to surprise you and saw your truck. Let’s walk down to that Thai place for a late lunch. My treat for—” The words die on my lips and a shrill, pitchy, roaring scream reverberates around the room.
I clamp my eyes closed, wincing when I stumble into a wall. My bad ankle twists, but the pain scarcely registers as I try to block out the scene.
Which can’t be unseen.
My dad and mom going at it—on the kitchen counter.
Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God… this can’t be happening.
Not again.
“Willow!” Mom cries in a state of horror.
I feel my way out of the kitchen, balancing on the wall until it opens into the living room.
A couple more steps… I shuffle until I can faceplant into the sofa and scrub my eyes.
No, no, no…
My dad shirtless, Mom naked, her legs wrapped around his waist, his hips moving…
“Oh my God!” I shriek into the leather. “Why me?”
Get up and get out of here, my subconscious demands. Pretend this never happened .
Only I can’t move.
A few minutes later, footsteps sound and it’s too late to escape.
“Willow,” Dad’s brusque tone sends a shiver up my back.
What is he ticked about? It wasn’t him that walked in on his middle-aged parents having sex like teenagers.
“Willow, honey, look at us.” Mom’s mollifying tone is a contrast to his. “We wish you wouldn’t have seen that.”
“I’m not apologizing for having sex with my wife in my home,” he gripes.
“No, Sterling, but we should have been more aware.”
“Aware of what? Our grown-ass daughter stopping by on a Thursday in the middle of the afternoon? You knew what you were doing wearing that dress.”
“Oh my God, quit talking, both of you!” I plead. “My eyes are bleeding, my brain is shutting down, and I will never recover.”
“Quite the drama queen.”
I twist, cracking an eye to find my dad glaring down at me with contempt. Not an ounce of shame or humility.
At least they’re both dressed. Mom is different than the last time I saw her.
The glow is unmistakable, and it’s not post-sex radiance.
She is happy and completely beautiful.
“That dress is hot.” I can’t believe that blurted out of my mouth.
Her cheeks flush and she side-eyes my dad shyly. “Thanks.”
If this wasn’t so awful, it would be sweet.
“If I leave now, can we act like this never happened?”
“I love seeing you, but you should have called,” Dad informs.
Grandma’s voice replays in my head. Did she know?
“I wanted to surprise you, but that will never, ever happen again. You and Chase need to have a code, like a sock on the door or something.”
Mom’s tinkly giggle has his face softening. “Noted. I’ll mention that to your brother.”
“Don’t, because then he’ll know about this. We shall never speak of this again.” I push to a sitting position, ignoring my ankle when it protests. “I’m sorry for barging in unannounced. It will never happen again.”
“’Lo.”
“Dad, It’s not natural to see your parents having sex. Seriously, let’s drop it before I get sick.”
“Okay, honey, we’ll drop it.” Mom’s back to pacifying, but the look they share sets my nerves on alert.
“Something else?”
“Well, when you… uh… walked in and saw…” She peers to Dad for help.
“You dropped your purse in your haste to retreat.”
Haste to retreat? Why does he sound like a textbook?
Mom reaches for something on the chair behind her, and when she turns, my world stops.
One of the fourteen positive pregnancy tests is in her hand.
“I peed on that.”
Yes, that came right out. Apparently, pregnancy has given me a case of Tourette’s Syndrome.
Dad sits on one side and she on the other. She takes my hand. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“I’m pregnant. What’s there to talk about?”
“How do you feel?”
“Like I’m on one of those pirate ship rides at the fair that swings back and forth.”
“Is that an analogy or are you nauseous? Because the one and only time you rode that, you threw up.”
I recall the memory and how Rylee and Chase made fun of me forever.
“I’m not constantly nauseous, just at the mention of certain foods. More like I’m suspended in the air with a ball of nerves constantly turning.”
“Was this… was this a surprise?”
“Yes, Mom.” I roll my eyes with my best sarcastic draw. “I didn’t set out to be single and pregnant while my dangerous, heroic baby daddy is somewhere saving lives and playing Captain America.”
Her eyes mist over, and I realize I called her Mom for the first time in over a year.
“It’s one hell of a shock to my perfectly laid plans, but in the most wonderful way,” I relay with less satire.
“How far along are you?” Dad inquires cautiously, like he’s scared of my answer.