Forgotten First Kiss

Chapter 12

“Danica? Are you home?” Angelica’s voice cut the morning air. “I heard you were in a bicycle accident, and I came to help you.”

I wedged myself up off the couch, onto one elbow. “What? What are you doing here? You’re supposed to have surgery today.”

“They postponed it. I asked them to.”

This did not compute. I rubbed my eyes and fixed my ponytail, which had fallen into disrepair. “I’m sorry, what? What’s going on?” My eye fell on the clock. Ten already?

Saturday. The gymnastics showcase—and all the parents would be there, but Tennille wouldn’t. Geez. I had to get moving. Ouch. The bruising was for real today.

Angelica looked around the room. “Someone ate dinner and left it on the table.”

Oh, right. Last night loomed. “I meant to clean up. My hip just hurts, and I figured since I live alone it would keep until morning.”

Angelica got up and went straight to work, clearing the table, filling the sink with hot water, and putting away everything I’d left in a mess. “This looks like date food. Did a man cook dinner for you without cleaning up, and then stay too late?”

“Actually, if anything, he left too early.” And then, I’d stayed in a dismayed lump on the couch for the rest of the night.

“Too early for what?” Angelica loaded the silverware into the dishwasher rack. “Is it serious? Who is this guy? Mom and Dad hinted you’ve been acting strange lately.”

Great. “The surgery, Angelica. What’s going on with your surgery?”

“Oh, that. It’s not safe to undergo when you’re pregnant.”

Now, I jumped off the sofa and made a beeline for my sister, my bruising pain evaporated. I threw my arms around her and jumped until I nearly knocked her off her feet. “A baby? You’re going to be a mother?”

The words slugged me like a boxing glove in the gut, despite the fact I was happy beyond everything for Angelica and Brady.

“I’m so confused.” For the past few years, they’d kept postponing parenthood until this planned hip and leg surgery. “What happened?”

“We just miscalculated, I guess. But we’re so happy!”

Me, too—honestly—if it was possible to be happy for and insanely envious of someone simultaneously. I felt no closer to being a mom today than I’d been when Angelica got married ten years ago, and I’d surrounded myself with other people’s children to fill the gaping hole in me. Now, Angelica had a husband and a growing family, and I was just left on the sidelines again.

“Mom asked me to come up to Wilder River so you can plan my baby shower.”

“Me?” So the visit wasn’t to help me heal after my accident. “Oh, great. I’d love to. When should we have it?”

We dove into discussing dates, guest list, themes, gift registry, refreshments. Everything Angelica had always dreamed of.

“Don’t look so exhausted by this.” She patted my arm. “You’ve got time to prepare everything.”

This wasn’t the only thing exhausting me at the moment. Angelica had no idea. I found the cabinet with the Tylenol and took a couple with a cup of water.

“I’m not exhausted.” Lie. “I’m happy for you.”

“Well, show some spirit. Your older sister’s having a baby!” She gave me a smile. “It’s what I’ve been waiting for my whole life.”

“Yeah, me too.”

“Right?” Angelica squeezed my hand. “You’ll be the best aunt.”

I’d meant my own children. She’d meant hers. Was Jeremy correct that my world had been forced to orbit Angelica’s?

If it had, it’d been by my own consent. Well, I did love my sister. This was her moment.

“You do owe me this baby shower. And there’d better be no motorcycles at it.”