Beauty from Love (Beauty 3)

A moment later, she fists my hair and moans, “Ohh … ohh … ohh.” She unclenches her hand and her entire body goes limp. That’s when I know she’s in that place, the one where she’s blissful and euphoric. There’s no other feeling in the world like it.

13

I can’t believe it. Jack Henry and I are trying to get pregnant. Addison is going to shit when I tell her.

Daniel drops Addison and me at the Castlebury Hotel where we’ll be dining at the restaurant Jack Henry recommended. She was running late, as usual, so we’re doing brunch instead of breakfast.

An attractive hostess escorts us to our table and calls me by name—Mrs. McLachlan—when we’re seated. How does she know?

I lift the menu but I’m not reading it. “That was weird, right?”

I can see that she doesn’t know what I’m referring to. “What was?”

“The hostess called me Mrs. McLachlan but I don’t know how she knew. I didn’t make reservations, so there’s no reason for her to know my name.” My mind immediately goes to that place: is this woman one of the twelve and she knows who we are?

“You’re married to Jack McLachlan. People know him and they make it their business to know who his wife is.” Addison lifts her menu. “She’s probably green with envy that she’ll never get to fuck him.”

I hope that’s the case, but if she’s one of the companions who came before me, then she already has. Many times.

The hostess is older than me but still young—not at all the type Jack Henry would’ve chosen.

I need to stop this. He’s my husband so nothing before me matters. He told me so last night.

Another woman walks up to our table. “Mrs. McLachlan. Welcome to Fusion Restaurant. Julie is your server and she’ll be with you shortly. May I get you something to drink while you look at the menu?”

I think I need alcohol. “I’ll have a mimosa.”

I expect the same from Addison but she surprises me. “Orange juice, please.”

I feel a little weird drinking alone. “Why aren’t you getting a mimosa? I know how much you love them.”

Addison touches her hand to her forehead. “I have a headache. I don’t figure it’s a good idea to put champagne on top of that.”

I pick up my purse and begin digging because I know she hasn’t taken anything for it. That’s how she is. “I’m sure I have something in my purse that you can take.”

“I’m good, Laurie. You don’t always have to take care of me like I’m a child.”

She’s never minded it before. “You’re being pissy this morning.”

“I’m sorry. I was restless last night. You know I’m a bitch when I haven’t had my sleep.”

She’s worse than a child without a nap when she’s tired. “It’s supposed to storm again later. It’ll be a perfect day for napping.”

We place our order and the food arrives. I still haven’t brought up Ben and Chloe but I can procrastinate no longer. “Last night was Jack Henry’s birthday party with the family and I gotta tell ya, Addie … we were pretty shocked to see Ben there with Chloe.”

“Oh hell.” Her eyes grow large.

“Why didn’t you tell me they were dating?”

“I’m sorry. I know I should have—and I meant to—but I’ve had some pretty serious shit going on lately.”

Addie always has serious shit going on. “So bad you forget to tell me my sister-in-law is dating your brother, whom my husband despises? Doesn’t make sense that you would forget something like that.”

Addison’s eyes fill with tears. She squeezes them tightly and big messy drops roll down each cheek. “Laurie. I’ve messed up big time. I mean, I’ve really fucked up.” She carefully wipes the tears from her eyes using the corner of her napkin in an attempt to prevent smearing her perfect makeup.

I’m not oblivious to Addison’s tendency to be dramatic, but dread grows deep within my gut. “I’m sure it isn’t as bad as you think.”

Her eyes appear larger than usual as she looks up to. More tears roll down her cheeks as she nods. “Yes, it is, and I don’t think I can do the only thing that would fix all of it.” She’s sobbing and it scares the shit out of me because this isn’t my Addie.

I love my best friend but she’s selfish as hell, so there’s only one thing that would make her react this way. Something must have occurred between her and the man she adores with all her heart. “Has something happened between you and Zac?”

She makes the ugly cry face and then uses her hands to conceal it. “Oh, something has definitely happened between us. I’ve joined that statistic they warn you about—the less than one percent of people whose birth control fails even when they take it correctly.” Her body shakes because she’s crying so hard. “I’m pregnant.”

“Oh, shit.”

“Yeah,” she laughs, but not the humorous kind. “Me having a baby is definitely an ‘oh, shit’ moment.”

I know they aren’t married, so the timing isn’t ideal, but I don’t understand why her reaction is so extreme. She loves Zac. He loves her and they’re great together. I have no doubt they’d marry and be together forever anyway. “It’s a shock. I’ll give you that, but I don’t understand why you’re so upset.”

“Are you kidding me, Laurie? I’m not mother material. I’m too into me and what I want.” She’s shaking her head and looking at me like she thinks I may have lost my mind. “My mouth is too damn filthy. The kid’s first word would be fuck. No doubt.”

“I think you’ll make a wonderful mother and I’m sure Zac agrees. What did he say when you told him?”

Addison looks away. “I haven’t told him.”

“Why not?”

She looks so sad. “Do you really think he wants to hear that I’m knocked up?”

I can only stare at her as I think of how happy Jack Henry would be if it were me telling him we were having a baby. I can almost see the broad smile on his face, his bright blue eyes dancing with happiness. I imagine him scooping me from the floor and spinning me round and round as he tells me how much he loves me and how happy he is.

But this isn’t happening to me, so I shove the daydream from my mind and return to reality. Addison’s reality. “I’m sure a baby will come as a shock for Zac but he loves you. I don’t think it’ll be an unwelcome surprise.”