My Bestie's Dad

She rolls her eyes.

“Please, don’t even start. But yeah, my dad has been really secretive lately and if this is why,” she shakes her head, “Then fine. It’s better than anything my imagination has been cooking up. But I still hate surprise parties.”

I smile.

“Har, just know that if we are planning a surprise party, then I couldn’t possibly tell you any details about it. Also, if we were, what would you want at your surprise party?”

She grins, “A really nice meal—”

“So, nothing I make, got it.”

She laughs.

“Exactly. Maybe at a nice restaurant, with the women from my book club, and some other friends. Nothing too fancy, though. And it doesn’t even need to have alcohol.”

“What? No alcohol? What are you talking about?”

Harlow gets a secretive look on her face.

“It’s the real reason I want to talk to you in here away from my dad. Remember how I said I can’t lose weight no matter what I do?”

I gasp with worry.

“Harlow, are you alright? Is it your thyroid? Lots of ladies struggle with their weight when they have thyroid problems.”

She rolls her eyes.

“It’s not my thyroid. But promise not to tell, okay?”

I nod.

“I’m pregnant!”

I squeal excitedly and hug her. “Oh my god, this is a good thing, right?”

She lets out a rueful sigh.

“Yes, Gray and I are very happy about it. He never thought he’d be a father of three, but that’s what you get for marrying a younger woman. But that’s also why I keep trying to get Dad to come over for supper. So we can tell him! But I can never seem to get a hold of him, and then he’s here, planning my birthday party. It’s just so weird.”

I smile reassuringly.

“Want me to drop hints that he should do supper with you soon?”

She nods. “Just don’t tell him why, okay?”

“Consider it a done, Har. Happy to be of service.”

She hugs me.

“Thank you and thank you for the birthday party in advance, too. If my dad plans my surprise party by himself, it’ll be another clown and puppet show.”

“Not on my watch.”

She grins but then it turns upside down.

“In other news, my mom been calling me today.”

I don’t know what to say. “Um, is Catherine okay?”

Harlow shakes her head, “She sounds weird. She kept going on about how she should have never left my dad and that we should be a family again. Both my parents are being weird at the same time. But at least Dad is just trying to be a good father and surprise me. Mom is being her self-indulgent prissy self again,” she sighs.

“So, then they’re not being weird, right? He’s a good guy, and she’s the evil queen we all hate,” I say.

She laughs, “Yeah, I guess so. Catherine will always be Catherine.”

Suddenly, we jolt as a loud thump sounds through the wall. I laugh.

“Best get out there before Fannie and Freddie tear down the place, right?” I hand her my leather jacket for her cover story, and we rejoin the family in my living room. Brent looks like he’s having a great time as the kids jump all over the furniture, their smiles filled with glee.

I give a gentle head shake and he grins at us.

“Everything okay, Har?”

“Yeah, everything’s great,” his daughter answers. Then she turns to me. “I’ll return your jacket later in the week, okay?”

“Sounds good. Oh my god, are the kids full of sugar and caffeine?”

Brent laughs.

“Just sugar. No caffeine needed for these two.”

“Perfect, just perfect,” Harlow sighs. “Come on, kids.”

Of course, Fannie and Freddie don’t listen. Then jump around more, screaming and hollering, until finally all three of us corral them and get them out the door. Brent dotes on his grandkids, and as the door closes, he turns to me with a smile.

“So does she suspect?”

I shake my head.

“Nope because she thinks we’re in cahoots about a surprise birthday party for her. And now, we are planning her surprise birthday party for next month.”

Brent grins and laughs. “That’s what she thinks we’re doing?”

“Yup.”

“Good thinking,” he growls before pressing a kiss to my forehead. “By the way, what did you think of the kids?” he asks casually, leaning back on the couch once more. His tone and posture are relaxed, but I sense something in the air. I smile.

“Fannie and Freddie are great. I love them.”

“They’re not too much?” he asks, his brows raised.

I laugh.

“No, of course not too much. They’re active, that’s all. But that’s how kids are. I love children, and Fan and Fred are especially adorable.”

Brent looks very satisfied, but I can tell it’s not just because they’re his grandkids.

“You ever think of having your own children?” he asks in a low voice. “You’d look beautiful pregnant, Jane.”

I hesitate for a moment, my cheeks flushing.

“You think?”

He nods, and those hazel eyes gleam.

“I definitely think so. And I’m not sure I’m done having kids yet either. I’d like to give Harlow a sibling or two.”