Changing Lines (Bellevue Bullies 5)
“Oh, sorry, honey. How are you?” she says calmly and very Autumn-like. “Lucy! We don’t have time for you to be changing things up. I want Claire to be happy when she gets here! We are making a home, people! Focus!”
I laugh some more. “Mom? What in the world is going on?”
“Well, you see what happened was, I decided to have everyone come and help get the house ready for y’all. It’s turned into a cluster of crazy people who all think they’re right when, really, only Reese and I are right.”
I grin. “You’re the best, Mom.”
Her voice breaks a bit. “How’s my baby?”
“He’s wonderful. Claire is a pro, Mom, I don’t even get it. I’m in awe of her.”
“She’s waited a long time for this,” she says softly, the background noise falling away. She must have gone outside. “Both of you have. I can’t wait to meet him. I love him so much already.”
“He shits a lot, and Claire won’t let me say shit.”
She laughs. “We
ll, she’s right.”
“Whatever,” I say with a crooked grin.
“How’s Tristan? Have y’all talked to her?”
“Yeah, we actually went to see her yesterday. She’s a damn rock star in my eyes, and she’s doing good. She still won’t hold him.”
“That’s probably for the best. For her, at least.”
“I think Claire really wants a picture of them together.”
“She might not get it.”
“I don’t think she will,” I say softly, and I know that breaks Claire’s heart. She wants so badly for Tristan to care, to be a part of Harrison’s life, but I don’t think it’s gonna happen. Tristan’s detached herself completely, and I respect that. I love her for it. It means Harrison is truly ours. But unfortunately, Claire doesn’t see it that way.
“When is the doctor’s appointment?”
“Tomorrow,” I say, and I feel my gut tense up a bit. “Not looking forward to it.”
“So, you don’t think she is?”
“No,” I say softly. “She hasn’t been sick. She’s tired, but that’s from being up with Harrison and all.”
“Yeah,” she says gently. “I’m sorry, baby. I know you guys were hoping it would happen this time.”
I shrug. “To be honest, I just want her to be happy. She hasn’t really talked about it, and I think that’s for the best. We’ll go, they’ll say no, and we’ll start fresh in Florida. Our doctor has found us a center that she thinks is as good as hers, and we’ll start going there. Though, I think we’re really gonna buckle down and find a surrogate.”
I hear her swallow. “Is it bad that I’m holding out hope she is pregnant?”
“No,” I say with a chuckle. “I think a part of me is hoping too.”
She exhales heavily. “I love you, Jude, so damn much. You’ve always been my favorite.”
I laugh. She says that to all of us. “I love you, Mom. Thanks for being so supportive and for helping with everything.”
“Of course,” she says eagerly. “I want this to be a smooth transition. Though, Lucy might be the death of me. She is trying to redo Harrison’s room.”
“Let her. Who cares?”
She laughs. “You have a soft spot for your sister.”