The Journey Home(13)
Author: Kelly Elliott

Cale dropped his fork onto his plate. He leaned over and whispered, “Zoey, what are you doing? I don’t think this is a good idea. We need to wait and…”

She swatted her hand toward him as if she was shushing him up. “Nonsense, Maddie is my best friend. I can’t wait to tell her!”

“Tell me what?”

Cale had a panicked look on his face as his eyes darted between Zoey and me. “Zoey,” he said, “please! We still have to talk more about this and…”

Zoey glared at Cale and he stopped talking.

She turned back to me and sucked in a breath of air. Letting it out, she said, “I have some wonderful news to share.”

Cale seemed sick to his stomach as he looked at Jack. Jack was glaring at Zoey. Clearly Jack didn’t care for her.

I forced myself to smile at Zoey. “Well, I can’t wait to hear it,” I said, my voice cracking.

Zoey sat up taller and gave me a hair-raisingly creepy smile. “I’m pregnant,” she said.

Monica choked on her food and Jack jumped up. “Are you all right?” he asked

Monica grabbed her water and waved her hand at him, indicating that she was okay.

I was stunned. All I could say was, “What?” Zoey couldn’t have kids. If she did it would be dangerous for both her and the child. “How? I mean, who’s the father?” I asked.

Zoey’s smile vanished and Jack started laughing. Zoey glared at Jack before giving Cale an adoring look.

Oh God, please, no. This is not happening. Please don’t do this to me.

Zoey reached for Cale’s hand. “Cale and I are expecting a baby in about eight months. I’m only just a few weeks along.”

Monica cleared her throat. “Are you sure it’s Cale’s baby?”

Zoey gave Monica a look that should have dropped her to the ground. “Yes, I’m sure,” she hissed.

Monica took a sip of her wine and raised an eyebrow. “Well, one can never be too sure with girls like you.”

Jack started laughing again as he looked at Monica. “I like you,” he said. “A lot.”

Monica smiled and winked at Jack.

I kicked Monica under the table and was pretty sure Cale had done the same thing to Jack with how they both jumped and then shut up. My heart was beating at a crazy pace.

“Zoey, does your mother know?” I blurted. “What about the doctor? That kind of stress on your body can’t be good for you or the baby.” I wasn’t even sure if Cale knew Zoey was sick.

Zoey picked up her glass of water and took a sip. “This was supposed to be a happy announcement, and you’re ruining my moment. I wish you could just be happy for me, Maddison. There is no need to be jealous.”

I wanted to reach across the table and slap her. I looked at Cale and his eyes were filled with sadness. No, worse—they looked completely empty. He clearly wasn’t happy to be expecting a child. Without taking my eyes from Cale I managed to smile and say, “I’m thrilled for you, Zoey. I’m happy if you’re happy.”

She grinned from ear to ear. “I’ve never been happier.”

Monica cleared her throat and asked, “Cale, what about you? Are you happy about becoming a daddy?”

Zoey sighed and rolled her eyes. “Of course he is, Monica.”

Cale smiled, but I could sense it wasn’t genuine. “It was a shock when Zoey told me,” he said. “Not expected at all. I wasn’t really ready for parenthood.”

Zoey laughed. “Well, with the incredible sex we have, I’m not surprised.”

I couldn’t breathe. I needed to get out—now. I pushed my chair back, startling everyone at the table, and pulled some cash from my wallet.

“I um…I need to go. It was a pleasure meeting you both.”

Zoey was sitting there with what seemed to be a very satisfied smirk on her face. As if she felt that she’d won a game that I hadn’t even realized we were playing.

Cale stood up, “Maddie, wait.”

The look I gave him sent him right back to his seat.

I smiled weakly at Zoey. “Have a wonderful afternoon.”

She chuckled softly and said, “Oh, I will.”

As I walked away, I sensed Monica right behind me.

I stormed out of the restaurant and practically ran down the boat ramp and into my car. As I turned the key in the ignition, I leaned my head against the back seat and started to cry. Monica took my hand in hers.

“I know you don’t want to hear this,” she said, “but I swear to God, Maddie. It was like Zoey knew you and Cale had a history.”

I didn’t want to believe it. My head was telling me that Zoey knew, but my heart didn’t want to believe she would be so cruel.

I wiped my eyes, pulled out of the parking lot, and began driving toward my new house. “We’re going out tonight,” I said. “I need to forget this entire day.”

I WALKED INTO the house and threw my keys down on the table. I still couldn’t believe I’d just seen Maddie. She’d been right fucking there…and then Zoey had to walk in. Sighing, I grabbed a beer from the refrigerator. I walked into the living room and sank into the sofa.

“Cale?” Zoey said. “You’re upset. Why, baby?”

I rolled my eyes. I knew it wasn’t Zoey’s fault, but what were the damn odds that she’d be friends with Maddie? And it almost seemed like she got some thrill from telling Maddie she was pregnant.

“I’m not upset, Zoey,” I said as I downed my beer.

She sat next to me and sighed. “I told my parents today, about being pregnant. My mother is so excited. Thrilled, I should say, but she was a downer at first, like Maddie. Maddie was just jealous, though. She always wants what I have. It’s kind of sad, really.”

“Don’t you think you should wait and talk to your doctor? You said yourself that he’s going to tell you that this is a high-risk pregnancy. I mean, you’re telling everyone. You’re not even that far along and you’re telling your friends.”

She glared at me. “You want me to have an abortion? Is that what you want, Cale?”

For a brief moment I wanted to tell her yes. I didn’t want to have a baby yet, let alone with Zoey. I wanted to be in love—madly in love. And married. More than anything, I wanted to be with Maddie.

Shit. I need to stop thinking like this.

I knew it wouldn’t be long before Zoey picked up on the fact that Maddie and I knew each other. I had to admit, I was shocked when Maddie pretended not to know me. Then again, I couldn’t blame her either.