Fins(4)

“It’s good to meet you - awake this time.” Smiling with a perfect set of white teeth, he winked one of his pale blue eyes.

I shook his hand and felt like an idiot. I’d said nothing because it was like I was in a dream. Who were these gorgeous people? Even Mom had changed since I’d seen her last. Everything was surreal.

Tammer looked at Mom. “Does she speak?” he asked politely.

“I’m sorry,” I stammered. “It’s nice to meet you. Your house is beautiful beyond words. I had no idea. Mom never said anything.”

“I’m sure there’s a lot you two need to discuss, and much is going to be overwhelming. We should start with something simple.” He reached over and pulled Mom to him. “Breakfast, perhaps?”

“Yes.” She kissed him and took my hand. They led me in a partial daze to the edge of the courtyard where a gazebo housed a dining table and chairs already set with breakfast. Fresh orange juice, scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, pancakes, sausages – the works. Hungrily, I dug in. Tammer and Mom didn’t touch the food.

“Aren’t you guys hungry?” I asked, my mouth filled with pineapple.

“We’re on a special diet,” Mom said.

“Diet? You don’t need to lose weight!”

Tammer laughed and kissed her hand. “No, you’re correct. But we don’t eat meat.”

“Oh!” I said. “So you’re vegetarian?”

He nodded. “Something like that.” He picked up a glass of water and drank it all.

Mom twirled a hibiscus blossom between her thumb and forefinger. The silence was deafening. Something was wrong.

“What’s going on?” I asked and put my fork down.

“What do you mean, dear?” Mom asked a bit too innocently.

“What aren’t you telling me? Are you sick? You’re not dying are you?”

She shook her head and looked at Tammer.

“I know something’s going on,” I could see it in their body language.

“You’re just going to have to tell her,” Tammer said matter-of-factly.

I watched them gaze at each other. It was sort of nice, actually, seeing Mom so in love. It was better than watching her flounder around after her and Dad divorced. But something was definitely wrong and I could hardly take it anymore. I didn’t have to wait long.

“Mama!”

A sweet, musical voice rang out across the courtyard. I turned around to see a gorgeous blonde child running toward us. I looked back at Mom who was smiling at me. Was this a joke? The little girl ran into her embrace and pulled herself up into her lap.

“Mama,” She nestled into Mom’s chest. Tammer smiled lovingly at them both.

“What the hell is going on?” I asked, and the little girl turned toward me, staring with enormous green eyes. Her blonde hair fell in soft ringlets around her shoulders.

“Morgandy, this is our little girl, Naira. She’s your sister.”

I nearly puked.

“This is a joke, right?”

“No, it’s not, honey.” Mom said in a quiet voice.

“But, how?” I stood up. This was too weird.

“She’s one, Morgandy,” Tammer said. “She’s very special. You’ll come to realize that.”

“How is this possible?” I asked again. “You two were just married!” I looked at Mom. “You haven’t even been in Florida for two years!”

“That’s right,” she said, “but Tammer and I met in Vancouver just after you left. We’ve been together ever since.”

“You never told me you were pregnant!” I said and Naira continued to look at me. I couldn’t hold her gaze. “Why not?”

“You wouldn’t have understood.”

“What’s not to understand? Hi Morgan, it’s Mom, I’m pregnant. What’s so hard about that?” I was yelling now and Tammer stood up.

“Morgandy…” he began and I interrupted him.

“It’s Morgan, ok? I hate Morgandy.”

Mom winced.

“Morgan,” Tammer began again, “Please don’t yell. We’re sorry we didn’t tell you earlier. We didn’t because we didn’t want something like this to happen. We knew it’d be hard for you. There’s still so much more to discuss.”

“What? Do you have another kid I don’t know about?”

“No. Naira’s the only one. But there’s more.”

I couldn’t take it anymore and walked away. Naira slid out of Mom’s lap and walked next to me.

“Naira! Come back here, darling!” Mom called after her, but she didn’t return. Rather, she continued to walk alongside me as I stormed toward my room. It wasn’t until I tried to reach for the door that I noticed she was holding my hand. I stopped and stared down at her. She stared back at me. Suddenly, I wasn’t really angry anymore, just spent. Tired, I raised an eyebrow.