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The Best Friend Bargain(46)

By:Robin Bielman


“What do you mean?” Liv asked, wiping the corner of her eye.

“I wasn’t born yesterday, young lady. You and Danny have been friends for a long time. You go to Europe with barely a good-bye and then you’re back and suddenly in love with him and having a baby? Something isn’t right.”

“Nothing is ever right with you,” she said defensively, hating herself for it. In this case, it was fair of her mom to have doubts. Why couldn’t Liv just come out with the truth? It was on the tip of her tongue, but her lips stayed sealed.

“Because you continue to make one mistake after another. At least Danny is owning up to his, and this baby won’t be brought into the world the same way you were.”

Anger, grief, and shame all clawed at the back of Liv’s throat. Liv had thought—prayed—she’d gain her mom’s forgiveness when she married Jim, but it hadn’t happened. Joy Lincoln Marshall still believed that her pregnancy pushed Liv’s birth father away and she hated Liv for it because deep down she hadn’t wanted to be a mother. She’d wanted to be married without children.

“Are you saying Danny being with me is a mistake? Am I that unworthy, Mom?”

“Don’t put words in my mouth, Olivia.”

“We might not…” she was about to say “love each other” but that wasn’t true. They did. In a best friend way. “We might not have everything planned”—total truth—“but we’re committed to each other.”

“Then I don’t understand why Danny hasn’t told his parents. Imagine how embarrassed I was when I brought it up.”

Embarrassed. Liv embarrassed her mother. Always had. Always would. She couldn’t wipe the tears away fast enough now.

Danny chose that moment to walk into the room. When he saw her face, he rushed to the couch, but she didn’t want his comfort, not right now. She stood, waving him away, and hurried down the hallway to end the conversation and gather her emotions privately.

“I don’t know why.”

“Are you sure the baby is his?”

Shame punched Liv in the chest. Her lie, while wrong, took on a much more painful edge. That her mother would even think to ask that… Tell her the truth. Give her the reason she’s been waiting for to end all ties with her misguided daughter.

Liv locked herself in the guest bathroom, slumped against the door. She couldn’t get the words out.

“Mom, I have to go. Can we talk later?”

“Of course. I just thought you should know about Mary and Russ.”

“Thanks.” Liv ended the call. She flipped on the light to find some tissue and, after drying her face, stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her mom had always cut her down, but she’d never once deserved it. Did she today? She was doing what she thought she had to in order to maintain what little relationship they had left.

A knock sounded on the bathroom door. “Liv?” Danny said. “You okay?”

Not really, but she gathered what little strength she had left. She opened the door and strode passed him. “Sorry.”

He didn’t say anything—which she really appreciated—and followed her to the living room. When she gave no indication of explaining, Danny put his hands on her shoulders, turned her around, and said, “What’s up?”

“The sky.”

His brows wrinkled and his lips pursed together. Cut the crap, they announced.

She looked at the hardwood floor. “You haven’t said anything to your parents.”

“About us?”

“Yes.”

His hands fell away. “Because I wanted to tell them in person, and I’ve been so busy I haven’t had time to make the drive to visit.”

Again, he had the perfect answer.

“And because I know it’s going to mean more to them than it should.”

Not the answer she wanted to hear. He took her hand and sat them both down on the couch. “How did you find out?”

“My mom ran into your mom.” Liv scooted back into the couch cushions. “The dirty secret’s out.”

Danny let out a disheartened breath. “It’s not like that and you know it. The thing is, I’m going to tell them the truth. And still my mom will think this is the best news ever despite our circumstances because she loves you, and she’ll try to convince me that this is our destiny or something because you know how she believes in all that metaphysical stuff.

“My mom will be heartbroken if things don’t last forever, Liv, so I’ve got to put this to her the best way I know how, and I haven’t figured out what that is yet. And since my sister and her husband have made it abundantly clear they aren’t having children, my mom will latch onto this one and never let go.”