Is the baby the only reason she came back?
He wanted to believe it was inevitable, that sooner or later they’d have found their way back to each other. The fact that the silence had lasted as long as it did still didn’t quite compute, and more than a few of their old classmates had been stunned to learn that Matt and Dara had gone their separate ways. Everyone in high school had been convinced they’d end up married someday. They’d been inseparable since kindergarten, even during the cootie years when all their friends thought it was gross to associate with the opposite sex. Even still during the hormonal hell of adolescence when lives were ruled by gonads.
Then things had gone to hell.
And now this.
And he…and they…
With both hands, Matt drummed his fingers on the counter. His chest was tightening around his racing heart.
Breathe. In. Out. In. Out.
This wasn’t a panic attack, and he wasn’t going to let it turn into one.
Breathe. In. Out. In. Out.
He definitely needed to talk to his therapist about this. Dara wanted him to be a father to their child, and that meant he needed to get his shit together. He didn’t know much about parenting yet, but he was pretty sure that when the rubber met the road, “Sorry, kiddo—Dad’s freaking out more than you are” wouldn’t cut it.
Oh God. I can’t even face my own parents. How am I supposed to be one?
Half an hour later, while the dinner was cooking and some fresh bread was cooling, headlights came in through the kitchen window and arced across the wall.
Matt glanced outside as his parents’ car stopped in front of the garage.
And here we go.
He let them in, poured them some wine and took them into the living room.
“Whatever you’re making smells wonderful.” Mom smiled. “Is that one of Grandma’s recipes?”
“Yeah. I tweaked it a little, but it’s her zucchini casserole.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
“Good.” He glanced at his watch. “It should be done right at seven, so not much longer.” He cleared his throat. “And, um, there’s someone else joining us tonight.”
His mother’s ears perked up. “A lady friend?”
“Well, sort of.”
“Sort of?” She inclined her head and exchanged wary looks with Dad. “It’s not a gentleman friend, is it?”
Matt pinched the bridge of his nose. “For the last time, Mom. I am not gay.”
She laughed uncomfortably. “Well, you’re the one who said ‘sort of’, so forgive me if—”
“Okay. Okay.” He lowered his hand. “That was my bad. I guess what I meant is she’s a friend. Not a girlfriend.”
Her jaw tightened, and Matt fully expected a comment about how that wasn’t a surprise, given that he had never brought a girlfriend home in his life. The comment didn’t come, though.
He steeled himself. “Do you remember Dara Marley?”
Her expression shifted instantaneously, her lips blanching and her eyes narrowing. “You’re having that girl over?”
“That woman, Mom.” He forced himself to keep his voice calm. “We’re not kids anymore.”
“She’s still a Marley,” Dad muttered.
Matt managed not to roll his eyes, though his restraint in that department had more to do with the lingering migraine hangover than his folks. “She had nothing to do with that.”
Dad grunted. “Apple don’t fall far from the tree, son.”
Mom sipped her wine, but her lips twisted as if it had gone sour on her tongue. “Even if she wasn’t part of that family, she’s a crass little tramp in her own right.”
“Mom, she is—”
“I will be polite this evening because she’s your guest,” Mom said through gritted teeth. “But I hope it’s clear that that woman is not welcome in my house.”
That was probably as good as it was going to get, so Matt said, “Fair enough.”
Well. This evening was off to a wonderful start. Big shock. Maybe they hadn’t thought this through.
No. They had to do this. After all, he was going to be the father that Dara’s baby deserved, and step one was being open and honest with his family about the entire situation. Hopefully that would take the hostile wind out of his parents’ anti-Marley sails—they did want more grandkids, after all.
The conversation shifted to less volatile topics.
Then a car pulled into the driveway, and the room was instantly silent.
Mom eyed him over the rim of her glass. “It sounds like your guest is here,” she spat.
“Yeah.” Matt got up. “I’ll, uh, be right back.”