“It’sThursday,” I pointed out, as the dread crept in swiftly. “Why wouldn’t you dothis tomorrow?”
“Iknow, but Mer has something going on tomorrow, so we’re apparently doing ittonight.”
Itwas obvious I wasn’t going to talk her out of going, so I nodded. “Okay, yeah,then do what you gotta do.”
“Momwanted me to invite you. The party is on Saturday. I’ll probably stay heretomorrow night, so we can go together, if you wanted to come.” She presentedthe invitation like it was an option, but there was hope in her eyes and a pleain her voice.
So,once again, I nodded. “Obviously, I’ll be there, sweetheart.”
Shesighed a breath of relief. “You sure it’s not a problem with work?”
Ishook my head. “Nah. I’ll tell Jenna and Moe I won’t be able to. It’s allgood.”
Then,she leaned over me and pressed a kiss once again to my lips, the taste of joyand relief on her tongue. “I love you,” she whispered, as if to not let theghosts in the apartment hear.
Andyleft the room and disappeared behind the bathroom door, and while I wonderedhow I was going to get through the night, she showered alone.
***
“So,we're supposed to be going to the fertility clinic in the next few weeks to getthings started,” Jenna said, pulling a pie from the oven. “It's crazy, youknow? Thinkin' about havin' another baby. But, I mean, the baby wouldn'treallybe mine, so I guess it's notexactlythe same, but still ...”
“Well,like ... where's the egg coming from?”
Sheslid the pie into the case and said, “Mine, obviously.”
“So,then ... the baby would be kind of yours, wouldn't it?”
Shesighed, tipping her head back with exasperation. “Vin, it's not the same.”
Lookingto Moe, I said, “Is this makin' sense to you? 'Cause I'm failing to understandhow this kid isn't also hers.”
Heglanced at Jenna and muttered, “You're on your own with this one, girl.”
Jennagroaned, cocking her hip and raking a hand through her wild, curly hair. “Okay.Let me try to explain this in simple words for you to understand. Zach andGreyson want a baby with both of their genes, so it's like, both of theirs,right? But two men can't make a baby—”
“I'mnot an idiot, Jen,” I grumbled, laughing as I shook my head.
Shesmiled and went on, “Anyway, normally they would have to just get an egg donorto merge with their swimmers, but as luck would have it, Zach has a sister fromthe same gene pool. I offered my eggs to create an embryo with Greyson's sperm.So, that way, it's as close as they can possibly get to having biologicalchildren.”
Nodding,I replied, “No, I get it, but,” I wrinkled my nose, “don't you feel like you'regonna have a baby with your brother's husband?”
Sheshoved my arm. “We're not like, sleeping together, you moron.”
“Iknow, but ...” I shrugged. “I mean, whatever, I'm glad you can do this forthem, but like, what kinda family tree is that? Greyson's dad married his aunt,and now, he's having a baby with his sister-in-law. So, that kid's gonna be hissonandhis nephew, or—”
“Canyou stop?” Jenna snapped, clearly unamused. “You don't have to be so mean, youknow that?”
“I'mnot bein' mean,” I insisted. “I'm makin' a joke.”
“Well,you're not funny,” she threw at me before storming off and disappearing behindthe kitchen door.
Moeand I were left to handle the impending lunchtime crowd and my sister's angertoward me wasn't helping the already fragile state of my mind. I leaned againstthe cool, butcher block counter and crossed my arms.
“Whatthe hell did I say?” I asked him.
Moeshrugged, playing stupid. “I dunno, man ...”
“Ijust don't understand what she's so upset about.”
