“Not move in with a complete stranger,” her mother said loudly.

“Jordan is not a stranger,” Annie said as she piled more clothes into her bag.

“She’s a stranger to me.”

“Lucky for you, you’re not the one moving in with her,” Annie shot back. They’d been arguing over this for the past two days.

“I just don’t understand you. Getting pregnant in the first place,” her mother said with a shake of her head. “That’s just—”

Annie held up her hand, stopping her mother. “Please. We’ve been over this. I know you’re disappointed in me. I’m disappointed in me too,” she said. “But continuing to hash it over will not change anything. So for both of our sanities, I think it’s best that I don’t live here.” She squared her shoulders, weary of this conversation. “Jordan was kind enough to offer me a place to live. She’s not going to charge me rent. I’ll help with the groceries, that’s it. So you don’t need to worry about me.”

“Of course I’ll worry about you. I don’t know this woman, but I know of her,” she said.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You have no business living with her. That’s what that means.”

Annie laughed, finally realizing what her mother was trying to say. “You mean because she’s a lesbian?”

“So the rumors are true then?”

“Yes.”

“Then why would you live with her?”

Annie paused. “I like her. She’s nice. We get along great.” She shrugged. “And like I said, she’s not charging me rent.”

“Maybe because she expects you to pay in other ways,” her mother said quietly.

Annie stared at her. “Seriously? That’s what you’re worried about?”

“You don’t know her. She might—”

“Mom, you know her parents. You knew Matt. They’re good people. Jordan is too. Now quit being ridiculous about it.”

“I think we should at least meet her first.”

Annie laughed and shook her head. “Why would I subject Jordan to that?” She went to her mother and took both of her hands in her own. “Mom, I’m twenty-nine years old. I can handle this. And while I appreciate all you and Dad have done for me, it’s time I moved out. Getting pregnant was not something I ever expected. But it’s my problem, not yours.”

“Annie, we’d never—”

“I know you wouldn’t. But it’s time. I need to do this, Mom. I need some semblance of independence. I’m working full time this summer. I’ll be able to save a lot of money so that I can afford something on my own next year.”

“So you and…your baby will live in a cheap apartment or something? Is that what you’re striving for? You haven’t even told us who the father is. Have you told him? Is he not going to help with this?” Her mother stared at her. “Do you even know who the father is?”

Annie looked away. “Of course I know who the father is.”

“And?”

“And what? I’m handling it, Mom,” she said, refusing to fight with her anymore. “Now, let me finish.”

Her mother turned and walked away without another word, and Annie let out a sigh. Was she making a mistake by leaving the security of her parents’ house? Even though her mother obviously wasn’t happy with the situation, she would never kick her out. Would it be better to stay here until she had the baby?

She shook her head. She couldn’t take another eight months of this. She knew her mother too well. Snide remarks would slip out, whether consciously or not. And then there would be the constant mention of Derrick and getting back with him. That in itself was enough to convince her to leave.

She paused, rubbing her hand across her belly. She didn’t really feel any different. Well, other than being sick nearly every morning. But shouldn’t she feel different? She wondered how soon it would be before she started showing. She hadn’t told Suzanne yet. Because once she told Suzanne, Derrick would find out. Actually, she was surprised Derrick didn’t already know. Unless her mother was simply too embarrassed by her pregnancy to tell Derrick’s mother.

She stared up at the ceiling, then closed her eyes. What was she going to do? Eventually, she’d have to tell someone who the father was. Should she tell Jordan? Matt’s parents? Would they even believe her?

She wiped impatiently at a tear that had fallen. Now was no time to start feeling sorry for herself. She had too much to do. Once she got settled in at Pelican’s Landing, the first thing she had to do was find a doctor. Even though she’d gone through pregnancies with Macy and Suzanne, she knew very little about it. That was about to change.



Chapter Twelve

“So she’d heard rumors, huh?” Jordan flipped the chicken over and turned the gas grill down.

“Yes. And when I told her you weren’t charging me rent, she said that was because you expected me to pay in other ways.”

Jordan laughed. “Well, sure. I expect you to cook.”

Annie pointed at the grill. “You seem to be doing a good job,” she said.

“I’m afraid this is it,” she said. “I’ve done steaks, pork chops, chicken and even portabella mushrooms and squash. Other than that, I’m afraid anything else would have to come out of a box or a can.” She smiled. “Well, I can do baked potatoes.”

“Yes. I saw them in the oven,” Annie said.

She added more wine to her glass, then looked at Annie apologetically as she watched. “Sorry. Would you rather I didn’t drink wine?”

Annie shook her head. “I don’t mind. Besides, I’m the one who’s pregnant, not you.”

“Yeah. Thank God.” Annie had a thoughtful expression on her face, and Jordan arched an eyebrow questioningly.

Annie tilted her head. “When did you know you were gay?”

Jordan wasn’t surprised by the question. She was curious though as to why Annie was asking it.

As if reading her mind, Annie added, “Because you don’t have a gay vibe.”

Jordan laughed. “And you know these vibes how?”

Annie smiled. “I watch Ellen.”

“Ah. Of course. Well, maybe it’s because you’ve seen me in nothing but business suits and dress clothes,” she said. “Maybe now that I’ve got a wardrobe full of shorts and jeans, I’ll butch out a little bit for you.”

Annie reached for her water bottle. “So? When did you know?”

Jordan shrugged. “Subconsciously, I guess I always knew. In reality, it was my junior year in high school. There was a sleepover, a slumber party type thing. After the first football game of the year, Friday night, we all went out for pizza. There were six of us. Then we went over to Beth’s house for the weekend. They had a pool and it was still warm. We played games, gossiped, made a mess of her mother’s kitchen at breakfast. And at night, we lit candles and laid in a circle, playing a vague game of Truth or Dare.”

“Someone asked you?”

“No. Nothing like that. But I was next to Sherry. Sherry Bozart. And I looked into her eyes and felt something that I’d never felt before.”

Annie leaned closer. “Sherry Bozart? The name doesn’t ring a bell. Who did she marry?”

“No clue,” she said. “But after that night, things started to make sense to me. It all came crashing down and I panicked.”

“You didn’t tell anyone?”

“Not a soul. And speaking of Ellen, it was the same year she came out on her show and everybody was talking about it. I was terrified I would say the wrong thing and my friends would find out.”

“Did you date guys?”

“Sure. Had a boyfriend at the time. Like I said, it all made sense to me then. I broke up with him the next weekend.”

“Were you sleeping together?”

Jordan laughed. “No. Doing everything but that.” She gave an exaggerated shudder. “Gross.”

Annie laughed too, but to Jordan’s relief didn’t ask any other questions. Jordan, however, had one for her.

“Are you ever going to tell me who the father is?”

Annie met her gaze. “I suppose I’m going to have to someday, yes.”

“It isn’t Derrick, is it?”

“God, no.” Annie looked startled that she would even suggest that. “I didn’t want to have sex with him when we were married. Why would I sleep with him now?”

Of course, that statement brought all sorts of questions to mind, but Annie pointed at the grill and Jordan turned, seeing smoke seeping out.

“I suppose it’s time to rescue those,” she said as she got up.

“I’ll get the potatoes,” Annie offered. “Or did you want to eat inside?”

“I prefer out here, if it’s okay with you.”

“Fine with me.”

Conversation over dinner drifted to less personal things, and they ended the evening with a quick walk down to the pier.

“I’ve got to do something with this,” Jordan said. “A lot of boards need to be replaced.”

“Have you walked to the end?”

“Yes and it’s a miracle it didn’t collapse on me,” she said. “I want to take the Jet Skis out for a spin too. My father said that Matt had them serviced in March so they should be good to go.” She glanced at Annie. “Do you ride?”

Annie shook her head. “The only time I’ve been on one was at Matt’s party last year. Brandon took me out and proceeded to dump me in the water after one spin. He was quite proud of himself.”

“I’ll take you out if you want,” she said. “It’s been years since I’ve been on one. I’m sure my speed will be more grandmother than teenager.”

“Thanks. That would be fun.”



Chapter Thirteen

Annie looked up from the computer when she heard someone clear her throat. She was shocked to see Suzanne staring at her. She’d been avoiding her for the last two weeks. She plastered a smile on her face now.

“Hey, stranger,” she said.

“What? You start working full time and you don’t have time for me anymore?”

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’ve had a lot going on.”