Denny moves closer to me. Hiseyes are wide. “What condition?”
“It’s nothing. Don’t worry aboutit.”
To my shock, he starts tochuckle. “She’s knocked up? Are you serious? Who’s is it?”
I feel a flash of anger. “Who’sdo you fucking think it is, Denny?”
“Robbie’s? No way. He knockedher up?” He’s still laughing, a kind of shocked, cockylaughter.
“I’m glad you see the humor init.”
“Irony, Jade. Not humor.”
“Do you know what irony is?”
“You’ll get it,” he says. “Whenyou’re ready to hear it, you’ll get it.”
I don’t have time for hisfucked-up riddles at the best of times; now, I’m scraping thebottom of my barrel of patience. I tell myself to calm down. He’sobviously off his meds, and I’m a fool to take anything he saysseriously.
He holds up his hands. “ClearlyI’m wedding crashing here. I’ll have one drink for the road andI’ll be on my way. I’ve got to catch the last ferry anyway.” Hebrushes past me, opens the door and walks out.
“Denny. No. Stop,” I say, buthe’s already gone.
Suddenly, Annie is there,marching into the bedroom and standing in front of me. She foldsher arms over her barely visible belly, and her blue eyes spark asshe glares at me. “On our wedding day, Jade? Really?”
“I know. I know.” I hold up myhands. “I tried. He’s waiting for the last ferry. He’ll have onequick drink and he’ll be gone before you know it, okay?”
“Do I have a fuckingchoice?”
“No, but neither do I.”
I lean over to kiss her but shepulls away. Her face is flushed and red. She’s not going to forgetabout this any time soon. Then she looks down at the envelope in myhand. “What’s that?”
“Oh. Yeah. Wedding gift.”
She takes the envelope out of myhand and thumbs through the wad. Her anger gives way to shock.“There’s a lot of cash here, Jade.”
“I know. Don’t worry. I’m givingit back to him when he’s sane.”
“Well, just a minute.” Shethumbs through the cash again. “Considering what he did to me,don’t you think we should keep the money as a sort of restitutionpayment?”
I’m shocked. “Are you serious? Idon’t think that was his intention.”
“No, but it’s the way I’mlooking at it.” She walks over to her dresser, stuffs the envelopeunder a stack of her shirts and then closes it. “I’ll just put itthere for now, for safekeeping.”
She walks back to me. Her faceis less flushed, and her mood seems to have improved. She evengives me a hint of a smile.
I never would have guessed, in amillion years, that Annie would be okay with receiving anythingfrom Denny after what happened. I used to be able to predict hermoods without fault—now I’m wrong more than I’m right.
Maybe it’s the hormones. I’veheard they can really fuck up a woman when she’s pregnant. I don’tknow. Whatever it is, right now, I’m just as confused by herbehaviour as I am with Denny’s.
When we walk out of the bedroom,Denny is sitting on the couch with Tim and Hank. They’re laughingand chatting, and I hear Tim ask Denny if he wants a shot ofwhiskey, and he holds up a bottle. Oh great. Tim fills a glass halffull and passes it to Denny, who takes it with thanks. When Dennynotices me watching him, he reaches in his pocket and pulls out apill bottle, which he shakes with a smile. “Look, sis, I’m takingmy meds.” He flips the lid open with his thumb and then rattles thebottle until a pill falls out and lands on his tongue.
I shake my head. Seeing this,Annie goes to the bedroom, then reappears a minute later wearingher hoodie. “I’m going to go and check on Stinky.”
“Do you want me to come withyou?”
“No, I think you should stayhere and oversee things.”
She’s probably right. Whiletipsy Tim and my brother laugh and talk, Hank gets up and walks tothe door.
“Going somewhere?” I ask.
“Just to grab my smokes. I leftthem in my truck.”
I look back at Tim just in timeto see his pouring more booze into the glasses. I know if I sayanything, it’ll spark a fight. All I can do is wait quietly for afew minutes until they all have to leave for the ferry.
Annie walks back in, and I canhear Hank trudging up the stairs behind her.
“Couldn’t find the dog?” Iask.
“Nope. He must be way down bythe beach somewhere.”
Just as Hank reaches the door,Stinky cruises in, beating him into the house. Annie looks at meand shrugs sheepishly.
Thankfully, the clock showstwenty minutes until sail time. “We better get a move on it,” saysHank.
The three of them stand up andwalk to the door. Hank congratulates Annie and me before steppingout, patting Stinky on the way. Next, Tim gives me a hug, breathingpungent booze in my face. “Jade, I love ya. Thanks for invitingme.” Then, he hugs Annie. “Congrats to you too, kid. And next timeyou see me at a restaurant, no matter who you’re with, say hi.”
Annie smiles and says nothing.At least she didn’t argue with him. When he’s out the door, shelooks at me and rolls her eyes.
I manage to talk Denny intostaying at the B&B tonight. He’s so pissed that he’d be in aditch a minute after getting behind the wheel. I drive Denny in histruck and Annie follows me in her car.
As we drive, Denny stares out ofthe passenger window.
“Hey, brother, are you alright?You’re not saying anything.”
“That’s because you don’t wantto hear what I have to say.”
His voice is raspy and loud,probably because of the whisky and pill chaser he had. “I want tohear what you have to say, just not if it’s about Annie.”
“I don’t think you’re as stupidas you pretend to be, Jade. You must know that you’re gettingplayed.”
“Denny, if you don’t stop thatshit, I’m leaving you by the side of the road and you canwalk.”
He looks at me. I look back. Heknows I’m serious. “I’m just trying to help you, sis.”
Finally, the headlights flashacross the B&B sign ahead. I pull over and shut off the engine.“Here you are, Denny, safe and sound.”
“Thanks, Jade. Do you think Ican call you tomorrow before I leave the
