“Thank you.”
“No problem. I was worried you were gonna drop it for a minute there.” He grinned at her. “And I’m starving.”
“This looks delicious, Courtney,” Mary said, the corners of her eyes wrinkling. “And it smells wonderful.”
“How about we all stop talking about how it looks and start tasting it?” Ellis suggested, leaning forward to carve a slice. “One slice or two, sweetheart?” he asked his wife.
“Just one.”
“I’ll have two,” Carl said. “I haven’t eaten since this morning.”
Once the food was served, Carl lifted his glass of red wine. “We should have a toast,” he said. “To absent loved ones. My brother.”
“To Shaun,” Ellis lifted his glass, then Mary did, too.
All three of them gazed at Courtney. She hadn’t found the words to say no when Carl had poured wine into her glass. It wasn’t as though she needed to drive home, after all. And they all knew Cabernet Sauvignon was her favorite wine. She’d let it sit there, planning to pour it down the sink when nobody was looking.
“To Shaun,” she said, curling her fingers around the stem.
Thanksgiving had been his favorite holiday. He always said there was something so simple about it. Good food, family, and none of the gifts and overindulgence that Christmas seemed to bring. Just time to rest and to think about the past year.
“The ham is lovely, dear,” Mary said from across the table. “You really are a wonderful cook.”
“Thank you. It’s nice to have people to cook for.” Courtney smiled at her. “And I owed you one after you cooked on Thursday.”
“I’m glad we’re able to all celebrate together,” Ellis said, spooning more mashed potatoes onto his plate. “It’s a shame you couldn’t be with us on Thursday, son.”
“I tried to rearrange the roster.” Carl shrugged. “But you know what it’s like. Those with families get first pick of the holidays.”
“Maybe you’ll get first pick one day,” Mary said, smiling at him. “When you settle down with a wife and have some children.”
Courtney felt her cheeks flame up. She slowly looked up from her plate. Carl was staring right at her. His gaze was firm. Intent. And it made her mouth go dry. She reached for her wine glass before she realized what she was doing.
And immediately pulled her hand away again.
“You’re not drinking,” Carl said. A statement, not a question. It made her fingers tremble.
“Oh, you should try it,” Mary said, taking another sip. “It’s delicious.”
Courtney glanced at the wine, then back at Carl. “I can’t drink,” she said, her voice low.
This was it. Time to tell them. Her breath caught in her throat.
“Why can’t you?” Carl asked.
She looked up at him. His brows were knitted together, his gaze set on her face. Mary was looking at her, too. Her expression was full of concern. Ellis was the only one still eating.
“I have some news,” Courtney said, trying to find the right words. “And I have no idea how to tell you this, but you need to know. I’m having a baby.”
Ellis dropped his fork, the metal clanging against the tiled floor.
“You’re pregnant?” Mary asked, her voice tremulous.
Courtney nodded. Her eyes stung as she met Mary’s confused stare. “I’m due in June. I don’t have an exact due date yet, but I will after I have my first appointment next week.”
“I don’t understand.” Mary shook her head. “Who’s the father? I didn’t know you were seeing anybody.”
“It’s not important,” Courtney said softly. She wasn’t ready for that bit yet.
Carl slammed his fist on the table, making the silverware clatter against the wood. Courtney’s wine sloshed over the side. “Of course it’s fucking important,” he said, standing, his face stained red. “You’ve been fooling around with somebody and I want to know who it is.”
“Carl!” Mary looked up at him, her voice tremulous. “Be kind.”
“Who is he?” Carl’s jaw was tight.
Courtney curled her hands into fists beneath the table, resting them on her thighs. Ellis was staring down at his half-eaten plate, while Mary’s watery eyes were set on Courtney. Carl walked around the table, putting his hand on Courtney’s shoulder, making a shiver wrack down her spine.
“Who’s the father, Courtney?” he asked again.
“Stop asking her,” Ellis finally spoke. “It’s none of our business.”
Courtney shot him a grateful look.
“Of course it’s our business. She was married to my brother. Your son. She still lives in his house.” Carl blinked, tipping his head to the side. “The car I saw outside that time? Is it the father’s?”
“Sit down, Carl, and eat your dinner,” Mary urged. “You’re upsetting her.”
“I can’t sit down,” he said, his voice low. “And I can’t eat another damn thing.” He inhaled sharply. “I need to get out of here before I do something I’ll regret.”
Courtney reached for his arm, but he jerked it away. “Carl, this doesn’t mean I didn’t love Shaun.”
“You told me you weren’t over him.” His voice was sharp.
“I’m not.” She let out a ragged breath. “Or I wasn’t. I don’t know.” She wasn’t sure how she’d envisaged this going down, but this wasn’t it. “I’m sorry,” she said, her voice gentle. “I know this must be a shock for you all.”
“I imagine it was a shock for you, too,” Ellis said, his eyes sparkling. “Now are you sitting down, Carl, or are you going? Because I want to eat this ham.”
“I’m leaving.” Carl shrugged on the jacket he’d slung over the back of his kitchen chair.
“Please stay,” Courtney said to him. “I’d like us to enjoy dinner together.”
Carl shook his head. “You all go ahead and eat at my brother’s table, while the woman he loved is knocked up with another guy’s baby. But I can’t eat another damn thing.” He pulled his keys from his pocket, and stalked out of the kitchen and through the living area, wrenching the front door open. He didn’t look back as he stepped outside before he slammed it behind him.
Courtney
