Blind Kiss(53)

“It doesn’t matter what you say because I’m not getting an abortion. The due date is my father’s birthday.” Her face drained of all color as she stared at me, expressionless. “And we used a condom.”

Suddenly, I felt frantic. Panicky, like the conversation was slipping out of my control. “P, don’t tell me you think this is the second coming of your dad?”

She shook her head. “No. I don’t. I just think it’s a sign. I know, in my heart, that I shouldn’t have an abortion.”

“You don’t believe in signs.”

“I do now.”

“We’re going to my dad’s.” My father adored Penny, and I knew he’d be able to talk some sense into her.

When we got to my dad’s, I opened the door and walked in, with Penny trailing behind me. He was at the kitchen counter, eating smoked oysters from the can.

“Hey kids.”

“Dad, Penny’s pregnant with Limpdick’s baby and she won’t have an abortion because the due date is her dad’s birthday and she thinks it’s a sign and she’s being irrational and she can’t have this baby, it will ruin her life and Lance will always have to be around forever and this whole situation is fucked.” I was practically crying as Penny stood quietly behind me. My dad just stared at me with an open mouth full of smoked oysters. “And . . . and Penny is pregnant with Limpdick’s baby . . .”

“You said that already, son,” my dad said. He was a large, formidable man with a thick beard, but inside, he was gentle, kind, and smart. “Slow down,” he said as he chewed and swallowed the oysters in his mouth. He looked from me to Penny and back before focusing his eyes on the barstools. “Sit.”

Penny reached for an oyster and my dad pushed the can toward her. “Ew, how can you eat those right now?” I said.

She shrugged. “I love these. And I’m hungry.”

“No one born after 1967 loves those.”

She shrugged again and popped one in her mouth.

My dad took a deep breath.

“Is it true, Penny?” he asked.

“Yes, Frank. It’s all true.”

“You want to keep the baby, you keep the baby. It’s a blessing. Your mom and I will help, but you don’t have to marry Limpdi—” He turned and looked at me. “Son, I have to tell you, that’s not an appropriate nickname.” I scowled. He looked back at Penny. “Lance, is it?”

“Yeah.”

“You don’t have to marry Lance, dear. Gavin’s mother and I got married and it only lasted a year before she ran off to Hollywood. If the love isn’t there . . .”

“I know,” Penny said. “I know.”

I studied her face intently as she ate smoked oysters in silence. But does she know?


AFTER SITTING THROUGH my dad’s advice, which was the opposite of everything I wanted him to say, I drove Penny home, pulled into the driveway, and turned off Charlize.

“I wouldn’t even know if Lance wants to marry me anyway,” she said, not looking at me.

“Of course he will. But you don’t have to, like my dad said,” I told her.

“Why are you so sure Lance will be happy about it?”

“Because he’s in love with you.” I turned and caught her eye for longer than a beat. She looked away.

“I can’t believe you stayed with Lottie as long as you did. Everyone knew there was something off about her. It wasn’t a news flash when you told me she was bipolar. I actually have more sympathy for her now, poor thing. She’ll have to battle a life-changing mental disorder forever. Maybe you should actually try to be there for her instead of trying to run my life.”

“Penny, I don’t need to hear it. I told you, it was mutual.” Depression was sinking in now. She was trying to push me away, eliminate an obstacle. Penny was going to have a baby and it wasn’t mine. I had never even touched her. Would I ever?

Would she ever be mine?





24. Three Months Ago


PENNY

My husband was practically screaming and crying in our front yard.

“What the hell’s going on, Lance?”

“Milo said you had a great time with Gavin today. The three of you. How do you think that makes me feel, Penny?”

“We’ve been married for fourteen years. Why do you need me to reassure you all the time?”

“I can’t take this anymore. I’ve always been second fiddle to him.”

“Then why don’t you leave?” I started to cry.

“Is it that easy for you?”

“No, it’s not. It’s never been easy, Lance. Never. I’m sick of being caught between you two.”

“You want to teach your son that it’s okay for his wife to cavort with other men?”

“Cavort? Are you kidding me?” I was almost speechless. “I’m not cavorting with Gavin!”

The unmistakable roar of Gavin’s car coming to life echoed down the street. Lance and I stood there frozen, glaring at each other.

“He’ll never be out of our lives, will he?”

“Why would you want him to be?”

“Because you’re my wife. The mother of my child.”