2 weeks later...
Kira
Tonight is the stupid engagement party and Dad made us promise to be on our best behavior. That means we have to be polite, stay out of the way, and pretend to be happy. The party starts in an hour and I'm already dreading it.
"Let me see those smiles." Dad said making us roll our eyes before pushing out some fake ones. He snapped a picture of us with his phone. "Perfect. You guys are almost as cute as I am."
He picked up his cane and stood up. He's been doing so well he doesn't even need the wheelchair anymore. When he walked off I looked back at my siblings.
"I can't believe I'm wearing this. A bow tie? Really?" Trent said. Valerie wants us to be servers at the party and she made us wear matching outfits.
"Purple is so not my color." Karsyn added. Before Val invited herself into our convo.
"It's not Purple. It's Periwinkle. Now here are your trays and make sure you smile and don't drop anything. Don't forget to behave, I'd hate to have to convince your father to ship you off to boarding school." She said making Karsyn angry.
"I'm gonna periwinkle my foot up her-"
"Karsyn! We promised Dad we would be good." I interjected.
"Fine."
"Look it's just one night, then we can return to our devious ways."
"Cool." Trent shrugged as she held our trays in the air.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Toni
"So you're coming tonight, right?" Claire asked through the phone as we FaceTimed each other.
"Hell no!"
"But I thought we were gonna be petty and talk about how ugly her dress is gonna be and how boring the party is."
"Well..." I trailed off grabbing my sweatshirt. I didn't want to talk about Ken, Val, or this stupid party.
"Hey, you're gaining a little weight." She said interrupting my thoughts.
"I've been drowning my sorrows in donuts and strawberry milkshakes. Maybe I'll hit the gym later."
"Toni you can't leave me with these people."
"The kids will be there."
"Ugh!! I'm coming over."
Before I could speak she hung up. I lifted my shirt examining myself in the mirror. I'm definitely not coming out of this room tonight.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
An hour later...
Kenny
The party has started and the guest are just pouring in. Everyone from coworkers to some of our close family members are here. I looked around for Toni but part of me knows she wouldn't be caught dead at this party. I'm just worried because she's been avoiding me for the past few days. Maybe she's just trying to avoid the pain.
"Hello, I'm Taina from People magazine." The photographer greeted us with a handshake.
"Thanks for coming and letting us be in your latest issue." Val said.
"Hi Mr. Edmonds, I haven't seen you since you and Toni's wedding. That issue sold the most, it was amazing-"
"Okay, can we focus? Let's discuss when and where you take photos." Val interrupted before they walked away together. "Oh wait here babe, it's for the toast later." She said before leaving again.
Claire came up to me, "Where's your baby mama?"
"Which one?" I joked.
"The one I actually like."
"Upstairs, second door on the left."
"Thanks. Get rid of that tie, it's disgusting." She said before leaving me there examining the tie Val got me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Claire
"Come on!" I said trying to pull the pillow off her face.
"Nooo!"
"Toni!"
"Claire, why can't I just have my little pity party in peace?! I don't want to go down there pretending I'm okay with this when I'm not. I don't even wanna talk about Kenny or this cheap ass party or that dollar store version of me he's marrying!" She said.
I sighed. I guess I was so busy trying to the shady I forgot how hard this was for her.
"Fine, I'm sorry. I forgot you were still hurting."
"No, I'm sorry. I'm fine, I'm over it. Can you pass me those twizzlers over there, and the jar of pickles next to it?"
I picked the stuff up and gave it to her. I watched sympathetically as she ate a twizzler while hugging the jar of pickles. The pressed play on the movie and Waiting To Exhale started playing.
"Hey, I'm remember you and Kenny did the soundtrack for-" I cut myself off as she looked at me. "Sorry..."
She turned it off and laid down. I took that as my cue to leave. I went back to the party and it was getting crowded. The kids were serving hors d'oeuvres with a side of attitude. Trent was even sneaking some food from the tray into his mouth.
I greeted everyone I knew and a few I didn't. A tinging on a glass captured everyone's attention.
"Hi, Kenny and I are so happy that you all came here to celebrate with us. I just want to say; Kenny we have been through a lot together and I'm so glad we have each other...and this little one on the way." Valerie announced as some people cheered. She looked at my brother giving him a signal with her eyes.
He pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket. "Umm, Valerie, I have been with many women in my life but none of them stole my heart like you did. When I was down you were there to lift me up. I can honestly say I've never loved anyone as much as I love you-"
He tried to stop himself but it was too late and a roar of awes and coos were around the room. I rolled my eyes as Valerie pretended to be shocked by what he said like she didn't write that for him. They kissed and I nearly gagged.
"Mom!" Kira said. I turned to see Toni standing up and running back upstairs. I stopped Kira who was on her way after her.
"I'll go."
I went upstairs to Toni's room and opened the door to her sobbing on the floor. I sat down next her, "Toni you know that was all a lie. He was reading off a paper for crying out loud. He didn't really mean that shit."
"I know it's a lie, that's not the problem. It's just seeing them together hurts more than I realized. Especially since we..."
"What?"
"We had sex!" She confessed.
I gasped at scalding hot tea being spilt before me. She huffed through her tears while shaking her head in guilt.
"Then today he's with her, they're getting married and...she's pregnant!! And now..." She trailed off shaking her head as she cried harder.
"What? What is it?" I asked worried.
After collecting herself she finally said it. "I'm pregnant too."
