Megan invited her friend, Karen over one weekend in early November.
"We have some catching up to do. Come in the afternoon or evening, I'm alone all weekend."
"What's going on?" Karen looked at her suspiciously.
"I don't want to talk here. The walls have ears."
"Invite Kristi over so we can have some fun!"
"Oh no! Not that again. We'll disturb my neighbors."
"What neighbors? It's November."
"I have a few winter neighbors." Other than Kristi she didn't.
The past July the three of them had gotten together. They walked over and had a few drinks at The Beach House and then returned to Megan's house. Karen brought Cards Against Humanity and they laughed so hard, Karen claimed she peed her pants. Dan called Kristi's phone to say that he could hear them laughing across the street.
"Okay spoils sport. I'll find sleepovers for the girls or send them to my mother. You can plan on Saturday night."
Megan shopped for some adult snacks and a bottle of wine. She suspected that Karen would bring one which would be plenty since Megan wasn't drinking. Karen arrived and Megan marveled at how she recovered from her abusive marriage.
At the time, Megan had asked, "Does he touch you?"
"Not in ways that leave marks. He will pull my hair to get my attention or hold my arm or hand too tight, but never enough to bruise."
Megan's own disastrous marriage ended with hardly a raised voice, but she took Karen to her lawyer and helped her through the ordeal.
Karen said, "I saw your twins today. They are as cute as ever."
"They are." Megan smiled. "Where were they?"
"Walmart. Buying birthday presents."
"Makes sense. I never deal with any of that."
She took advantage of Peter, because he let her. Birthday parties were on weekends, so they were his responsibility and that included buying the presents. She suspected he did a good job and didn't buy junky toys - the kind all moms hated, because it would have gotten back to her.
"Speaking of cute, I think he's gotten better with age." Karen almost purred.
Megan felt a pang of something. It couldn't be jealousy that would be ridiculous.
"Did he even remember you?" Megan ignored her odd reaction. When they were married Peter had met Karen, and they got along well. He would tease her about putting scores of kids to sleep every day in English class.
"Oh yes. He asked if I was still torturing kids with The Odyssey. I told him thanks to Rick Riordan, kids love it now. He laughed and said he wished Percy Jackson was around when he was in high school. I guess he's a reader."
Kristi walked in. "What did I miss girls? I have bruschetta!"
"You missed Megan getting up tight when I told her that I have the hots for her ex."
"Who doesn't?" Kristi laughed.
"I'm telling Dan," Megan said.
"He knows." Kristi turned to Karen. "You knew them before. So what happened?"
Karen looked at Megan and answered, "It was complicated and that's all I'm prepared to say."
Disappointed, Kristi changed the subject. "Dan said he didn't want to hear us cackling."
Karen said, "We don't cackle! That was a fun night. Remember the cute bartender."
Both Kristi and Megan shook their heads. Megan didn't remember noticing who was at the bar.
"He was a blonde hunk, and he was totally checking Megan out."
"You never said anything about that before!" Megan wondered if it was Evan. "Was his hair straight? How tall was he?"
Kristi looked at Megan and smiled. Karen said, "It was months ago, but officer, I would say wavy and not overly tall."
Kristi choked on her wine, and Megan glared at her.
"Okay girls fess up. What do you know about the bartender?"
"I know nothing, ask our friend." Kristi looked at Megan.
"Okay, okay! I knew him. He and I saw each other last summer."
"Saw?" Karen asked.
"We had a relationship."
"Of a sexual nature," Kristi said under her breath.
"What? How is it you never told me?" Karen protested.
"I planned on telling you tonight, actually."
"Why? Are you still seeing him?"
"No. He's long gone."
Kristi who seemed to enjoy the show chimed in. "Ask her where her wine is?"
Megan watched as Karen's eye went to the glass of water in her hand and as if gears were turning in her head, she slowly reacted with a shocked expression and yelled, "No! Oh my God! No!"
Megan nodded her head yes. Karen looked towards Megan's middle as if she was seeing her for the first time. "I thought you finally started eating again."
"I wanted to tell you. Soon I'll need to tell administration before people start noticing. I'm nervous since most of the staff knows I'm divorced... students too."
"Are you freaking out about this? What did your bartender say?"
"I was freaking out, but then I figured there was no point. I haven't told him. He left the country before I knew and he isn't coming back."
"Left the country sounds like he's a fugitive," Karen commented.
"No, he took off for his dream job in the Bahamas. This baby is mine alone. I would appreciate your help in keeping the gossip at a minimum."
"I need another glass of wine!"
The Tuesday before Thanksgiving break, Megan met with the school principal and told him she was expecting and anticipating a leave in late April. He asked nothing more personal than how she was feeling. Megan told him it was not a secret, but she wasn't looking for a big announcement.
When Megan left his office, she breathed a sigh of relief. Still nagging in the back of her mind was her father, she needed to tell him. Perhaps she would get a chance over the weekend.
As she went to pick the kids up she bumped into Becka leaving. Megan was glad she had her coat on. She wasn't ready to reveal her expanding girth to her former sister-in-law.
"Oh Megan! How are you?" She approached her for a hug.
"I'm glad to have a few days off."
"Big plans for the holiday?"
"No, not for me. You?"
"Liz is coming for a few days."
"That's nice. My brother is coming home too. I hope to see him at some point."
Becka looked at Megan. "Do you have plans for Thanksgiving dinner?"
Megan could tell Becka felt sorry for her. She didn't want or deserve her sympathy. Being estranged from her mother made all holidays difficult. Most holidays, she let the twins go with Peter to be with extended family. She wouldn't be able to make the day special with just the three of them. "No, but it's really fine. I'm used to being alone." She gave her a smile and added, "Have fun with Nick and Sophie."
"You know I love them. They're great kids and I know kids." Megan smiled.
Megan had two days with the twin which would have to be better than one holiday spent alone.
YOU ARE READING
Shattered Hearts (TP1)
Romance(Complete) Peter isn't prepared for the reality of another man spending the night with his ex. He should be, but his heart has never let her go. Peter, who was abandoned by his father as a young boy, will do anything for his kids. He won't stop unt...
