Chapter Thirty-Eight
A
fter church and then having brunch the following Sunday, Ivy bid her sisters farewell and safe travels as they got on the road headed back to North Carolina, but not before her and Savannah got into another spat about taking care of herself, which was code talk for taking care of the baby. Savannah worried about everything, and Ivy definitely understood why, but it didn’t mean that it wasn’t annoying and a bit insulting. Ivy didn’t need to be counseled on every aspect of her pregnancy. She’d done a pretty good job thus far, considering she’d gotten further along than Bridgette had. But, she’d never be so insensitive as to say that out loud, even though she’d thought it.
She knew Savannah was beyond grateful and thankful because she said it all the time, but it was almost as if she didn’t trust Ivy to be responsible enough to ensure that she had a healthy pregnancy. She’d even suggested Ivy move back to Charlotte a few weeks after learning of her pregnancy because she wanted to “keep a close watch” on her and Ivy balked at the suggestion. Ivy was surprised at all of Bridgette’s bad traits that Savannah had seemed to be picking up and she confronted Bridgette thinking she was behind it.
“Bridgette, have you been in Savannah’s ear?” Ivy queried.
“No. Why are you asking me that?”
“Because a lot of what comes out of your baby sister’s mouth lately sounds too much like you,” Ivy retorted.
Bridgette chuckled. “I don’t know if I should be insulted or not, but okay. What’s going on?”
“Savannah has it in her mind that she needs to keep an eye on me. I haven’t had anybody do that since Mama and Daddy, and that’s where it ended. I’m a grown woman. I can take care of myself and I’m capable of taking care of someone else for that matter,” Ivy said, placing a hand on her belly that would soon have a bulge.
“She doesn’t mean it that way, Ivy. She’s just worried since…” Bridgette’s words trailed off.
Ivy knew it was still hard for her to talk about the miscarriage. It was for all of them.
“I know. But, I can’t go through the next nine months having her trying to police my every move. I’m doing this for her and for no other reason, so she has to relax,” Ivy complained. “I mean, I’m only a few weeks into this pregnancy and she’s already acting like a prison warden. I. Can’t.”
Bridgette chuckled again. “She was the same with me to a certain extent, but she knew that I was already experienced in it. But, that still didn’t matter in the end,” Bridgette lamented and Ivy could hear the guilt and sadness in her voice.
“Don’t go there, sissy. You have to stop blaming yourself. It matters because you tried and if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have even considered being Savannah’s surrogate. So, see there’s always a blessing to come out of everything,” Ivy said.
“Wow, you sounded just like Mama when you said that,” said Bridgette, which made Ivy smile from the inside out. That was the biggest compliment her big sister could ever give her.
“Well, she’s always around us so I’m not surprised,” said Ivy.
“I agree. She’s definitely been with me and I know that because I haven’t ended up in a mental ward or jail for that matter,” said Bridgette, and Ivy knew she was referring to her souring marriage.
“Amen,” said Ivy.
A sharp movement in her stomach brought Ivy out of her thoughts as she sat in her living room, propped up on the sofa, flipping through the latest issue of In Style magazine.
“Oh my,” she exclaimed, placing a hand on her protruding belly. And then, it happened again. It was the first time Ivy had felt the baby kick, and it was a little jarring, but she was amused by it.
“You’re going to be a strong, little diva like your auntie.” Ivy giggled, pressing her hand gently into her stomach.
Savannah and Julius had agreed they’d wait until the baby shower to learn the sex. Ivy was hoping it was a girl, since they already had two boys in the family. It would be awesome to have someone she could spoil and teach her fashion and make-up skills. That thought brought a smile to Ivy’s face and she began humming a lullaby that her mother often sang to her and her sisters, hoping to get another reaction from the baby. And when another kick came a few minutes later, Ivy squealed in laughter.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
B
ridgette would’ve never imagined she’d be considering divorce. It seemed as if she and Nick were at the point of irreconcilable differences. They’d grown into a habit of coexisting for the sake of their children and Bridgette wouldn’t use them as an excuse to stay together anymore. It was time to make a decision once and for all.
It was obvious Nick felt the same because she’d found a lease agreement he’d signed for an apartment that he was supposed to be moving into in a few weeks and he hadn’t mentioned one word about it. So, when he was going to give her the courtesy of telling her, Bridgette didn’t know, but she would confront him about it.
And then, there was his mother.
Bridgette had banned Cassietta from coming to her house. If she didn’t ever see that woman again in life, it wouldn’t be a moment too soon. But, she knew how much her boys loved their grandmother and vice versa, so she would never discourage a relationship between them. So, Nick just took them to visit her in Durham on some weekends and Bridgette didn’t have a problem with it, but she also warned him that Cassietta had better not speak ill of her in front of her children. She wouldn’t tolerate it. His response was to glare at her and shake his head, which had become the extent of their communication lately. It was sad, but that is what it had come down to.
Bridgette sat waiting in the family room for Nick to arrive home from a swim meet. And when she heard him come in, she called for him. He seemed reluctant as he dropped his large gym bag by the entrance and looked at her.
“What’s up?” he asked.
Bridgette could detect irritation in his voice as if she was the last person on Earth he wanted to talk to.
“We need to talk,” she announced.
“Where are the boys?”
“They’re in bed already.”
“Go ahead and say what you have to say. I’m listening,” said Nick.
Bridgette sighed. He was already giving her major attitude, so she knew this wasn’t going to be an easy conversation, but it had to be had nonetheless.
“Can you come and sit down, please? I don’t want to talk to you from all the way over there. There’s been enough distance between us, don’t you think?” Bridgette asked.
He didn’t respond, but walked over to her, although begrudgingly, and sat a few feet away from her on the sectional. He stared at her, waiting for her to speak.
“When did you plan on telling me you were moving out? I found the lease you signed.” Bridgette pulled the document tucked next to her and slid it across the chair toward him.
He glanced at it, unfazed and then looked back at her.
“The move-in date specified is only a few weeks away, Nick. Were you just going to wait until then to say anything?”
“Haven’t had the time to,” was all he said, matter-of-factly.
Bridgette wanted to slap him, but the last time she’d done that it had turned out bad. For her and her sister. She sighed. “What happened to us, Nick? I know we haven’t had the perfect marriage by any means, but we always had an open line of communication.”
He snickered. She hated when he did that. She always felt demeaned.
“I really wish you wouldn’t laugh when I try to talk to you, especially about something so important. Our marriage is in shambles and I don’t find anything amusing about that,” Bridgette huffed. She could feel her anger rising, but she was trying to keep from erupting.
“I find it amusing that you think our communication has been open. The way I see it, it’s always been about how you see things or feel they should be. It’s your way or the highway. And this time, I’m choosing the latter,” said Nick. The way he said the l
ast sentence made Bridgette’s heart drop. It sounded final like he was done with her and their marriage.
“What are you saying?”
“Since you’ve always acted like you’re the man of the house, I won’t stand in your way anymore. You can rule your kingdom like you want to now.” His eyes were cold and his voice devoid of emotion.
Bridgette winced at his words. They were painful and cutting. She fought back tears. “Don’t be insulting. Why don’t you be a man and tell me what it is you’re so bitter about. Everything I’ve ever done was to better our family. And I’m sorry if your ego won’t let you see that,” Bridgette said.
He shook his head. “What’s the point? You’ll hear what you want to hear and turn everything else I say around to make yourself look better. But the truth of the matter is, you’ve never valued me. Nothing I’ve ever done has been good enough for you.”
“That’s not true. Why would you say something so hurtful? We’ve been together almost eleven years now, and if I didn’t value you we wouldn’t have lasted this long or were you pretending to love me all of this time?” she asked, a tear finally falling from her eye. She wiped her wet cheek.
He seemed unmoved by her tears and seemed to be staring through her. It was clear to Bridgette that he was already gone emotionally and had just been waiting to make the physical transition from her life.
“I’ve always loved you and I always will. But, I won’t be second to everything else in your life anymore. Not your business, not your sisters, and not even the boys,” he said.
Bridgette didn’t even want to fix her mouth to form the words “divorce” because if she was honest with herself, that’s not what she wanted. Even after the way Nick had been treating her, even after showing a side of himself that she despised and never wanted to see again, and even with the distance that had their hearts and minds so out of sync with one another, she still wanted to be married to him. She still wanted to be Mrs. Nicholas Harper.
“Do you want out of this marriage?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper. She couldn’t stop her tears from falling now. He stared into her eyes, and she no longer saw the man she was married to. It was like looking into the eyes of a stranger.
“Yes,” he said, grabbing the lease and rising from the sectional. “And I’ll talk to the boys. I want to be the one to tell them I’m leaving.” And with that, he left Bridgette to grapple with his words.
Chapter Forty
S
avannah debated on whether or not to call Ivy before heading to work. It was still fairly early; at least for Ivy who she knew always had the advantage of sleeping in, something she had the luxury of doing since she didn’t work a normal job. Savannah was glad that she wasn’t traveling as much now as she was in the beginning of the pregnancy, which had been another point of contention between them with all of the germs Ivy was exposing the baby to.
She knew Ivy had a doctor’s appointment later that afternoon, and she wanted to make sure that she didn’t miss it. This was why she hated that Ivy was in Georgia and she in North Carolina because she would have preferred not to get the information about the baby’s progress second hand, but that’s how it was and there wasn’t much she could do about it. So, despite Ivy’s crabby attitude, which she wanted to contribute to the pregnancy, she decided to call her. She’d worry all morning if she didn’t and wouldn’t be able to focus on much else.
“It’s seven in the morning, Savannah. Is something wrong?” Ivy asked, sounding groggy.
Savannah was surprised that she had even answered.
“No. I’m just calling to make sure you don’t forget your appointment this afternoon. I really wish I were there to go with you. You shouldn’t be going through this alone. If you had listened to me and stayed in Charlotte like I wanted—,”
“Really, Savannah?” Ivy huffed, cutting her off. “You called me this early in the morning to gripe?”
“Sorry to wake you. I just wanted to make sure you remembered. That’s all,” Savannah said, ignoring her sister’s attitude.
“Savannah, we’ve had this conversation more than I care to and it’s really getting old. I’m more than capable of remembering a doctor’s appointment,” she snapped. “I’m not one of your students.”
“I know that, Ivy. I’m just—,” Savannah began, but Ivy cut her off again.
“You’re getting on my nerves is what you’re doing. I didn’t offer to do this and put my life on hold just so you could be a pain in my backside every chance you get. Do you want me to end up in the same predicament as Bridgette because you can’t lay off?” Ivy said, her voice going up an octave. “Because that is what’s going to happen if you keep this up. And you’ll have yourself to blame this time.”
Savannah’s face flushed from the sting of her sister’s words. She knew that the pregnancy was making Ivy an emotional rollercoaster, but she was going too far. She’d never spoken so mean to her and Savannah wasn’t used to it. It had always been Bridgette on the receiving end of her cutting words.
“Ivy, calm down. There’s no need for you to get so upset and worked up. Considering we’re paying for your medical care and it’s our baby you’re carrying, I don’t think it’s unreasonable for me to be concerned.”
“No, it’s my baby until it leaves my womb. And in case you forgot, I’m the one it has to rely on. Not you. All you’ve had to do is sit on the sidelines while I’ve gotten fat and watched my ankles swell,” she spat, ending their call and leaving Savannah speechless.
Chapter Forty-One
B
ridgette slid a tray of red velvet cupcakes, one of Sugar Rush’s bestsellers into the glass display. A tap on the front door drew her attention. She was surprised to see her sister standing on the other side of the glass. She walked from behind the counter to let her in.
“What are you doing here? Did something happen?” Bridgette asked. Ivy and the baby flashed in her mind, and she prayed it wasn’t anything concerning them.
“No,” Savannah said, alleviating some of Bridgette’s fears.
“You look upset. What’s wrong?” Bridgette queried, studying her sister before locking the door behind them. She glanced down at her wristwatch. It was three minutes after eight o’clock. “And shouldn’t you be at school?”
“Ivy went off on me this morning.”
Savannah walked over to the display, her eyes gazing over the fresh baked goods Bridgette had just put out. Bridgette chuckled as she walked back behind the counter, sliding another tray of cupcakes inside.
“Oh girl. That’s all? Welcome to my world,” she said, waving her hand in dismissal. “Pregnancy has brought out a new kind of beast in Ivy. I’m just glad I’m getting to witness it because I never thought I’d be alive to see it,” she added with an amused expression.
“Well, I don’t like it. She’s become mean-spirited, and I’m beginning to question if this was a good idea,” Savannah lamented.
Bridgette peered at her. “Uh-oh. Let’s go back into my office and talk. I’ll make us some tea.” Bridgette ushered her sister behind the counter and back into her office. A few minutes later, she joined her, handing Savannah a mug of her favorite chai tea.
“Thanks, big sissy,” Savannah said, accepting the hot beverage and then taking a sip. Bridgette sat down next to her on the sofa. “You’re welcome. Now, tell me what happened,” she said, taking a sip from her own mug and then sitting it down on a side table.
Savannah sighed like she was carrying a heavy load. She’d been through so much in the last year, but thankfully, she was on the road to recovery. And Bridgette had no doubt that the baby’s upcoming arrival had a lot to do with that.
“Ivy said some really awful things to me this morning. It felt like she was intentionally trying to hurt my feelings,” said Savannah, running her hand through her short, soft curls. She was wearing her hair natural, now that it had grown back and Bridgette thought it made her and Ivy look almost like twins since she wore hers in a similar sho
rt style.
“I know her mouth can be reckless sometimes, so I can only imagine what came out of it. I’m almost afraid to hear what she said that got you so upset.”
“Oh, she certainly said a mouthful, but what pierced me the most is her saying that the baby is hers while it’s in her womb,” said Savannah and Bridgette noticed the worried look on her face.
“I don’t think she meant anything by it. Like I said before, this pregnancy is making her lips looser than normal. And you know that’s always my point of contention with her.” Bridgette took another sip from her mug.
Savannah looked at Bridgette with sadness in her eyes. “You don’t think she would try and keep my baby, do you?”
Bridgette frowned. “Savannah, seriously? We’re talking about Ivy here. She might be a walking contradiction right now, but she would never try and keep this baby for herself. Never,” she said, pointedly. “She made it clear that she’s only doing this for you. And I believe that wholeheartedly.”
Savannah sipped her tea and remained silent. She had deep lines etched in her forehead as if she were pondering Bridgette’s words.
“She doesn’t want to be anybody’s mother. Trust and believe,” Bridgette continued.
“I just don’t understand why she would choose to say something so hurtful. I don’t like that she feels as if she can speak to me with such disregard just because she’s carrying my baby. I won’t tolerate it.”
“I feel you. I’m sure she’ll realize how out of order she was and apologize. If there’s one person she hates to see upset. It’s you,” Bridgette said with a light chuckle.
“Well, she hasn’t cared too much since she’s always snapping at me every time I ask her anything concerning my baby. You never did that to me.”
Bridgette patted her sister’s hand. “Everything is going to be okay, sweetie. We’re all on edge with what happened before, but that’s to be expected,” she said, referring to her miscarriage.
Sister Surrogate Page 15
