The Event

by Whitney Dineen

  It’s much darker here than at the restaurant I just came from. The tealights and dim chandelier glow cast a mood over the place that makes it feel like I’m walking into a dream. I watch the vision of my other self sit down at the bar. She bats her eyes at the bartender before ordering two shots of tequila.

  Is this what I looked like the night I came in here—all cool and collected with an air of recklessness? I can’t imagine. I felt devastated and borderline desperate after losing out on the award I was expecting to receive.

  I sit a few stools away from the phantom me and watch as she salts her hand, knocks back a shot and then sucks on a lime. When the bartender asks me what I’d like, I order a glass of white wine. I take a sip when it arrives, all the while keeping my eyes on the mirage that brought me here.

  I see a man take notice of her and I realize I know him. At least I think he’s the one. He looks an awful lot like Armie Hammer. Again, I wonder if this is real or I’m just imagining him?

  He smiles down at my twin and leans in to say something to her. At the same time, I feel hot breath against my neck. Delicious waves of lust shoot through my body like a bottle rocket going off. Then I hear a familiar voice say, “You came back.”

  Chapter Fifty-Six

  Familiar hazel green eyes meet mine as I turn around and my worlds collide. “I wondered if you’d ever come back,” he says. “I came here every night for a week after we met. I even postponed my trip home to do so, but you stayed away.”

  “Zach?” I demand. “What are you doing here? What are you talking about?”

  “I think you know what I’m talking about,” he says. “I’m talking about that night fifteen months ago when I was sitting over there,” he points to a corner table, “having a beer on my way back to my Airbnb from a late meeting.”

  I cannot seem to connect the dots to what’s going on here. Why is Zach in the bar I met Emmie’s daddy in? He continues, “I watched this beautiful woman stroll past me and I thought to myself, ‘she looks familiar.’ Imagine my surprise when I walked over, and you introduced yourself as the one and only Emmeline Frothingham.”

  “That was you?” I demand.

  “You really don’t remember, do you?”

  “I don’t. I told you what I was like when I drink tequila. Why … why didn’t you try to find me?” I ask.

  “Because you told me that you’d call me. I gave you my card with all my information on it. When I never heard from you, I came back here every night in hopes of running into you. But you never showed, and I had to go back to Chicago.”

  The inside of my head feels like one of those Ninja blenders turned on high. Everything is flying around at supersonic speed, and I can’t seem to hang on to a single thought before it’s obliterated. “Why didn’t you say anything when you saw me in Creek Water?”

  “Because that’s when I learned you had a fiancé, and a baby. I didn’t know what to say. I figured you were ignoring what happened between us because you were embarrassed and wanted to forget.”

  “Oh, my god, Zach, you must have thought I was real trash.”

  “I thought you were real something. I was hurt that you didn’t say anything about what happened between us, but then you agreed to have dinner with me, and I thought maybe we’d talk about it then.”

  “Then I told you I don't remember anything that happens when I drink tequila,” I say.

  “I remembered and I was mad at you for forgetting. That night in Brooklyn was the most amazing experience of my life, and you didn’t even remember it. We didn’t only make love, we talked. We talked a lot. I told you things that I never told anyone else about, and you just walked out like I didn’t exist.”

  “Oh, Zach, I didn’t even remember where you lived. I didn’t remember your name, nothing.”

  “Why didn’t you come back here to find me? Why did you sneak out before I even woke up?”

  “I was embarrassed,” I tell him. “I was horrified I’d done such a thing. In all my years, I’ve never had a one-night stand. It just isn’t how I operate.”

  He sits down next to me looking like I’ve just kicked him in the gut. “Wait, I’m the only one-nighter you’ve ever had?”

  I nod my head as things start to fall into place in my head.

  “You know what this means, don’t you?” he asks.

  I nod again. “I do.”

  “If Faye isn’t your fake fiancé's baby, and she’s not the product of another one off, then she’s mine.”

  Tears fill my eyes as a feeling of pure awe and astonishment rushes through me. “I hadn’t been with anyone since my last boyfriend, and we broke up two years before, well, you know.”

  Zach starts to tear up. “But the math doesn’t add up, and believe me, I did the math.”

  “Faye was twenty-six days early, same as me.”

  He drops to the stool beside me and says, “I’m a daddy.”

  “You are,” I tell him. “Why did you move back to Creek Water?” I ask.

  “I’d been toying with relocating for quite a while. I’d thought about moving to New York, which is why I was here. I was interviewing with a new company, but after our night together, and then not hearing from you, I didn’t think I could live here. I decided to just go home.”

  “And move two houses away from my mama?” I ask. “That doesn’t seem like very sound logic.”

  “I loved the house. Plus, I figured the chances of us running into each other were slim to none during your infrequent visits.”

  “How do you know how often I visited?” I ask.

  “You told me that night we were together. You told me you despised Creek Water and that you barely even went home to visit.”

  “You must have hated me,” I conclude.

  He shrugs. “Love and hate are pretty close emotions. I can honestly say, I wasn’t feeling too keen on you when you came back and acted like you didn’t know me. And then to find out you’d been engaged to Armie Hammer at the time of our encounter … it didn’t speak well for you.”

  “And had a baby to boot,” I add. Then I ask, “Why did you come to New York now?”

  “I didn’t want to be away from you for four whole days.”

  “And?” I ask, because it feels like there’s something more.

  “And because I thought that maybe you’d remember me if we were here together. I was going to bring you here one night for drinks.”

  “Mama knew you were coming, didn’t she?” I ask. She’s been acting suspicious lately. It suddenly makes sense.

  “She did. She told me where you’d be staying so I could book a room in the same hotel.”

  Too many things are hitting too fast and I have to take a moment to breathe. It finally occurs to me, “Mama is going to flip her biscuit when she finds out that you’re Faye’s daddy!”

  “My mama will as well. She’s fallen in love with Faye and keeps telling me I’d better hurry up and get married so she can be a grandma.”

  “Zach,” I say as another humongous wave hits me. “Granny Frothingham said Faye looked just like you. It’s like she knew.”

  Zach gets up and steps so close to me he’s nearly standing between my legs. Then he leans down and kisses me so sweetly and so tenderly that I barely feel the touch of him even though my whole body erupts in flames of desire. When he’s through, I need to hang on to him, so I don’t fall right off my bar stool.

  He says, “Wait until Cootie hears.”

  “When are we going to tell our mamas?”

  Suddenly, I cannot wait to go home.

  Chapter Fifty-Seven

  When we get back to the hotel, Mama winks and says, “I just need you to feed the baby if you plan on sleeping elsewhere tonight.”

  “Mama,” I say, avoiding her comment, “did it ever occur to you that Zach looks a lot like that movie actor, Armie Hammer?”

  Mama looks confused. “I guess. I mean I don’t really know what Armie Hammer looks like, but I’ll take your word for it.”


  Zach asks Mama, “Did I ever tell you that I used to visit New York for work?”

  She shakes her head. “I don’t believe I knew that, but I imagine there’s a lot I don’t know about you yet, Zach.”

  “The last time I was in New York, I stayed in Brooklyn.”

  “That’s charming,” she says. “You’ll have to tell me about that some time.” She’s clearly wondering why he’s bothering to tell her about it now.

  “Turns out I ran into Emmie during that trip.”

  Mama finally seems interested. “Emmie, why didn’t you ever tell me that?”

  I shrug my shoulders, while Zach says, “We just came from the bar where we met.”

  Mama looks at me closely. “You must have gone there quite a bit, Emmeline.”

  “Nope, I was there just the once.”

  “But you told me in the car that was the place where you met …” She stops talking mid-sentence and looks at Zach. Then she looks at Faye. Then she looks at me and demands, “And you didn’t remember it was Zachary Grant, from Creek Water, Missouri?”

  “You know how I am when I drink tequila, Mama,” I remind her.

  “Hand me my phone,” she declares while pointing to it on the nightstand.

  I push it farther away. “No, ma’am. This isn’t news that gets put out via a family text. This is something Zach and I are going to tell everyone ourselves, in person.”

  Mama stands up and throws her arms out and declares, “I need a hug. This is the most exciting thing I’ve ever heard! Wait until Sarah Jane finds out!”

  Zach and I step into Mama’s embrace and we all hang on to each other like long-lost relatives. Zach is the first one to pull away. He goes to the crib and picks up Faye. He holds her like she’s delicate china and says, “Hey, baby, I’m your daddy.”

  Faye grabs onto his nose and pulls it toward her so she can bite it.

  “She’s hungry,” I laughingly say. “Hand her over to me.”

  Zach sits next to me on the bed and watches as I feed our daughter. He’s completely mesmerized as he says, “Can I stay up here with you tonight?”

  Mama asks, “With the baby?”

  Zach smiles. “I want to be with my family.”

  Mama chokes up and says, “If that isn’t the sweetest thing ever.” She puts her hand out, “Give me your key. I’ll just grab my suitcase and head to your room.”

  After Mama leaves, Zach and I lie on the bed and talk for hours. I tell him everything I can think of about my pregnancy, from taking the pregnancy test to throwing up my breakfast for three months straight, to deciding to leave New York to come home.

  “It’s like you were being pulled to where you belonged, to my side.”

  I think of what I told Mama about believing people have heart magnets that draw them to the person they were meant to be with. I feel more certain than ever that it’s true. Zach and I didn’t really know each other as kids, but we still managed to find each other in a city of seven million people. The chances of us both being in that bar, on the same night, at the same time are virtually non-existent. Yet, there we were.

  When I totally blew the opportunity of getting to know him after our encounter, our magnets brought us back together in our hometown.

  Zach and I don’t relive the night we met at Cezanne’s in the physical sense. Instead, we lay in bed and fall asleep with our baby between us, relishing the beauty of our creation. I’m going to raise my baby with her daddy after all.

  The rest of the trip flies by in the blink of an eye. Zach accompanies Mama and Faye on a tour of New York, which includes a trip to the Statue of Liberty, a carriage ride in Central Park, a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, more Thai food, and even a drive-by the Airbnb in Brooklyn where Faye got her start in life.

  Everything seems to be working out perfectly for us. Now all we need to do is go home and come clean to the rest of the town. I know most people will be thrilled for us. There’s only one person I dread telling and that, of course, is Cootie Wilcox. She’s capable of creating a stink the likes of which isn’t seen outside a skunk convention.

  Chapter Fifty-Eight

  Trying to keep Mama quiet about Zach’s and my history and Faye’s parentage is going to be as challenging as teaching a whale how to waltz. For that reason alone, we’ve set the date to share our news at the next community band concert in the park, two days after we get back from New York.

  Zach and I are busy at the old sewing machine factory during the day. We promise Mama a big reward if she keeps our secret. What that will be, I have no idea, but we’ll think of something.

  The uncles are thrilled to have us back and can’t wait to hear about all the merchandise for the Emmeline’s. Jed says, “I’m getting really excited about our opening.”

  Jesse agrees, “The ladies around town seem pretty jazzed as well. I ran into Bella Hopps at Bobbie Jean’s cafe when I was there having pie the other day. She said the gals in her circle are all excited about getting their highlights done, having lunch, and doing a little shopping all under the same roof.”

  I ask, “How’s Beau doing?”

  Jed grimaces. “It’s been tough.”

  “Are he and Shelby back together?” I ask.

  Jesse says, “We saw them eating lunch together one afternoon, but no one knows if they’re dating again.”

  “Doesn’t Auntie Lee know?” I wonder.

  “No, ma’am. She’s vowed to stay out of it, which has me a little bit concerned.”

  “I think it hit her pretty hard,” I say. “You know, from thinking she might have a grandbaby on the way to having no such thing.”

  “Amelia says she’s been acting downright spooky. I guess Lee told Amelia that she was done prying in the lives of her children,” Jed say. “I can’t imagine such a thing myself. Good lord, that woman has been one hundred percent involved in trying to find her children their life mates since they started preschool.”

  Jesse says, “I hope that doesn’t mean she’ll be gunning for me next,” he warns. “That’s not going to fly, Jed.”

  I say, “I think she may find herself happily diverted by another topic very soon.”

  Both my uncles ask at the same time, “You getting married?”

  “No. But I’m going to be sharing some pretty interesting news soon.”

  “You’re not pregnant again, are you?” Jed asks, looking a little green around the edges.

  “No, sir, I’m not,” I tell him. “But I’ve still got news.”

  Jesse asks, “If you’re not getting married and you’re not pregnant, what else could it be?”

  “I guess you’ll just have to show up to the band concert on Monday night to find out.”

  Jed pulls out his phone and starts texting. I say, “Make sure to tell them not to be late.” Of course, he’s sending out word to the family.

  I pull out my phone and text Mama to remind her to keep her mouth shut. But suddenly that doesn’t feel like enough. I say, “I need to run home and feed the baby. I’ll be back in about an hour.”

  Jed says, “Take your time. You worked your butt off getting our ordering done while you were away. Take the rest of the afternoon off if you want.”

  I don’t tell him the ordering was a breeze. Instead, I smile gratefully. “Thank you.” Then I run out the back door to the parking lot.

  When I get home, I discover two other cars in our driveway, one of which is Auntie Lee’s. I’m guessing she wasn’t home when Mama invited her over or she would have just walked across the front yard. The other car belongs to Zach’s mom. I know this because she gets out of it as I pull in.

  There is only one reason Mama could have invited Auntie Lee and Sarah Jane over, and that is to spill our news. I quickly call Zach on the phone on my way into the house and say, “Get to my Mama’s house right now. It’s about to hit the fan!” I hang up before he can say anything.

  I rush in right after Sarah Jane and see that Mama has set up a little tea party. When
she sees me, she startles so bad she drops a teacup. “Emmie, what are you doing here?” she demands.

  “I’m here to make sure you keep your end of our bargain.”

  “What bargain is that?” Auntie Lee asks.

  Ignoring her question, I give my aunt a kiss on the cheek and ask, “Why are y’all here?”

  Sarah Jane answers, “Your mama said she had some news she couldn’t wait to share with us.”

  I just bet she did. I turn to Mama, “You feeling a little gossipy, Mama?”

  She looks like she’s trying to look offended. “No. I just wanted to tell the gals about our trip is all.”

  “Anything in particular?” I ask.

  Sarah Jean says, “Apparently, life as we know it is about to change. What did y’all do in that city, anyway?”

  I don’t answer, instead I call Zach again. “Hurry up!”

  I sit down on the couch and answer Zach’s mama’s question. “I was working most of the time, while Zach kept Mama and Faye company.”

  “That was sweet of him,” Auntie Lee says.

  Sarah Jane offers, “Zach used to visit New York once in a while. He even thought about living there.”

  Mama smiles manically at Sarah Jean and says, “We could have gotten the kids together back then.” By her wild-eyed look, she appears to be trying to tell her friend there’s something more to what she’s saying, but Sarah Jane doesn’t seem to be grasping it.

  I say, “I’d love a cup of tea, Mama. Thanks for offering.”

  Mama storms into the kitchen, clearly annoyed that I’m pooping on her party. She comes back a few minutes later and announces, “Faye’s hungry, Emmie. You better go into the bedroom and feed her.”

  “I didn’t hear her cry, Mama.”

  “Well, she’s about to. She cries every afternoon at the same time. You’d best hurry.”

  “Why don’t you bring her to me?” I ask as I hear not one, not two, but six car doors slam out front.