Should’ve Known It’s You (Not You Again #7)

Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

KENNEDY

O n the phone with the investment’s banker’s receptionist, I was silently fuming as I listened. “I’m so sorry about this, but I’m afraid he’s not going to be able to see you today. Would you like to reschedule your appointment?”

“No. I’d like to keep the appointment I have. Why does he have to cancel?”

She couldn’t come up with a better answer than “he’s busy,” and I decided I wasn’t going to roll over that easily.

“That’s just not good enough. I’ve had this appointment for over a month. He can tell me no to my face or, worst case scenario, isn’t there someone else I can talk to?”

I knew I was getting a little spicy with her, but I was desperate. The receptionist, Mindy, sounded nice enough, but this was my life she was messing with. To her and whoever her boss was, this was probably just another small-fry meeting, but when I’d first reached out to this firm, I’d explained the basics of my business and I’d been directed straight to her.

Which meant that she and her boss were my best shot.

My only shot at this point.

I wasn’t going to take no for an answer.

“There’s an open appointment with one of the other brokers at the firm, but he’s a bulldog, Ms. Sweet. He’s not likely to choose a small business like yours. I think your best bet is simply to reschedule.”

“No,” I said firmly. “I’m willing to try with this bulldog. I’ll take the open appointment slot. Please and thank you.”

“Very well,” she agreed. “We’ll see you at two p.m. then. Good luck, Ms. Sweet. For what it’s worth, I hope I’m wrong about him.”

So do I, Mindy. So do I.

After hanging up with her, I dropped my phone into my handbag and pushed open the door of the café where I was meeting my sister for brunch. I inhaled a deep breath in an attempt to calm my rapid pulse and to quell my anger.

The nerve of some people. Canceling a meeting that’s been on your books for weeks just because you’re busy is such a dick move.

But what was done was done. All I could do now was hope that Mindy’s bulldog saw the potential value in my idea. If he didn’t, I was screwed, but I refused to give up.

As I stepped into the upmarket café, I tried to put it all out of my head for now. I was here for my sister and I couldn’t make it all about me. At least the atmosphere inside was calm and warm. Thanksgiving decorations and the scent of cinnamon in the air helped me relax as I drew in another deep breath.

Soft classical music flowed over hidden speakers in the dining room. A fire crackled in the stone fireplace in the corner. Crystal chandeliers hung overhead and my pumps squeaked quietly on the polished tiles beneath my feet.

Taking a moment to breathe, I soaked up the calm ambiance in the café and prayed that we would all get through this brunch relatively unscathed. It was as unlikely as it apparently was that the Bulldog would take on a business proposal like mine, but I was choosing to stay positive today.

As I looked around, I saw my sister waiting at a table near the window at the far end of the café. I smiled and squared my shoulders in an attempt to look confident for her sake. Winrey and I shared the same long dark hair and the same blue eyes, but that was where our similarities ended.

My sister was sweet and shy, compassionate and reserved, and while I had been called sweet at times and definitely had some compassion in me, her shy and reserved streak hadn’t made it into my DNA. Even so, she was the yin to my yang and my best friend.

I knew today wasn’t going to be easy on her, which meant that I was mentally preparing myself for battle. Winrey never stood up for herself, and she was either going to have to do it today or I was going to have to do it for her.

Either way, I had to be ready. I just didn’t know if it would be for backup or to fight the actual fight yet.

As I approached the table, she stood up and gave me a nervous smile as she opened her arms to hug me. “Thank God, you’re here before them. I’m so nervous.”

“Don’t be,” I said, giving her a gentle squeeze in return. “We’ve got this, Winrey. How are you feeling?”

She glanced down at her loose, flowing cardigan and shrugged. Her gaze was shiny with nerves when it came back up to mine. “I’m okay. I just really want to get it over with. Not knowing how they’re going to take this news is killing me.”

I shot her an understanding smile as I sat down. Winrey had told me months ago that she was pregnant, but she was planning on sharing the news with our parents today. Her baby bump was growing fast now underneath that loose cardigan, and it was getting to the point where she had to tell them or they would figure it out by themselves anyway.

The last time we’d all been together had been at Christmas, but that had been an obligatory holiday and everyone had been on their best behavior. I’d seen my parents occasionally in the ten months since, but Winrey and I tended to prefer to spend time together by ourselves.

This baby was Winrey’s first child, as well as our parents’ first grandchild, but my sister wasn’t married and she wouldn’t be by the time the baby was born either, which meant it was going to be born out of wedlock.

A big no-no in our parents’ eyes.

It also didn’t help that they didn’t approve of Benji, her long-time boyfriend and baby daddy. I loved the guy, but our parents believed that he didn’t have the right work ethic and that he wasn’t good enough for their daughter.

Appearances and impressions were more important to them than anything else, and Benji wasn’t from a family in the right circles. He wasn’t wealthy and he often used the wrong fork at dinner, which naturally, was completely unacceptable.

I mean, what kind of cretin uses a fish fork for a steak? Scandalous.

We sat. I sighed as I reached for her hands on the table. “Don’t worry so much, okay? I’ve got your back. Mom and Dad will come around eventually, even if they may have a poor reaction to the news in the beginning.”

“Do you really think they will come around, though? I’m not expecting them to have a great reaction today, but it’s really important to me that they accept the baby.”

“I know, but just remember that their feelings and opinions are not your responsibility, okay?” I said, giving her hands a light squeeze. “And after they leave, we can go shopping for the nursery and you can scream into a baby pillow.”

Winrey laughed, which had been my main objective, and then we each ordered a coffee—decaf for her—while we waited. Doing my best to distract her, I told her all about the progress I was making with the business, Jess’s wedding, and all sorts of things until they finally arrived.

Jeff and Lori Sweet always made an entrance, no matter what they were walking into. Dad opened the door for Mom, sweeping out a hand for her to precede him and then taking her arm like a true gentleman who would chivalrously escort her across the treacherous terrain that was the fancy little café.

Both smiling like celebrities, my parents kind of looked like they could’ve been famous. Mom wore a white linen pantsuit, complete with pearls, a cashmere scarf, and a pair of huge stylish sunglasses perched on top of her dark hair.

Dad looked dapper in a gray, pinstriped suit without a tie. His sunglasses were hooked into his shirt and his salt-and-pepper hair was carefully styled away from his face. As soon as they reached us, they greeted us warmly, those smiles only growing as they gave us air-kisses and big hugs.

“Darlings!” Mom exclaimed, her voice as beautiful and elegant as her pearls. “How are my girls doing? I’ve missed you so.”

“My babies,” Dad said as he hugged me. “We’re sorry we’re late. We got caught up at the club.”

When I stepped out of his embrace to sit back down, I glanced at the clock on the wall and nearly rolled my eyes when I saw that they were precisely two minutes late. “That’s okay, Daddy. We’ll survive.”

He laughed. “Good to hear it.”

They sat. A server appeared at our table, and Mom smiled at her and placed her order. “I’ll have a cappuccino, my dear. Thank you ever so much.”

“Make that two,” Dad said pleasantly, nodding his thanks at the waitress. “You should’ve met us at the club. The new chef is incredible. You’d love his Eggs Benedict.”

Of course, they came from the country club. They spend more time there than at their house.

I pursed my lips but didn’t say anything. My parents had changed so much since our days in Firefly Grove. They weren’t bad people. I just hardly recognized them anymore. Suddenly finding themselves with a boatload of money had turned them into what they were today, but I missed who they used to be.

“We signed all the paperwork this morning to renew our membership for the year,” Mom said. “You should join us there soon. The upgrades they’re making are going to be the talk of the town. It’s made the membership more expensive, but it’s still so worth it. Why don’t you have dinner there with us next week?”

“Oh, uh—” I started, but Dad saved me from having to make up an excuse when he just kept talking.

With that pleasant smile still on his face, he slung an arm around the back of Mom’s chair and excitedly told us all about the upgrades and about their friends, whose opinions they cared about very much. I did my best to listen and look interested, but I kept glancing at Winrey, knowing that she was trying to find an opening to tell them her news.

Eventually, when one didn’t present itself, she just leaned forward and blurted it out. “I’m pregnant.”

A hush fell over the table and both my parents stiffened. My mom blinked rapidly about a hundred times in quick succession and sucked in a sharp breath before she whispered to her. “Is that supposed to be funny, Winrey?”

My sister’s hopeful expression crumbled and my heart broke for her. Dad hadn’t said a word yet, but I had no reason to think he was suddenly going to grin and embrace her, so I did what I’d promised I would do and backed her up.

Looking my parents straight in the eyes, I reached for her hand across the table and flashed them all an excited smile. “You’re going to be grandparents soon! Isn’t that just the best news ever?”