California Girls

“So if I said I thought you were beautiful...”

She flopped down on the sofa again and covered her face with her hands. “I’d know you were lying. I’m completely average and on a good day can pass for pretty, but otherwise, no. Just no.”

He chuckled. “I see we have some work to do.”

“There is no ‘we’ in the work department. It’s all on me.” She sat up. “You are such a good guy. Thank you. And for what it’s worth, your ex-wife was really stupid to let you go.”

“I could say the same thing about Glen.”

She waved her hand. “Don’t. He was totally wrong for me. I see that now. It’s over and I’m glad.”

“Ditto.”

“Do you think about getting married again?”

He nodded. “I still want a traditional life. A wife, kids, dog.”

“And a kitten?”

He smiled. “Yes, Ali. And a kitten.”

He stood. For a second she thought he was going to walk toward her and maybe pull her to her feet and... Okay, she had no idea what would come next but whatever it was, she was all in.

But instead of kissing her senseless or kissing her at all, he just looked at her.

“It’s late. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She did her best to keep her disappointment from showing. “You will,” she said brightly. “Thanks for the pep talk. You’ve given me a lot to think about. I’m going to make some notes, then talk to my boss on Monday.”

“That’s my girl. Night.”

She watched him leave. His girl. If only, she thought with a sigh. Because being Daniel’s girl would actually be kind of nice.

*

Zennie had debated meeting her mother at a restaurant, but that seemed unfair to both of them, so instead she texted, asking if she could stop by after work. As she walked up to the front door, she told herself that whatever happened, she would be fine. She was doing exactly what she wanted to do, and for the right reasons. If her mother didn’t understand, then that was Mary Jo’s problem.

“Hey, Mom,” Zennie called as she let herself into the house.

“In the kitchen. I’m pouring wine.”

Zennie braced herself and walked into the outdated kitchen. “Hi, Mom.”

Mary Jo smiled at her and poured a second glass of chardonnay. “Just getting off work? You must be tired. I know how my feet feel at the end of the day.” She pointed to the kitchen table. “Have a seat. Are you hungry? I could fix something.”

“I’m fine, but thanks.”

Her mother sat across from her. She picked up her glass. “I’m sorry about the blind date with the lesbian. I was just trying to help.”

Zennie relaxed. “Don’t apologize. C.J. and I actually had a good time.” She held up her hand before her mother could speak. “No, I’m not a lesbian, but I think we’re going to be friends, which works for me.”

“Have you met anyone since then?”

“Mom, please. You have to stop fixing me up.”

“Why? I want you to be happy. I want you to have someone in your life. You’re young now, but time passes quickly and before you know it, your life is more than half over and then what? Don’t you want a family? Don’t you want to be part of something? Surely there’s some handsome doctor at the hospital who could sweep you off your feet. If you don’t do something, you’re going to die alone.”

“I’m not alone. I have lots of friends.”

“You don’t have a husband.” Her mother stretched across the table and put her hands on Zennie’s. “I want you to be happy.”

“I am happy, Mom. You have to believe me.”

“I wish I could.” Mary Jo straightened and sipped her wine. “Fine. I’ll be quiet for now. So what’s new?”

Zennie told herself it was going to be okay. She knew she was lying, but she repeated it anyway. “A few things. Do you remember my friend Bernie?”

“Of course. What a lovely girl. And her husband’s a lawyer. You could do worse.”

“Thanks, Mom. Well, because of her cancer, Bernie can’t have children, but she and Hayes want a family, so I’m going to be their surrogate.”

Her mother stared at her. “What? You’re what?”

“I’m going to be their surrogate. I’m providing the egg and Hayes is providing the sperm and then I’ll carry their baby to term and—”

“Are you insane?” The words were a shriek. “Have you totally lost your mind? You’re going to get pregnant and have someone else’s baby? No. No! You can’t. It’s ridiculous. My God, Zennie, you’ve always had strange ideas, but that is ridiculous. I won’t allow it. Have you thought this through? It’s what, a year out of your life. You have no idea how challenging pregnancy can be. It’s not like in the movies. It’s back pain and hemorrhoids and stretch marks and my God, no. Just no. You could die in childbirth. It happens. No. The whole idea is madness. She can have a baby another way.”

Zennie stared longingly at the glass of wine. If there was ever a time to drink...

“Mom, I’m already pregnant.”

Her mother burst into tears. “Pregnant? How could you? You didn’t even talk to me first. You’re having a baby and you’re just giving it away? Who does that? You know I want grandchildren. How could you be so cruel? You always were the selfish one, Zennie. Always.”

“Mom, I—”

Her mother glared at her. “No. There’s nothing you can say to make this right. I can’t believe you’d do this.” Her mother stood. “Go. I don’t want to see you right now. You’re a disappointment to me. More than I can say. I used to be proud of you, but I can’t be anymore. I can’t believe this. Go. Just go.”

Zennie wasn’t sure she would have been more shocked if her mother had slapped her.

“We’re not going to talk about it?”

“There’s nothing to say, is there? You’ve done what you wanted to do, just like you always did when you were a little girl. My opinion didn’t matter before and it doesn’t matter now.”