California Girls

She’d known her mother wouldn’t be happy but she hadn’t expected this. She stood and got her bag, then walked out of the house. On the drive home she told herself that she would be fine, that her mother would come around. It might take a while, but they were family.

By the time she got home, she’d nearly convinced herself everything was going to be fine. She ate her healthy dinner and had just started her prenatal yoga video when her phone buzzed. She looked at the screen and saw a text from her dad.

Is it true?

For people who had been divorced more than a decade, her parents appeared to have no trouble communicating, she thought grimly.

If you’re asking if I’m going to be a surrogate for my best friend, then yes.

Of all the dumb-ass things to do. You’re having a baby for a friend? Have you thought about what’s involved? Jesus, Zennie, what’s wrong with you? How could you be so impulsive?

Her healthy dinner suddenly didn’t feel very good in her stomach.

I wanted to help my best friend, Dad. I can give her this.

Give her a goddamned gift card. Not a baby. You’re destroying your life and for what? She’s just a friend. Is it too late to get an abortion?

She dropped her phone as his words hit her like a slap across the face. She picked it up again.

Dad, no. Don’t be like this. Even if you don’t understand, you have to accept my decision. You’ve always said I had a good head on my shoulders. Well, I thought this through and I’m doing this.

What I see is my beautiful daughter ruining her life. You used to be so sensible and together. I used to be proud of you. What happened?

Her mother had mentioned being proud of her, too. Zennie had expected this from her, but not her dad.

You used to be someone I could depend on to support me, no matter what. What happened?

For a couple of minutes, she didn’t see a reply, then three dots appeared on her screen as he typed.

You’re going to regret this, and when you do, don’t come running to me.

Zennie tossed down her phone without answering. So much for parental support, she thought, trying to hold herself together. Her mother’s reaction had been over the top but not completely unexpected, but her dad... It had never occurred to her he wouldn’t get it.

She put her hand over her still flat belly. “I’m going to take care of you,” she whispered. “I don’t care what anyone else says. We’ll figure this out together.”

It wasn’t as if she was alone. She had Bernie and Hayes, and Ali. She was strong and healthy, and she knew in her gut she’d made the right decision. As for her father, she supposed every daughter had to face a time when her father broke her heart. She just didn’t think it would hurt so much or be so sad.





Chapter Nineteen


Finola pulled into the gas station on Ventura Boulevard. If she were honest with herself, she was stopping to fill her tank more as a delay tactic than because she actually needed fuel. Zennie had texted her a warning that Mom knew about the pregnancy and that she hadn’t taken the news very well.

Hardly a surprise, Finola thought, inserting her credit card into the machine. What had Zennie been thinking?

Finola put the nozzle into her gas tank and pressed the lever to start the flow. It was only then she noticed the two teenage girls on the other side of the pump. They were whispering and pointing at her.

Finola instantly wanted to jump in her car and drive away. She ignored the urge, telling herself she was imagining things. There was no way they had any idea that she was—

“You’re her, aren’t you?” the shorter of the two teens asked, her blond ponytail swinging as she spoke. “You met Treasure on your show.”

They were both wearing school uniforms, no doubt from one of the expensive private schools in the area.

Finola watched the gallons click by on the gauge and wished the fuel would flow faster. Realizing there was no escape, she forced a smile. “Yes, I did meet her. Are you fans?”

The girls looked at each other, then back at her. The taller teen rolled her eyes. “Of course we are. She’s just amazing. So talented and beautiful. She could have anyone. Is she really sleeping with your husband? Isn’t he like really old?”

The blonde nudged her friend. “Don’t.”

“What? I’m just asking. I would hate my boyfriend to cheat on me, but with Treasure I guess it would kind of make sense.” She smiled. “My mom says you’ve had work done, but not enough to keep him happy. I’m thinking of getting bigger boobs, but I just can’t decide.”

The blonde shook her head. “Don’t do it. Wait until you’re her age to have surgery. You look great the way you are.” She turned to Finola. “So do you mind he’s sleeping with Treasure? I mean do you not care anymore when you get old, or does stuff like that still hurt? You know—being left and laughed at and stuff.”

Finola told herself they weren’t deliberately cruel, they were just young and thoughtless. At least she hoped they were because otherwise the next generation was going to be a disappointment.

Not caring that she didn’t have a full tank, she flipped off the nozzle and put it back in place, then screwed on the gas cap.

As she walked toward the driver’s door, one of the girls called. “You’re really not going to say anything, are you? Man, you totally are a bitch. You deserve it, you know.”

Finola started the engine, then drove away. She was careful to check for traffic before merging onto the street. It was only once she was safely away from the gas station that the shaking started, an aftereffect from trauma, she thought grimly.

There was no escape. There was nowhere to go where she wouldn’t be recognized and humiliated. Everyone had an opinion on her marriage, the affair, her appearance. Telling herself she didn’t care wasn’t helpful, because she did care. She wanted to be liked. More important, she needed to be liked to be successful at her job. It was so damned unfair—six weeks ago everything had been fine, and now it was all crap.

She drove back to her mom’s place in Burbank and thought wistfully of her own beautiful house. If only, she thought as she walked inside and called out, “Hey, Mom. I’m back.”