The Scarlet Letter Scandal (31 page)
Eva shook the rain off her oversized cotton T-shirt and stretchy yoga capris, entering Paul’s Café and looking around to see if Jo was already there. The late spring storm had caught her off guard, as island storms always did; she never managed to have an umbrella ready.
Seeing Jo wasn’t there, she used the time to sit and collect herself. Paul, the award-winning chef, was ever busy icing one of his delectable Smith Island cakes with its endless layers. She didn’t bother saying hello so he wouldn’t have to look up from his concentration. She wondered what cake flavors were available in the back case today. She’d had quite the sweet tooth in recent weeks since the nausea had passed, and a slice of the orange cream cake (or mmmm, Patty’s salted caramel cheesecake from the country store), delicacies she hadn’t really appreciated before on the island, were now craved at least a time or two a week.
Jo breezed into the café, apologizing for being late.
“It’s fine,” said Eva, “I was just sitting here fantasizing about cake.”
“About cake?!” said Jo. “That doesn’t sound like you.”
“Well, it usually isn’t,” said Eva.
Eva had kept the secret for months, but knew that before long the world would know. She was shocked herself that at the age of nearly forty-three and with sons graduating from high school (thank the heavens) next month, she was somehow going to be having a baby in early September. Definitely not in the life plan.
Jo cocked her head slightly and narrowed her eyes, trying not to obviously glance down at Eva’s oversized shirt.
There is no way
, she thought. And yet, of course, the number-one question you
never-ever
ask a woman, even a woman who appeared to be fully nine months pregnant, is whether she was pregnant. But Eva smiled at her.
“Buttttt, you just suddenly like cake now?” said Jo, cheerfully grinning at her friend.
Eva laughed. “I freaking love cake now. And let’s just say I might have a tough time bending over to go sea glass hunting for a while.”
“Oh no,” said Jo. “No fucking way. Just no. You can’t be—”
“Sigh. Yes, I can be. I guess I didn’t pay attention to that movie in fifth grade,” said Eva. “Looks like just when I thought my nest was empty there might be another little one showing up in it.”
“I don’t even know what to say!” said Jo. “We’re happy?! Right? I mean because obviously if you didn’t want a baby, you wouldn’t be having one or you’d be giving it up for adoption to some poor infertile couple or something…”
“This is why I love you,” Eva said, laughing again. “Your honesty. Yes, since I’m in my forties I’m in full command of my reproductive decisions and rights. And yes, I’m surprisingly happy even though I will be a single mother for the first time.”
“A single mother because…” Jo began.
“Let’s just not even go there,” said Eva, a shadow crossing her blue-gray eyes.
“Fair enough!” said Jo. “Why don’t we just get some lunch. With cake for dessert!”
“Yes. Enough about me. What’s new in life as a kindergarten teacher?” asked Eva. “Glad the school year is coming to an end?”
“Oh, just the usual,” said Jo. “Bossing kids around. Today is a teacher’s in-service day so I don’t have the kids, but I’m tied up with a halfway-done project, so have to get back to work soon. I actually have a secret of my own I was hoping to share with you.”
“Great! Let’s get
your
secret out on the table,” said Eva.
Read other books by Mary T. McCarthy
The following is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in an entirely fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2015 by Mary T. McCarthy
Cover and jacket design by Georgia Morrissey
Ebook designed and formatted by:
ISBN 978-1-940610-30-6
First Trade Paperback edition: November 2015
1201 Hudson Street
Hoboken, NJ 07030
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