CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: BIRTHDAYS ARE ALWAYS HARD
June 23rd, 2020
Two days later and for a reason Gemma still did not understand, she was bothered by the bombshell dropped on her by Marcie about Avery's pregnancy.
So, like Gemma always did, she drowned herself in shifts at Target to distract herself from the things that bothered her. At this point she was burnt out, though the hours she was working made for some great paychecks. Rent in New York had to be paid, somehow.
Gemma was busy stocking the women's clothes when a familiar voice called her name. Not that Gemma did not want to see him, though she wondered why he did not shop at the Target closer to his house.
"Gems!" Wesley called, stopping his cart to talk to Gemma.
"Why do you always come to this Target? The other one is so much closer,"
Wes shrugged. "This one is bigger and has what I'm looking for. Plus you work here."
Gemma didn't know how to respond. Instead, she continued to stock the shelves.
"Anyways," Wes continued the conversation. "Today's my mom's birthday and we're having dinner for her tonight. I told her you're back in Michigan, and she got excited. She wants to see you."
Gemma stopped folding a tee shirt. She sighed. The last thing she wanted was to be around Rowan and his family, considering the weird feelings that were brewing inside her. She did miss Charlotte; Rowan and Wesley's mom. When Rowan and Gemma were together, Charlotte was like a second mom to Gems. She often thought that Charlotte cared more about her than Gayle, given her natural motherly instincts that Gemma's mother lacked.
"I don't know..." Gemma sighed.
"Why not? What else could you have planned after work?" Wes called Gemma out, knowing damn well she had no plans after this.
"I just don't know if I want to be around Rowan and Avery â " Gemma started, though she wasn't sure if she should tell Wesley that she knew about Avery's... situation.
"Well same," Wesley agreed, "But I'm going to do it for my mom."
Gemma closed her eyes, trying to figure out how she was going to word what she wanted to say. Avery couldn't hide her pregnancy forever, given she would start showing a noticeable baby bump within the coming weeks. The entire bridal party was going to know at some point, if they didn't already. Though as Gemma pictured the maid of honor and other bridesmaid, she had a feeling they already knew, because why wouldn't Avery tell them?
"Wes," Gemma spoke slowly. "I know that Avery's pregnant."
Wesley's eyes widened. He knew that Gemma would find out eventually, but did not think today would be that day. That was something Avery did not want anybody to know â because she feared people would accuse her of only marrying Rowan due to the fact that she was carrying his child.
Which Wes believed was the case. But nobody would hear him out when he would bring this to anyone's attention.
"How did you find out?" He asked, surprised that Gemma appeared to be so calm about it.
Gemma explained how she knew. From Avery's trip to Dunkin' while Marcie was working, to Marcie's eavesdropping of Avery's conversation with her doctor. She left out the part where she felt strange about the whole thing, because how was she supposed to explain it to Wes, when she couldn't even understand it herself?
"Damn," Wesley laughed. "Seems like she wasn't even trying to make it discreet."
"Or," Gemma interjected, "Marcie is just really good at eavesdropping."
"Maybe. Well now you see why I don't like her. Like I said before, she just seems fake. I don't believe she really loves my brother, because the two never talked about engagement. I didn't even think they were going to last. And then boom â she gets pregnant and next thing I know, there's a ring on her finger."
Wesley's suspicions confirmed some of Gemma's. Only Rowan truly knew if he was in love, which he told Gemma he was when they first met again. But after hearing Wes explain it, Gemma still couldn't fight the thought that these two were only getting married because of the baby. The circumstantial evidence and the length of their relationship this far suggested that this could have been a loveless marriage.
"So now you see why I don't want to be around them," Gemma said, though her words implied something else, and she wished in that moment she could take it back.
Wesley gave Gemma a knowing look. "Why not? It shouldn't bother you. You're over Rowan, right?"
"Of course I am." Gemma was quick to answer, almost too quick.
Wesley clearly did not believe her, but did not push her any further. "Then come over for my mom, tonight. Not Rowan or Avery."
Gemma thought about it for a brief second before answering.
"Fine." She gave in, though she had a bad feeling that she was going to regret it.
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When Gemma arrived at the Taylor family household that night, a feeling of familiarity radiated throughout her as she pulled into the driveway. She hadn't been at this house in over two years, though it did not look any different from the last time she saw it. The walkway to the house was slick and clean; Charlotte hated dirt. Bright flowers covered the garden by front of the porch. Hydrangeas, Charlotte's favorite flowers. Memories of helping Rowan's mom plant her flowers crossed Gemma's mind as she slowly walked towards the house. She smiled, her nervousness diminishing and being replaced with excitement, to see her second mother who she had not seen in a long time.
Gemma knocked slowly on the door, waiting for Wes to answer. She waited for a minute while noise was heard within the house, though Wesley was not the one to answer the door. Instead, it was Rowan.
A look of confusion covered his features as he locked eyes with Gemma. He did not expect to see her.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, opening the door fully so Gemma could walk in.
"Hello to you, too," Gemma spoke sarcastically. "Wes invited me."
"You two have been spending a lot of time together, I've noticed." Rowan noted, breaking his eye contact with Gemma and walking further into the house.
Gemma, taken back by his statement, shook her head. "Not really," she felt the sudden need to defend herself, but didn't say anything else once she noticed Charlotte standing in the kitchen.
"Gemma Perry? Is that really you?" Charlotte immediately stopped what she was doing in the kitchen. Wiping her hands quickly, she walked over to where Gemma was standing and took in her appearance.
"It's me," Gemma laughed, that feeling of familiarity never leaving as Charlotte pulled her in for a hug. "Long time no see,"
"I know! You look amazing! New York did you well."
By the tone of Charlotte's voice, Gemma wondered if Rowan ever told his mother the details of their breakup. Considering the way Gemma left Charlotte's son, she believed his mother would have hated her. Though by the way Charlotte seemed so excited to see Gemma for the first time in years, Gems had the feeling that she did not know all the details. Or, she did, but forgave Gemma for breaking Rowan's heart.
"Rowan, Wesley!" Charlotte called to her sons who were just in the other room. "You two go set up the table in the backyard. I'm going to catch up with Gemma for a bit."
Without hesitating, Row and Wes grabbed the table necessities and wandered outside. Charlotte turned towards Gemma again, engulfing her in another hug.
"You have no idea how glad I am to see you again, sweetheart," she said quietly, even though they were the only two in the room. "I just wish it was under different circumstances."
"What do you mean?" Gemma asked, confused, as Charlotte pulled away from the embrace.
Charlotte did not hesitate before speaking her mind. "I wish you were the one marrying my son."
Gemma felt her face pale. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. She was at a loss for words.
"You don't like Avery?" she asked, not knowing what else to say.
"It's not that," Charlotte sighed. "I just don't think she's right for Rowan. If it wasn't for this baby on the way, Rowan would not have proposed."
"He wouldn't have?" Gemma spoke with clear shock in her voice. She had suspicions that this might have been the case, though with Charlotte's confirmation, Gemma did not know how to feel about this information.
"No," she sadly smiled at Gemma, who she wished was going to be her daughter-in-law, instead. "He loves her, I know that. But I don't think he is in love with her. He has never told me this, but I can see it."
Gemma felt her breath hitch in her throat. She stared directly at Rowan's mother, not knowing what she was supposed to say. Charlotte gave her a knowing look, placing her hands on Gemma's shoulders.
"Maybe I shouldn't have told you all that," she laughed lightly. "I'm two glasses of wine deep right now."
Charlotte hugged Gemma for a third time.
"You will always be my favorite," she sadly spoke, and before Gemma could respond, Charlotte exited the kitchen and walked outside to where her sons were setting up.
She just stood there, speechless, for a few minutes while she stared at the Taylor family outside. With shaking hands, Gemma grabbed the bottle of white zinfandel that Charlotte had been drinking before.
Gemma grabbed herself a glass, and did not hesitate before filling it to the brim.
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While Gemma got drunk on the wine that Charlotte had sitting out, she noticed Avery had still not arrived, and it was nearing eight o'clock at night. As if Wesley noticed at the same time Gemma did, he said "Where is the bride to be at tonight?"
Rowan did not hesitate before answering, keeping his eyes glued to the grilled chicken on his plate. "She's not feeling good."
Gemma drunkenly rolled her eyes, hoping Rowan would not notice.
"That's okay," Charlotte said after a big gulp of the sweet white wine. "I see her all the time, anyways. Gemma, would you like another glass of wine?"
"Yes please," Gemma did not hesitate before placing her glass up for Charlotte to fill.
"Don't you have to drive home, Gemma? Shouldn't you be taking it easy on the wine?" Rowan asked in a condescending voice.
"I'll take her back if I have to," Wes combatted his brother's condescending statement.
"She's fine, Row." Charlotte sloppily smiled. She was drunk, after six... or seven glasses of wine. Gemma lost count after three. "We should probably clean this all up. Wes, will you help me?"
Rowan and Wesley's mother winked at Gemma as she stood up and started cleaning off the table. For being drunk, she was holding herself together. Unlike Gemma, who felt as if she was going to throw up from drinking multiple glasses of wine too fast.
Once Charlotte and Wes were inside the house, Gemma chugged the rest of her wine â which was not a good idea. Her hand immediately covered her mouth; she could feel the vomit about to rise up her esophagus.
"Are you â " Rowan started to say, though didn't finish his thought as Gemma stood up from the chair, and sloppily ran towards the trash can. She let her body rid itself of all the alcohol she devoured in a short amount of time. Thinking it would make her feel less drunk, it didn't. Instead, she felt worse.
Gemma felt a pair of hands hold her hair back as she continued to vomit in the trash can. When she finished, the hands let go. Gemma turned around to see Rowan standing in front of her, with a napkin in his hand. He bit his lip to keep from laughing, but ultimately failed as he took in Gemma's appearance. He did not get to her in time, so there was a small amount of vomit in her hair. Her face was flushed, her eyes glossy.
"Told you that you should've taken it easy," he joked.
Gemma rolled her eyes, snatching the napkin from his grasp and wiping her face with it. "Shut up,"
"Hey, if it wasn't for me, you would have vomit all in your hair."
"Whatever," Gemma threw the napkin in the trash. "I didn't ask for your help."
"You didn't have to," he shrugged.
Instead of responding, Gemma took a step forward, in attempt to go back and sit down. Her feet had other plans though, as she immediately stumbled. Just as she was about to fall, Rowan's arms wrapped around her, catching her from face planting in the grass.
Gemma took a deep breath as his arms held her. For the second time since she arrived at the Taylor household, Gemma's face paled and her breath was shaky as feelings of familiarity consumed her. She looked up at Rowan, who again, was laughing.
"You sure you don't need my help, Gems?"
Maybe it was just from being drunk, but her stomach flipped as Rowan's laugh filled her ears. He'd called her by her nickname before, but something about the way he said it now caused a fluttering feeling in Gemma's chest.
I'm just drunk. She thought to herself. The alcohol is just messing with me.
"Thanks," was all she could muster up, as she steadied herself in Rowan's grasp. "I need to sit down."
Still holding on to her so she would not fall, Rowan guided Gemma to the old porch swing in the backyard. As soon as she sat down on the wooden swing, a sense of nostalgia radiated throughout her. She had so many memories on this swing. Memories with Rowan and his family, but mostly Rowan.
"You okay?" he asked, to which Gemma nodded.
"It's nice seeing your mom again," she said out of nowhere, wondering if Wes and Charlotte were going to come back outside anytime soon. She was facing away from the house now that she was sitting on the porch swing, so she could not see if they were still cleaning up in the kitchen.
"Yeah," Rowan said as he sat next to Gemma. "Ever since Wes told her you were back, she hasn't stopped asking about you."
"I missed her," Gemma admitted, choosing her words carefully. She combed through her drunken mind to find the right thing to say. "I missed everyone. New York got lonely after awhile."
"I can imagine," Rowan nodded. He turned his head so he was looking at Gemma. She could feel him staring at her, though kept looking in front of her because she wasn't sure what her drunken self would do if she were to lock eyes with him, considering they were sitting very close together on the small porch swing.
"Can I tell you something?" Rowan's voice got quieter, and more serious. He did not know where this sudden feeling to vent was coming from, but he felt like he had to get it off his chest.
"Sure," Gemma nodded, still staring ahead as Rowan's eyes were burning into her.
"Birthdays are always hard," he started. "Since my dad died. It's been two years, but every time someone has a birthday, I get really sad. It's not the same without him. But something about today was different,"
"How so?" Gemma asked, though she had a feeling she knew what Rowan was going to say next. When Rowan's dad passed away suddenly from a car accident only a few months before the two met, it was difficult for Rowan to cope. Meeting Gemma though, helped get him through that hard time in his life. On his first birthday without his dad, Rowan and Gemma sat on this very swing. While Rowan cried his eyes out from missing his father, Gemma held him. She comforted him in his time of need.
Rowan thought for a moment, trying to choose his words carefully. "Having you here, made it easier. I'm still sad, because I miss him, but having you here today was... comforting. I guess I just wanted to thank you, for being here."
For the first time since they sat on the swing, Gemma finally turned her head and locked eyes with Rowan. She felt that feeling from before in her stomach, once she realized how close their faces actually were.
"You're welcome," Gemma felt her lips curve into a smile.
"I just miss him so much," Rowan sighed, his eyes never leaving Gemma's.
She nodded, her brain not connected to her mouth as she was only focused on the feeling in her stomach. "You're gonna be a great dad,"
Rowan's eyes widened, and Gemma's hand flew up to her mouth as soon as she realized what she had said. The feelings in her stomach disappeared as Rowan looked away from her. He stared straight ahead, the smile on his face gone as confusion appeared throughout his facial features.
"You know about that?" he asked. He should not have been surprised, considering everyone was going to know soon enough. With Avery's belly slowly growing, it was not something that could be kept a secret. Though something about Gemma knowing about it, did not sit right with Rowan.
"I - "
"Did Wes tell you?"
"Not exactly," Gemma shook her head. She quickly explained how she knew, leaving out the details of Marcie purposely listening in on Avery's private conversation.
"Oh," was all Rowan said. "I shouldn't be surprised, I knew it wasn't something I could hide forever."
Gemma's eyebrows raised. She wondered why Rowan would want to hide it, as if what Charlotte said earlier was true. "Why would you want to hide it?" Gemma asked, speaking slowly, given Rowan may or may not confirm the suspicions Gemma had since she found out about the pregnancy.
"Because I'm not ready to be a parent," Rowan admitted. "I figured if I didn't talk about it, I wouldn't have to worry about it for awhile."
Still drunk, Gemma's brain and mouth were not connected. "Are you â "
Though before she could ask Rowan about her suspicions, Charlotte opened the back door.
"I'm going to bed," she announced. "Thank you Gemma, for coming over today. Row, can you finish cleaning up?
"Yeah," Rowan said at the same time as Gemma said "Of course."
"Do you need a ride home?" Rowan asked once Charlotte was back in the house.
Gemma thought about it before answering. She was drunk and shouldn't have been driving. But then again she drove her mother's car to the Taylor household, and did not want to leave it here overnight.
It was almost as if Rowan could sense Gemma's confusion. "I'll drive your car back and have Wes follow, so that way you don't have to leave your car here and I'll still have a way back."
Gemma nodded, figuring that was a good plan. When the three of them were ready to go, Gemma's drunken mind overthought who she should drive with, though she ultimately decided on Rowan.
He kept his eyes on the road, occasionally looking over at Gemma who was falling asleep in the passenger seat. He wanted to talk more about what Gemma had found out, though he did not know what else to say about it. There was not much to say about it.
So the car ride was silent the entire way back.
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