41
CLEMENTINE
“I can’t believe you are engaged!” Kristy squeals as I join her and Florence in Cakes for All, a bakery owned by my friend Hope Teager.
“Me too. I have to check every morning to make sure.” I twist the blue diamond ring around. As always, I remember Keith’s words when he placed it on my finger for the first time.
“Congratulations, Clem! I’m so happy for you.” Hope gives me a hug as her staff lays our order of coffee and today’s special, blueberry cheesecake, on our table. “Keith is a wonderful man. Zach and I like him a lot.”
I know Keith provides personal security for Hope and her husband. “Thank you so much.” I smile, something I’m doing a lot.
“You guys enjoy and let me know if you need anything else.” She leaves us to attend to her next customers.
“I can’t imagine you as a mom, Clem, especially of a teenager. How are you going to handle it all?” Florence fusses with the sugar bottle.
“Relax, Flo. Just wait until you meet Merida, okay?” I grab her hands in mine.
I have asked Keith to drop Merida off for a while so that I can introduce her to my sister and sister-in-law. Given the scant adult female interaction she gets, especially now that we are living in Kings Security, I’m sure she’ll love my two most favorite girls.
On cue, the bells over the front door chime.
Mere, dressed in her purple, oversized pullover and black jeans, waves at me. She glances nervously at our table, a little shy, a little fidgety as every teenager.
Keith, on the other hand, exudes his innate don’t you dare fuck with me style. It was there the first day I saw him and it’s there today.
“He is hot,” Kristy whispers in my ear.
“I know! I’m so getting laid tonight.”
She snickers at my hushed comment, but I’m not joking.
When they both reach our table, I get up and join my fiancé and my daughter.
Jesus! Goose bumps rise over my skin just thinking those words.
“Girls, meet handsome Keith—” I put my hand around his waist and he smiles, something he too is doing more and more often. “—and Merida, the coolest kid I know.”
Mere’s lips curl up, showing her wide smile as I clasp her hand in mine.
We all take seats and Hope sends two more slices of cake along with coffee for Keith and hot chocolate for Merida to our table.
While Kristy is busy showing Mere pictures of her kids Charlie and Chloe, who would be cousins to Mere, Florence interrogates Keith for the position of my man. I chuckle silently as she tries to grill him, but instead she’s getting all clammy and nervous.
“Take your time, Florence. I’m happy to answer all your questions about me, my life, and Clementine.” Keith places a glass of water before her.
I think it’s those words that calmed my sister a little bit.
“They both love you,” Florence says when we two are finally alone.
Keith is out taking a call while Kristy and Mere inspect the display case, hunting for their next dessert.
There is no hiding the hint of disbelief in my sister’s voice. But I don’t blame her. I’m sometimes myself amazed that I’ll be a mother to a teenage daughter.
“And I love them.”
“You love everyone, Clem. That’s the amazing thing about you. You don’t let practical things rule your emotions. I have full belief you’ll have the most successful marriage.”
“Not as much as yours.” I bump her shoulder playfully. “You and Nick have redefined matrimonial goals. No one can compare to that.”