Chapter 8

“So, next Sunday, a week from today ... is a very special Sunday indeed ... care to guess what?” I asked Jennifer, testing her knowledge.

The others were trying desperately to keep straight faces, from Wayne to Mike to Cassidy to Mom to Vicky to Sofia to Kara, to the waitress, whose name was Becca (according to her nametag or name plate or whatever). Jennifer gave me this dumbfounded look, entirely confused and annoyed that a mere peasant like me dared to speak to her (funny that, given that my family’s standing was actually higher than hers). I wasn’t sure how that stick got stuck up her ass, but it had clearly caused her not to notice that her shit stank.

Finally, poor Becca couldn’t hold out any longer and blurted, “Mother’s Day, hello?”

“I’m not a mother and I don’t plan to be anytime soon, if ever, so why would I care about people who’ve made life choices like breeding? If I ever do become a mother, I’ll make damn sure that it’s only to carry on the family line ... and then I won’t let it get in the way of living my damn life! Do you know what my mother taught me? She taught me to look out for number one, that’s what!

“Nowadays, you have one baby, you make sure someone pampers you the whole way through, you get your prenatal vitamins, you take it easy otherwise, you get an epidural or a C-section or whatever, and then you get your tubes tied immediately afterward ... and you hand the brat off to a nanny or governess for the rest of their life. Doesn’t sound that hard to me ... just a huge waste of money and time, that’s all.

“I’ll be damned if I ever breastfeed, either. Bottles and formula are quite good enough for the little tyke, and it’s off to boarding school as soon as I can get away with it. If I do it, I’ll make damn sure that the man pays the bill as much as I can make him ... and then get custody in the divorce so that he can pay me child support as well as alimony,” Jennifer scoffed now, causing Mom and Sofia ... and Becca to roll their eyes.

“Excuse me,” Wayne looked physically ill all of the sudden, as did Cassidy, “go home, Jennifer. Do yourself ... and the world ... a HUGE favor ... and get that tubal NOW! Women like you should NOT breed at all! Damn, I knew that we were gonna break up sooner or later, but holy smokes, wow ... just wow! My mother is DEAD, you stupid cunt! She died when I was six. This woman here is the closest thing to a mother that I’ve had since I was that age ... and I’ve only known her for four years! And God knows how patient she has been with me and how kind to my sister here, who doesn’t even remember our birth mom well! Do not speak of her ... or of my mother, Sheila Chung, or any other mother that way, you snooty bitch! Get the fuck out of my sight!”

“Becca, cancel her order before you even try to take it. I don’t want to sit with this young lady, either on a date with my son or whatever! She is ... not the sort of woman my son wants or should want for himself. Jennifer, do as my son asks ... leave now ... leave us alone. Ghost him. Ghost us. Or we’ll ghost you. Either way, it’s over before it really started! Wayne, you ever take her back and I’ll disown you!” Mike snapped now, livid at how Jennifer spoke about either of his wives, deceased as well as current.

“And another one bites the dust, huh?” Becca laughed in spite of herself, “sorry, speaking as a single mom, I couldn’t help but laugh at how much foot she crammed into her mouth. My deep, if every belated condolences to you on the death of your mother, Wayne. And you, Cassidy. That must be gut-wrenching at times. For me, it was my Daddy. Dropped dead of a heart attack at fifty, just ten years ago. Worked his can off to provide for his family ... and it killed him in the process. I was the baby of the family. I’m only thirty, so yes, I was just twenty back then and I miss him terribly, even now!”

Becca wiped her face with a handkerchief that Mom handed her and got right back to work like a trooper, leaving all of us stunned at the depth of her and the completely shallow attitude of Jennifer. Talk about your contrasts, right? Damn, I thought ... if I didn’t have my hands full, but she probably wouldn’t want to be part of a harem ... I was extremely lucky that my four did. It helped that they were all already close enough to me and trusted me, bonded with me in one way or another.

Becca gave us five-star service, of course, and we made a point to engage her regularly in chitchat, particularly Wayne, who seemed impressed by her. I grinned as I thought of a guy who had been kinda shallow himself like my stepbrother ... showing an interest in a thirty-year old single mom like Becca. Instant Daddy time, I thought ... he’s gonna marry this girl. I can just tell. He’s gonna lay on the charm, be the best version of himself, and date a waitress, my own stepbrother, who used to look down on anyone in the service sector of the economy.