Free Things Remembered (Accidentally On Purpose Companion Novel #3) by L.D. Davis Page A

visited them in Miami, Leo had told me that he planned to keep his wife barefoot and pregnant. How barbaric!
    Emmy, Donya, and Tabitha must have had a pregnancy pact because each of them popped out a baby three months apart. Emmy’s baby was first, followed by Donya, and then Tabitha. Even Tack, who is Tabby’s brother, had a child only a couple months older than baby Nic. I was convinced that breeding was contagious, which made me happy that I was not in a position to procreate.
    I was happy for my cousins, although I didn’t see why anyone would want to have more than one kid. They were often like The Mommies in the office. Emmy and Tabitha were convinced that I’d be a happier person if I only settled down with a guy and had a kid.
    “When Nina got pregnant, Tack’s whole life changed,” Tabitha always pointed out. “He’s been happy and healthy ever since.”
    “When I was younger, I didn’t think I was mommy and wife material, either,” Emmy often shared. “But I wasn’t giving myself enough credit. I love being a mom, even when they’re driving me up a wall, and I love being married to Luke, even when he’s driving me up a wall.”
    Donya was the only one who never pushed me. She had settled down with a seemingly perfect guy and had a kid, but her fairytale had an unexpected and violent ending for her and her daughter. Emmet later adopted Rosa, and Donya had become a very happy woman. She believed me when I said that I didn’t want to have children. She hadn’t believed her ex when he had said it, not until it was too late.
    I knew Donya wouldn’t harass me while we were on vacation, but Emmy and Tabitha would more than likely drive me a little insane, but not nearly as much as Emmy’s mom, Sam. She called me often to ask if I’d found a man yet.
    “Your vagina was meant to be used,” she told me once in her southern lilt. “Sex toys and self-manipulation don’t count. It should be used by a husband , but at this point, honey, even just a friend with benefits would benefit you.”
    I had responded with, “Does he have to be my husband, or can he be someone else’s?”
    She had hung up on me.
    Since I had no man and my vagina was not in use, I had to share one of the bedrooms at the shore house with three little girls. The youngest still wore diapers. I was so not thrilled. All the parents had to share a room with their youngest children, but they were all babies and would be sleeping in a crib or some kind of contraption. The chances of them kicking and peeing all over their parents wasn’t very high. The adults would feel free to copulate once those children were asleep, whereas I would not be free for even self-manipulation with three kids in my bed.
    As we nailed out the details about who’d sleep where, I wondered how everyone would react if I showed up with Grant. Their shock would probably only last for about three seconds before they started planning a wedding and telling me I had good hips for breeding.
    At the thought of Grant, my mind wandered away from the conversation entirely. I was only vaguely aware of my cousins’ voices over the line.
    He had called me on my office phone yesterday afternoon. Obviously, he knew where I worked, but I was still surprised to hear his voice.
    After I had recovered, though, I felt rather grouchy. “You’re calling me at work now?”
    “Yes, now that we have an open line of communication.” His tone had seemed casual and unhurried as if stalking me and calling me at work were everyday occurrences. “Listen, I have to work early tomorrow, so I won’t be able to see you in the morning. Let’s have lunch Saturday.”
    My nose wrinkled. “Why?”
    “Because I want to see you and talk to you.”
    “You can see me and speak to me Monday morning, can’t you?” Then. I’d hastily added, “Not that I’m encouraging you to screw up my day again.”
    He’d laughed lightly, grudgingly causing me to smile a little bit.
    “You have already