26. Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Six
Blossom
The baby shower is everything I could have dreamed of and more.
We’re in a gorgeous conference room at the hotel, which has been transformed into a cozy, whimsical space. The theme is woodland animals, and it’s absolutely adorable.
The tables are adorned with soft green and cream linens and decorated with tiny forest creatures like foxes, rabbits, and deer. There are garlands of leaves and pinecones hanging from the ceiling and little wooden crates filled with flowers that smell like spring.
The whole room has this peaceful, nature-filled vibe, and it feels like we’ve stepped into a fairytale.
I’m thirty-three weeks pregnant now, and my belly is much bigger than I ever imagined it would be.
I’m still adjusting to how different my body feels, but today, I’m focusing on the joy of the moment. The guests are cooing over my belly, complimenting how beautiful I look even though I feel like a waddling mess.
My mom, Tanya, is beaming with pride as she watches me. She’s so overjoyed about the triplets, and I can see how much she’s been looking forward to this day.
As I chat with her, she leans in, her smile widening. “Noah is such a handsome man,” she says, almost sounding dreamy in her tone.
I pause, surprised. She doesn’t mention his age, which is something I expected her to bring up. But she just seems so happy for me. It makes me feel even more secure in my decision, and I can’t help but smile, grateful for her support.
The day is flowing beautifully, and I can tell that my mom is enjoying herself. Noah has been nothing but kind and respectful, and seeing them meet for the first time felt...right.
It was a little awkward at first, but Noah shook my mom’s hand, and she smiled up at him warmly, commenting on how polite he was. When she mentioned how happy she was that we’re living together, Noah had nodded, looking a little shy but genuinely pleased.
It’s a relief to see them getting along. My mom is still on cloud nine about the triplets, and Noah’s calm demeanor put her at ease. The day feels like a celebration, not just of my growing family but of the new life we’re building together which includes my mother.
She’s the only family I have, and I hadn’t realized how much it would mean to me to be able to share these kinds of moments with her.
As my mom and Noah chat, Amy walks over to greet us, giving me a big hug. She knows my mom well, and they exchange pleasantries.
“Blossom has been watching your show almost every day now that she’s pregnant,” Amy tells my mother.
She turns to me and grabs my hand. “Oh! It’s a family tradition!” she exclaims excitedly. “You’ll have to watch it every time you’re pregnant.”
I laugh and roll my eyes. “Mom, with triplets on the way, I’m not sure there’s going to be any more pregnancies.”
She glances at Noah, and then winks broadly at me. “Oh, with a handsome man like that, I’m sure you can find the time to make a few more kids.”
I blush so hard I feel like my face is on fire. “Mom!” I scold, looking around. “You can’t say stuff like that.”
Noah chuckles. “She’s not wrong,” he says to me, pressing a kiss to my cheek. “I like the way she thinks.”
My mother grins unrepentantly at me. “See? Your man agrees with your mother.”
After we’ve talked for a bit, Amy heads back to Nicole, and I catch up with my mom.
“I think Amy and Nicole are getting close,” I say casually, trying to gauge her reaction.
My mom raises an eyebrow, her smile turning into a mischievous grin. “Well, good for them. Amy deserves to find someone special.”
I smile, happy to see my mom’s approval. It feels like everything is falling into place.
After a while, I step away to grab a drink from the concession table. As I pour myself a glass of punch, I overhear Amy and Nicole chatting, and I can’t help but smile. They’re standing off to the side, just out of earshot, and I hear Amy’s laugh before anything else. It’s a warm, soft sound, and I can tell she’s comfortable with Nicole.
“I just don’t know what I’d do without you,” Amy says quietly, her voice a little more serious. Nicole responds with something I can’t catch, but the tone is gentle, affectionate.
“You’ll never have to,” Nicole says next. There’s a pause, and when I peek around the corner, I see them looking at each other with a quiet understanding. Amy smiles, and I can feel the weight of the moment—there’s something between them.
They’re not saying it, but I can see it. They’re getting closer, and I feel a warm wave of happiness for Amy.
She deserves this: someone to care for her, someone who sees her. And it makes me feel so blessed, knowing that the people I love have found their own happiness, too.
With a smile, I walk back to the party, my heart light as I think about the love blossoming between them. I feel truly lucky today.
The party is in full swing, and Noah is surrounded by a few of the male guests who are gearing up for a hilarious game. The challenge? A beer chugging competition, but not just any chugging. It’s a race to finish a bottle, a baby bottle .
The guys are laughing and joking, the ridiculousness of it all only adding to the atmosphere. The game quickly becomes a highlight of the shower, and everyone’s gathered around to watch.
Noah’s competitive side comes out immediately as the bottle is placed in front of him. He’s grinning, ready to take on the challenge. The crowd counts down, and as soon as the signal is given, Noah dives in, his eyes fixed on the bottle.
It’s harder than it sounds, and chugging beer from a baby bottle is no easy feat, but Noah is determined.
I watch, half-laughing, half-amazed as Noah manages to chew a hole in the side of the nipple, making it easier to get the beer down faster. The crowd cheers as Noah finishes the bottle, raising his hands in triumph.
“Dad wins!” someone calls out, and everyone erupts in applause. Noah grins, his cheeks flushed from the beer, and I can’t help but laugh.
“Noah, you’re ridiculous,” I say as he walks over, holding the gift card to the liquor store in hand.
He pulls me into a quick kiss, smiling. “I win at everything.”
The room bursts into laughter again, and I feel a sense of warmth, like this is exactly where I’m meant to be, surrounded by people who love and support me.
Suddenly, the doors to the conference room fly open with a loud bang, slamming against the walls. I turn just in time to see Courtney storming in, her face red with anger.
The room falls silent for a brief moment, and then a murmur of surprise spreads through the guests. Courtney looks like she’s come to make a scene, and I can already tell that today is about to take a turn.
She strides toward me, her heels clicking against the floor, and I brace myself.
“I didn't get my invite,” she sneers, glaring at the decorations and the guests. “But I’m here to make it known that I’m not going anywhere.”
My heart pounds, but I’m done with this.
I’m done with her trying to ruin everything. I stand up, my hands trembling, but only from the adrenaline that’s pumping through me. “Courtney, you're right. You weren’t invited, so why don’t you do us all a favor and leave?”
She scoffs, trying to hold her ground. “I’m just here to make sure you know that I’m not afraid of you, Blossom.”
I step forward, my voice firm, and as I look around the room, I see the guests’ faces, their disbelief turning to anger. “The only one you should be afraid of is yourself. You’re crashing a party you weren’t invited to. You’re pathetic, Courtney. You have no place here.”
Gasps ripple through the crowd, and someone shouts, “Get out, Courtney!” The whole room starts booing her, and her face goes pale with embarrassment.
Courtney stumbles back, looking absolutely humiliated. The booing only gets louder as she stands there, frozen. Finally, she spins on her heel and storms out of the room.
As soon as the doors slam shut behind her, Noah’s on his phone, calling security. His voice is calm but decisive. “Get Courtney out of here. She’s not welcome, and I want her banned from the hotel. File trespassing charges if she dares to come back.”
The gravity of the situation hits me, but I can’t help the rush of pride that fills me. I’m not the same person I was when she first started trying to tear me down. That was the old Blossom, the one who let people walk all over her. Now, I’ve found my voice. I’m standing up for myself, and it feels damn good.
The guests in the room are still talking in hushed voices, but I hear a few of them mutter things like, “Finally, someone told her off,” and, “She needed to be put in her place”.
Noah hangs up the phone and walks over to me, his gaze soft but full of pride. “That was incredible,” he says, his voice filled with admiration. “I’m so proud of you, Blossom.”
I feel a warmth spread through my chest. “I just couldn’t take it anymore,” I say, still catching my breath. “I’m done letting people like her control my life.”
“Today was a turning point for you,” Noah says, gently pulling me into a hug. “You’ve taken control, Blossom. And I’m so proud of how you handled it.”
Noah holds me close, wrapping his arms around me as I stand there, still feeling the adrenaline from the confrontation. “I can’t tell you how proud I am of you,” he says, his voice low and sincere. “You told Courtney off, and you did it in front of everyone. That’s huge.”
I blush, my heart fluttering at the praise. “It wasn’t easy,” I admit. “But I had to do it. She was never going to stop until I put my foot down.”
Noah grins, his lips brushing against my ear as he kisses me gently. “I like it when you’re feisty,” he murmurs, his voice husky. “You’re strong, Blossom. I admire everything about you.”
I shiver at the words, feeling the warmth of his affection wash over me. “Thanks, Noah,” I say, my voice soft but filled with emotion. “I couldn’t have done it without you, supporting me the whole way.”
He pulls me back into his arms, kissing me gently again. “We’re a team. Always.”
After the whole Courtney ordeal, the atmosphere in the room lightens significantly. The guests are more relaxed again, enjoying themselves as they continue mingling. The food is passed around, and a new round of games begin. Laughter and excitement filling the air.
The rest of the baby shower goes off without a hitch.
We play the typical party games, guess the baby food flavor, diaper changing races, and even a game where the guests have to guess the weight of my belly (which was a little too accurate for comfort). The energy is high, and I feel completely surrounded by love.
My mom is chatting with Nicole, and they seem to be getting along really well. Noah is always there, always by my side, making sure I’m comfortable and relaxed. He’s been nothing but supportive through all of this, and I feel so grateful.
As the party winds down and everyone starts to head out, I realize just how much I’ve grown.
Standing up to Courtney feels like something the old Blossom would have been scared to do.
I glance around the room, taking in the laughter, the hugs, and the joy that’s surrounded me today.
This is the beginning of a new chapter.
I can’t wait to see what comes next.