40. An Accelerated Pace
40
AN ACCELERATED PACE
“ S urprise!”
Two months later, Angel walked into Bond Casino for her baby shower with Coy.
She turned to look at him. “Did you do this?”
There were blues and greens everywhere. Balloons, flowers, streamers. The tables were all covered in pretty shades of the same colors with more decorations that she couldn’t absorb it on first glance.
“No,” he said. “I can’t take the credit for it. But I knew what our mothers had planned.”
She felt some tears gathering in her eyes over everything that Coy’s family and hers had done.
The support she’d felt on top of it.
Thankfully, Coy had calmed the hell down and the two of them were getting along wonderfully.
Everything she always dreamed of, even in her bigger physical shape. That she hadn’t been so fond of, but everyone told her she barely looked pregnant.
She didn’t think so with the mini watermelon in front of her.
“How many people are coming today?” she asked. There looked to be enough tables for close to a hundred. She knew it was a joint party but hadn’t asked any questions.
Angel didn’t have anyone to invite here locally other than some staff and she didn’t know if that was appropriate. In the end, they decided against it. This was just for friends and family. She didn’t have any friends on the island that weren’t family.
Looking back on her life, she realized she never had many close friends either and it was a sad state of affairs that she felt so isolated over her medical conditions. Some didn’t understand and she’d put walls up because of it.
She was getting friends here, even if they were family now.
She’d have to admit this island was turning out to be everything she dreamed of. Even if it was at an accelerated pace.
“I have no idea,” Coy said. He turned when her mother and Helena came out of a door and rushed toward them.
“You’re early,” her mother said.
“We wanted to get here and see it before everyone else arrived. It’s beautiful.” Angel hugged her mother, even though she’d seen her last night.
Her parents and brother had arrived late last night and were staying at her house. She could actually call it her house now.
She’d been putting her touch on it.
They had plenty of room and her family was on the second floor.
Even the nursery was ready with the furniture set up. Hers and Coy’s office was now in what used to be the old formal living room in the front of the house. The baby would be across from their room, but for a few months in a bassinet in their room.
As scared as she was to become a parent, she couldn’t wait to hold their child.
She’d been spending time with Amanda and baby Harper, who was two months old now. She felt so much more comfortable holding a newborn, changing and feeding one too.
She had this. No problem.
“Everything looks great,” Coy said. “You two outdid yourselves.”
“It really is great,” she said. There were a few signs that had Zachery Spencer Bond on them. One or two that said Zac on them since they’d decided to shorten it. Good thing they’d firmly decided on the name. She supposed that could be why her mother asked so many times.
She walked around to check out everything.
At every place setting there was a blue bar of soap with the baby’s name on it. Then a few goodie bags with white and blue chocolate-covered pretzels and beautiful designer sugar cookies.
She picked up a Hershey kiss in a bowl and opened one to pop in her mouth. Even that was in a blue or green wrapper.
She arched her back. This baby was killing her and making her sore. Too much weight in front of her. She felt lopsided.
“Do you want a drink?” Coy asked, walking over and rubbing her lower back.
He didn’t ask if she was okay and she appreciated it. He knew her body was sore for months and trying to adapt to the changes going on.
The sweetness in him was rubbing her shoulders or back every night rather than questioning her every little move.
“I’d love some water,” she said.
He went to the bar in the corner where someone was working. She didn’t think they’d be providing alcohol, but maybe they would be. She was told there’d be a sit-down lunch. This was nothing like any baby shower she’d been to.
Coy returned with her glass and she noticed it was sparkling water and grinned at him.
“People should be arriving soon,” her mother said.
“How many were invited?”
“Helena has kept track of that,” her mother said. “From our side of the family, I had their gifts shipped to Helena and she brought them over.”
“I knew there wouldn’t be anyone that would come,” she said.
Angel had a few cousins, but no one was going to take a trip like this to an island for a baby shower.
It’s not as if she was that close to anyone anyway.
“It’s fine,” her mother said.
Helena came over. “I heard you ask how many were invited. I don’t remember, but I believe there will be close to seventy-five people here. Almost everyone in each branch in terms of women is coming. Not all the men, which I didn’t expect.”
“No,” Coy said. “Especially some of the single men.”
“You wouldn’t have gone to a baby shower alone,” she said. “Be honest.”
“Probably not,” he said.
“You would have if it was for your sisters-in-law,” Helena said firmly.
“I would for that,” he said. “Are you ready to meet the clan?”
“I think this is better than doing it at a wedding,” Angel said. She felt more comfortable here even if she was bloated and walking with a basketball in front of her.
Ten minutes later, guests started to arrive and she was prepared to be introduced to everyone.
“Angel, this is my cousin, Eli, who owns the casino. His wife, Bella and their daughter, Adrienne.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” she said, shaking their hands. She looked at the toddler who had the coloring and looks of a Bond. “You’re adorable.”
“Mommy’s having a baby too,” Adrienne said, then reached up for Eli to pick her up.
“Wow,” she said. “Congratulations.”
Eli grinned. “We weren’t going to announce it here, but someone has a big mouth. People know so it’s not a big secret.”
“Your casino is gorgeous,” she said. At least the room they were in for this party was. She and Coy had been here to eat at the restaurant one night but nothing more.
They moved off and she met more of Coy’s family. It was hard to keep everyone straight, but she’d been given a crash course in it.
When everyone arrived that seemed to be expected and were seated, Helena stood up and talked quickly.
“I want to thank everyone for coming. As we know, my youngest decided he wanted a destination wedding that was stunning and memorable so it’s the first many of you are meeting Angel. I’m more than thrilled to have a third daughter in the family and can’t wait for another baby Bond to make his appearance. Everyone enjoy yourselves and the food will start coming out now.”
Helena came over and hugged her and kissed her on the cheek. “That was so sweet. Thank you.”
“I meant every word of it,” Helena said.
Lunch was served. When Angel was done eating she got up and went around to talk to some more people with Coy. It was supposed to be a relaxed event. She wasn’t one for formal and hated to just sit there with all eyes on her.
She loved that everyone who had children had brought them, so there were toddlers and babies alike and she got her fill of them all.
There was even a spot set up for them to play and entertain themselves. Helena thought of everything.
“This is crazy,” Spencer said to her when he came over.
“I know,” she said. “But you knew what this was like before me.”
“Nothing like this,” Spencer said. “This is a baby shower. I can only imagine what a wedding would be like.”
“I’m glad we did it the way we had. Even if it felt like you had a shotgun on Coy.”
Her brother put his arm around her and squeezed her. “Sorry about that. But it’s not as if he doesn’t love you.”
“I know,” she said. “I still would have liked things to have turned out differently in terms of timelines but can’t go back and change anything and I wouldn’t.”
“Are you happy?” Spencer asked. “Truly happy?”
“More than I ever could have dreamed,” she said.
“Then that is all you need to focus on,” Spencer said.
“That and the dessert table. I wonder if we can go to it now.”
Her brother laughed. “You and that sweet tooth. I’m surprised you’re not bigger than you are.”
“Ha ha. Not funny. Everything hurts on my body. This kid is huge, but if I put more weight on, I’d be even more uncomfortable.”
“What hurts?” Spencer asked, frowning.
“Don’t go there,” she said. “Someday you’ll have a pregnant woman by your side and you’ll get it. I’ve gained fifteen pounds and it’s all in one spot pulling my body forward. I have to use my back to stay upright. If anything, be mad at your best friend for being so damn big.”
“Spencer can’t get mad at me anymore,” Coy said, coming over and putting his arm around her. “I’m giving his sister everything she’s ever wanted and I’m getting the same in return.”
If Coy hadn’t added that last part, she might have gotten annoyed over his comment. But he was learning. Even if it was on the slow end.
“Very sweet of you to say,” she said, kissing him.
“I know you want your dessert,” he said. He turned to the room. “My wife has a crazy sweet tooth and can’t wait any longer. Come help yourselves before she grabs it all.”
She slapped his arm. “That wasn’t nice,” she said.
“Just stating the truth,” he said, reaching for a plate and putting a cupcake and cookie on it. Then adding some chocolate caramel pretzels.
“Thank you,” she said, reaching for the plate.
“This is for me,” he said, moving past her. “Get your own.”
She laughed and did as he’d said. After all, hadn’t she complained enough that he was babying her in the past and waiting on her hand and foot?
An hour later, most were taking their leave. Angel thanked everyone for coming and was ready to sit down.
Everything on her hurt more than normal. She shouldn’t have eaten as much, as her stomach was bothering her too.
“Everything was lovely,” Ava said, coming over with her kids. Coy was talking to Ava’s husband, Seth.
Last month Ava had returned to work after her maternity leave and she’d had her first appointment with her. She needed to meet with all the doctors in the office because anyone could deliver when she went into labor if it was after hours.
“It really was,” she said. “Your kids are adorable and so well behaved.”
Ava laughed. “It helps that Adele keeps Brayden in line. Sometimes. Are you okay?”
“Yes,” she said. “Why?”
“You’re grabbing your back a lot. I noticed it.”
“I’m sore,” Angel said and then grinned. “And I ate too much. I need some antacids.”
Coy was close by and moved over. “I told her not to eat that third cupcake.”
“I only had one,” she said, laughing, but it made her grab her side. “But maybe I shouldn’t have had that. Everything was just so good.”
Ava reached out and put her hand on her lower back and then her side. “Take a few deep breaths. Feel anything?”
“Just pressure,” she said. “My lower back has been more sore the past few days, but I’m still working out and being on my feet for work and today might have been a lot.”
She turned to see Coy look as if he was going to growl but held it in. Still learning and working on it. She’d give him credit for that.
When the next pain came in her side, Ava frowned. “How often is that happening?” Ava asked.
“What?” she asked.
“That pain you just got,” Ava said.
“How did you know I just had a pain in my stomach?” she asked.
“Come have a seat,” Ava said, looking at her watch.
“What’s going on?” Coy asked.
“Just relax,” Ava said. “I’m checking on something.”
It didn’t take long before her parents and Spencer came over too. Helena was talking to the few remaining guests, but there weren’t many at this point. She started to wonder if Ava stayed last for a reason when she felt another stomach cramp.
“Did you feel that?” she asked. “It’s just a gas cramp.”
“No,” Ava said. “It’s a contraction. We need to get you to the hospital.”
And that was when all hell broke loose.