Chapter 34 #2
“Well, duh! What’s a housewarming without booze?” Preston asked, looking mystified by the idea.
“We know you can’t drink any of this yet, Sage, but we figured we’d get you guys some Choco Temptation for after the baby arrives. You know, for old times’ sake!” Paxton grinned.
“Thanks, guys.” Sage said as her aunt and uncle pulled up.
Noah
The drive from Sage and Nix’s house to mine was barely even six minutes, but Nellie managed to fall asleep anyway, exhausted from the day. So many people showed up to Nix and Sage’s housewarming that the party had ended up spilling out onto the back deck.
My family members had also received an invite, so they’d all showed up too, giving my mother, Laurel, Tabitha, and Charlotte ample time to start plotting the next shindig: a combined baby shower for Sage and Nellie.
All of Sage’s cousins came out, and it was cool to catch up with them.
We’d grown up with Madeline, Livia, Cate, and Jo-Anna, although they’d all left Hartwood Creek after graduating college.
They came back frequently enough, and Livia and her fiancé, Joseph, were booked to get married at the resort in the fall.
Madeline and her husband Patrick brought their adorable new baby, a little girl born in early May they had named Flora. Everyone couldn’t help but fawn over baby Flora, myself included. Holding the new baby in my arms reminded me that we were a few short weeks out from welcoming our own little one.
Cate and Jo-Anna arrived together, but solo. Jo-Anna was almost as bad as Easton when it came to serious relationships, and Cate was consumed with her busy career as a film director, and often travelling.
Even the Hartley triplets made an appearance, bearing gifts congratulating Nix, Sage, and Daphne to their new home.
One person who was noticeably absent was Sage’s mother, but Sage hadn’t seemed upset about it, not with her Auntie Em there. I suppose Sage’s aunt had long since stepped into the maternal role for Sage.
Nellie and Sage had originally bonded over their distant and estranged relationships with their mothers, quickly becoming each other’s chosen family while living in Guelph.
They understood each other’s pain in that regard and, try as I might, I could only sympathize.
Sage had an extended family that seemed very supportive and loving toward her. Nellie, however, didn’t have that.
My family did their best to show up for Nellie, and she was definitely warming up to them all. I couldn’t help but worry that it wouldn’t be enough, that the sadness she felt over her own parents’ lack of interest in our baby hurt her more than she let on.
A quiet sigh escaped as I pulled up in front of the garage, parking beside Nellie’s car. She stirred when I put the truck in park and turned off the ignition, turning to blink sleepily at me.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to pass out.” She laughed, rubbing her eyes.
“It’s alright, it’s been a long day.” I reached across the cab and took her hand, holding it in mine.
“Yeah, but so fun. It was great seeing everyone again,” Nellie said with a yawn, stretching while still holding my hand.
“Let’s get you inside, sleepyhead.” I said, bringing her hand up to my lips to kiss the back of it.
We made our way inside, and I helped Nellie pull off her strappy sandals. Her feet were swollen from being on them all day. I’d tried a hundred times to get her to sit, but she’d fluttered about the party like a butterfly.
“Alright, sit down on the couch. You’re getting a foot massage.”
“No, my feet are all sweaty and gross,” she complained, trying to dodge me.
I picked her up in my arms. “Fine, then you’re getting a cool bath before I give you a foot massage,” I amended, carrying her into the bedroom.
“Noah!” she giggled, trying to squirm out of my arms. I wouldn’t let her down until we got to the bathroom.
“Alright, fine. But only because a cool bath sounds nice right about now. I don’t know how I’m supposed to survive another month of this, and it’s only going to get hotter.
” Nellie pouted, her hands rubbing her swollen belly.
“I’ll call and get an air conditioner installed next week,” I promised, turning my attention to the tub to start running her bath.
“Stop being ridiculous.” Nellie huffed, rolling her eyes. “You’re not going to have air conditioning installed just because I’m pregnant and overheating.”
“Sure, I am,” I said over my shoulder, tossing her a smirk as I tested the water with my hand. “I want you to be comfortable, and if air con will help get you to move in with me sooner, I’m all for it.”
“People have made do without air conditioners for centuries, you don’t need to put it in to get me to move in. I was already considering it.”
“Oh, were you?” I asked, letting the tub fill up while I stood and walked over to her. I put my hands on either side of her hips, tugging her to me. “I didn’t think you were interested. You haven’t mentioned it since I brought it up all those weeks ago, and I didn’t want to harass you about it.”
“I know.” Nellie worried her bottom lip. “It does make sense for us to live together. Then you can wake up with the baby at night.”
“I’ll happily wake up with the baby every night,” I murmured, pressing kisses to the side of her neck. “I will gladly take the night shift. It’s the least I can do, after you’ve been on the first shift for nine months without a break.”
Nellie smiled, her eyes sparkling, and wrapped her arms around me, resting her head against my chest. “I’m actually getting excited. Seeing you hold Flora today did things to me.”
“Oh yeah? What kind of things?”
“Things I’m much too tired to explain or do.”
When the tub was full, Nellie peeled her sundress off and I did my best not to salivate over her while I helped her climb into the tub. She couldn’t manage on her own anymore, not with her belly as round as it was and her hips constantly protesting.
I didn’t mind helping her. She was doing all the work carrying this baby, the least I could do was help her whenever and however I could.
Nellie let out a contented hum as she got comfortable in the tub. Wasting no time, I started massaging her aching feet while she soaked in the cool water. Her eyes were closed, a serene smile on her face.
I found myself falling in love with her over and over again, deeper and deeper. In the quiet moments like this, when she submitted to allowing me to take care of her, and in the moments when she fought me tooth and nail.
Her vivacious spirit didn’t deter me. If anything, it lured me in deeper. I loved everything about her, and I made sure I told her and showed her every chance I got.
Which is why I’d been working on the baby’s room. After Sage sent me the Pinterest board where Nellie was quietly pinning her visions for the baby’s room, I got to work, buying everything I could to make her visions a reality.
Last weekend, I’d coaxed my brothers into painting the baby’s room while I hung out at Nellie’s apartment for the weekend.
This week, I’d finished putting the baby’s crib together. The matching dresser, change pad table, and the most comfortable rocking chair imaginable were all in place. Now all I had to do was show Nellie and hope like hell she was happy with the results.
Once Nellie started to shiver a little, I grabbed a warm towel and helped her out of the tub. I helped dry her off, ignoring her protests that she could do it herself.
I let her get dressed herself, waiting on the edge of my bed for her to exit the bathroom.
“Before we go to bed, I want to show you something.”
“Okay.” Nellie’s eyes narrowed with instant suspicion.
I took her hand and led her to the bedroom closest to the primary bedroom. I paused by the door, glancing at her over my shoulder.
“Ready?” I asked.
She nodded, and I pushed open the door.
Her breath catching, Nellie stepped into the nursery, looking around at everything with wide, shining eyes.
“Noah, it’s beautiful!” she exclaimed, turning to me. “When did you? How did you?”
“I found your Pinterest board,” I admitted. “I wanted to create the nursery you’ve been dreaming of. I hope I did it justice.”
“Yes, you really did,” Nellie said, wiping the tears from her eyes. “It’s way better than I could have ever imagined.”
“Come check out the rocking chair. It’s the most comfortable chair I’ve ever sat in,” I urged her, watching as she did what I asked.
“Oh!” Her eyes widened with surprise. “That really is comfortable!”
“Isn’t it? It’s a rocker recliner. It reclines too,” I told her. “We might as well be comfortable for all those late-night feedings.”
“It’s perfect,” Nellie said, glancing around the room again, her eyes aglow with warmth. “So are you, Noah. I can’t believe you did all of this. I must be the most unobservant person ever.”
I’d stuck to her soft pink, white, and gold palate. The crib rested against the accent wall, where I’d put up a beautiful white and pink floral-patterned wallpaper with sparrows.
“I wouldn’t say that. You’re just easily distracted,” I said. “I wanted it to be a surprise.”
“Well, I’m surprised.” Nellie said, wiping away more tears.
“Are you happy?” I asked, dropping to my knees in front of the recliner, my hands going to either side of the arm rests.
“So happy, Noah. So incredibly happy.” She cupped my cheeks in her hands, tears were still pouring freely now, but I could tell they were the happy ones. “I love it, and I love you, Noah.”
Her words were a shot of euphoria directly to my heart. “I love you too, Nell. So damn much. And I love our baby. I want you both to be happy and safe, to feel at home here.”
“Well, we do,” Nellie assured me, still smiling through her tears.
“Does that mean you’ll officially move in?” I asked.
“Yes, I’ll definitely move in.”
“Tomorrow?” I waggled my eyebrows.
“I need to give Tabitha and Parker my official notice, but sure.” Nellie smiled, her eyes sparkling.
I kissed her deeply.