Chapter 36 Showered
Eva
“Don’t worry. There is plenty of sparkling juice,” Dahlia laughed, handing me a wine glass.
I turned my nose. “Too sweet. I’m good with water.”
We looked over the lake from the Delphine family’s beautiful house near Holland.
The air was crisp, leaves vibrant, and everything felt cozy with a warm fire in the deck’s fireplace.
It was my first time coming this far north with David’s family and it almost made up for my homesickness.
It was harvest season. And, as always, the farm put together a fall market and tapped the prior year’s favorite wines for an early tasting.
Of course, nothing the family did was simple. Everyone wore jeans—ones made by Dior, Balmain, or someone. The boots were Hermes or Stella McCartney. The glasses were all English-cut crystal. Nothing about this was average. Still, I preferred my maternity jeans to all else.
Daphne sat by me, Cordelia looking sweet in a sling.
“How is it going? Are you surviving? I swear we haven’t talked.”
“We finished the god-awful birth class and received a stupid certificate which Davey put on the fridge. It was so annoying. He couldn’t wait for that gold star.”
She snickered. “He’s finally a nerd.”
Cordelia yawned loudly. It melted my heart.
“I love her,” I giggled. “She’s so emotive.”
“I love her, but I need her to sleep. Thank God for the night nurse, but I am not sure what we will do up here. It’s a shame Dad isn’t alive. He would have gladly taken the night shift.”
“Make Davey do it,” I laughed. “Tell him it’s good experience.”
“He’d only want you to help. I am not doing that to you.”
My belly lurched.
“Oh, kicks!” Daphne laughed, guessing what was happening. “Has Davey finally felt one?”
He had—at the most inopportune time. I didn’t mention how.
I wasn’t about to say that he got kicked in the face while going down on me.
The worst part was that he remarked on it, continued to kiss down my stomach, went down on me, and I didn’t stop him.
Instead, I let the earth-shattering orgasm go.
I was mortified but unwilling to ignore how badly I needed to get off.
“A couple weeks ago. It’s spotty, though. They’re shy for him.”
“Aww, but they are sweet.”
“They are,” I agreed, looking at my moving stomach.
We were only a couple months away from holding our babies. Each week showed how much I loved and couldn’t wait to greet them.
“Any names?”
“Don’t ask. All we do is fight about it,” I said.
“Oh, that’s normal. Cal and I fought tooth and nail about Cordelia’s middle name. He liked Elise.”
“Oh, that’s nice.”
“It’s his mother’s name,” Daphne said.
Enough said. Thankfully, I didn’t mind Lady Danna, and she seemed to like me enough. However, I wasn’t about to call one of the children Don, either.
“Cordelia is a sweet name,” I said.
“It was my aunt’s name—the one who used to own my house in London.”
“Your house is so lovely. I can understand why you didn’t want to lose it.”
“It is so important to me. We lived there when I was a baby. I don’t remember that bit, just always staying there when we visited.”
“You lived in London?”
“Davey didn’t tell you?” Daphne asked.
Cordelia pushed an arm from the wrap. Daphne looked lovingly at the baby.
“No.”
“Davey and I were born in the UK. We each have two passports because of it. Dad was stationed in Wales, then deployed a couple of times.”
“I thought he retired?” I asked.
“Nah. He took time off to go to Oxford on scholarship, then had to go back for about five years. Finally, he retired and took over for grandpa. The Air Force kept him there training with the RAF. Mum obviously didn’t mind.
She also didn’t long to live in Wales. So, when he wasn’t there, we lived in London. ”
“That is… wild. I had no clue.”
“Come with me! I want to show you something!” Daphne stood and helped me up.
I followed her downstairs to a big family room. She handed me the baby and disappeared into a closet for a box.
“We used to be here a lot. Dad always kept his collection here. I haven’t gotten any of these out. Mum doesn’t like it—I think it’s painful for her. Anyhow, just trust me.”
I held Cordelia on what was more shelf than midsection as the boys battered her.
A video with a man’s voice in the background played before the camera focused.
“Daphne! Look here!”
The voice sounded so much like Davey’s. As a chubby, smiling baby came into view, I realized it was his father. Daphne, sat up proudly in the comfort of a tiny living room, smiling.
“Davey! No!” I heard Danna’s voice sharply call.
A child rushed over, dragging a laundry basket filled with stuffed animals. Daphne fell over, but didn’t cry, and stared at the toddler, confused.
“Davey, don’t run in the house,” the voice said. “You knocked Daphne over.”
“Daddy, I wasn’t running,” a pint-sized, argumentative Davey replied. “I was stalking. We’re on a hunt.”
“What is that accent?” I laughed.
“Right?” Daphne giggled. “Oh, all of these old videos, it’s very lost-in-the-Atlantic.”
“He was so adorable,” I said. “Oh my God.”
“Well, let’s calm down,” David, Sr. said.
“Can I put the baby in here?”
“If you won’t run,” his father answered. “You have to be calm and if she tries to stand up, we will take her out.”
“David!” Danna said.
“Hold this.”
He handed his wife the camera and stepped into view. Davey’s build was a spitting image of his father’s. He ducked, picking Daphne up and plopping her into the basket.
“There,” he declared. “Calmly. And no stairs.”
“That is the difference between your first and second kid,” a voice spoke behind us.
I turned. Davey, tears in his eyes, watched. Danna stood to his right, looking overcome. Davey locked eyes with me, hovered over the couch, and kneaded my shoulders.
I looked up. “Your accent was adorable.”
“Maybe we should move back?” Davey joked, wiping away tears.
“Oh God, you two were too much for that house,” Danna said. “We had the tiniest cottage I’d ever seen when Daphne was a baby. Your father must have deployed about a month after this—I swear—and I went back to London a day later.”
“He missed a lot, then,” Daphne said.
“He did,” Danna agreed. “He hated it. With David, he was around more. With you, the timing didn’t work out so well. It’s probably why he always spoiled you so much—he had to make up for it.”
Tears hit. I started sobbing. I didn’t know why or how, but I cried.
“Hey, are you okay?” Davey rushed to sit by me.
“I just… I miss my parents. I cannot help but worry about how much they will miss if—”
“Shh… Davey interrupted. “They will come back around.”
“I need to see them,” I said.
“Someday soon. We’ll make plans,” Davey said.
And by some miracle, I believed him.
Davey
“David!”
Mum’s voice rang, its tone judgmental. I walked on eggshells as I checked my watch and wondered if this would happen. I tried so hard to bring it all together and keep it low-key. I was not a party planner. Thankfully, there were enough women in the family assisting.
“Yes, Mum?” I winced.
“A couple in a Prius just arrived. Could they be Eva’s parents? Don’t they drive a Honda?”
The way she noted the vehicle’s model made me snort.
“Mum, you’ve been here five times asking about people’s cars. These are Eva’s friends and family. I do not know their cars. Can we stop judging people by daring to choose reliable Japanese cars. Also, a Prius is a Toyota.”
She rolled her eyes. “How would I know? No, I am not trying to judge them. I want to ensure I greet Eva’s parents warmly and try to make them feel at home. I am trying not to run them off.”
I made eye contact with Lanie across the room, as if pleading with her to save me. She rushed over to talk, followed closely by Chloe.
“Lanie, can you help Mum figure out when Eva’s parents arrive. She really wants to give them a warm greeting but cannot spot a CR-V.”
“Oh, wow,” Chloe said. “Lady Danna, we can hook you up.”
Lanie knew the drill. Keep her on a leash.
I watched them depart, turning my attention to Daphne and Dahlia as they ensured all the food ordered was on hand.
“It looks great. So much cheesecake,” Daphne clapped her hands. “I love it.”
“I think it is incredibly sweet that you decided to just make this a cravings buffet,” Dahlia said.
“For real. I wish I’d had something like this.”
“Mum hates it,” I said.
“No. She doesn’t care. She hates the idea of showers but wants Eva to feel loved. And, believe it or not, she is very excited to meet Eva’s folks,” Dahlia noted. “The caterer did a beautiful job with all of this. No notes.”
“Also, we got your girl some alcohol-free wine because she was not about the fake bubbles last night,” Daphne said.
“There is an alcohol-free liquor store in GR,” Dahlia added.
“It’s a faux-liquor store,” I said.
“Well, I bought her a case of options after doing their tasting. They have an alcohol-free Somme guide. I liked it.”
Only a chef would feel the need to go to that trouble, but Dahlia hadn’t failed me yet. Her eyes moved from my face to beyond me.
“What?” I asked.
“It’s the arrival of a gay icon,” Dahlia gasped.
“You invited Leah Roughy?” Daphne asked.
“Well, Eva knew her through her ex beyond that, no comment other than Lanie knows her through work. I’m guessing Leah was visiting her dads. I have no clue.”
“She also has twins,” Daphne pointed out.
I did a double-take. “That woman has twins?”
“She’s basically a princess and she’s a genetic freak,” Dahlia said. “Eva is beloved. And I’m so jealous.”
“Why?” I laughed. “I barely know her. We’ve met, but only briefly. She’s Lanie’s boss. I am sure that is why she came.”
“Doubt it. No. Your girl got Prince George’s daughter in the divorce. Her ex is gonna be so pissed when she finds out.”
I snickered. “Are lesbians that petty?”
“Anyone is capable, but I get the feeling attorneys are the most petty and they are both attorneys,” Dahlia said.
“We are definitely the most petty,” Daphne agreed.
“There is… a star here,” Ellie stepped up. “A bonafide princess movie star.”
“I hope Leah doesn’t take all the attention, so Eva feels shorted. If so, I will kill Lanie,” I said.
“She won’t. Eva is the one having the babies. She’s just got mad street cred now,” Ellie said. “Everyone from fucking Krakow is going to shit a brick and Brooke will kick herself for being such a cunt.”
I did a double take at sweet-seeming Ellie dropping the c-word.
“Who are you?” Dahlia said. “My God, I love you. Who is this woman?”
“I’m the bestie,” Ellie said. “I worked with Lanie a lot on this.”
“You’re amazing,” Dahlia giggled. “And she’s definitely acting like a cunt.”
“Where are her parents?” I panicked. “What if they don’t show?”
“They will be here. They love her,” Ellie agreed. “And the boys. Wait, has she finally broken down about the names?”
“Nope,” I said.
“What are your choices?” Daphne asked.
“I don’t want to get into it.”
Any opinions shared would filter to Eva and make her even more vulnerable. Names were hard, and I sensed the general uncertainty wasn’t helping.
Mum reappeared, talking rather gleefully with Eva’s parents.
I watched carefully to read their reactions.
It was good. Bert chuckled. His wife nodded with a smile.
We were in business. Maybe it wasn’t everything Eva wanted, and it would never match the plan in her mind, but I thought this was as good an attempt as any straight man made at a baby shower. I did my best. Now, I waited.
Eva
“Let me grab it,” Dora rushed to grab the shopping bag before I reached into my trunk.
“I’m fine,” I said. “Promise.”
“I know,” the youngest Delphine daughter said. “But I wanted to do something nice for you so having you carry all those clothes into the house doesn’t make sense.”
“Dora, it’s a tiny bag of adorable baby clothes,” I laughed. “And I had a great time. I am glad we finally got to chat.”
Dora was sweet. She was young, motivated, and would do about anything to help the world. She was idealistic in a way I never was. Her altruism reminded me of Ellie in her early twenties—sweet, capable, optimistic.
Dora opened the door, beckoning me into the quiet house. Davey had taken his mother to do an errand and everyone else was busy. Dora took me for coffee and to entertain for a few hours, so I agreed. It was day three of my adventures in Bruges, Michigan—the sleepy suburb of Holland.
As I stepped in, I heard the eruption of a “Surprise!”
I saw dozens of people looking at me. Ellie ran to hug me. Through tears, I looked at her.
“What is this?”
“Your baby shower,” Ellie laughed. “Come on in!”
I looked past her to see Daphne and Danna standing with my parents. My Dad was straight up crying, which made me sob more. I gave him a hug and kiss. He hugged me tight. It was so wonderful to smell his aftershave and feel his safe hold around me. Twin A kicked him hard, prompting him to pull back.
“They’re getting strong,” Dad said.
“Uh-huh,” I agreed, wiping tears before Mom hugged me.
“I missed you so much, Evangeline.”
“I missed you, too, Mom. Both of you.”
“There will be plenty of time to talk about all of this,” Dad said, “but just know we will make it work. We were glad Davey thought this out. You should go tell him thank you.”
I turned left, finally meeting his gaze. I walked over.
“Hi,” Davey said, nervous about my tears.
“You did all this?”
“I had a lot of help, but it was my idea,” Davey agreed. “You wanted this. And your parents wanted to be here.”
“You got them here?” My tears rolled harder.
“Well, it involved me helping your dad fix a fence, but yes.”
I cocked my head.
“That’s a story for another day, Eva. You aren’t mad? Or sad?”
I shook my head and took his face in my hands. “I am so incredibly surprised, but I love it. I love this. And I love you.”
I leaned in, kissed him, and decided that would do. If I had to awkwardly drop an “I love you” it better be over something like this.
I pulled away. “You get me. You really, really get me.”
“I so don’t,” Davey chuckled, wiping my tears, “but I love that you think that. It means everything just to see you happy. And, clearly, if you’re dropping an l-bomb, I must not have fucked it all up.”
I shook my head and gave him another quick kiss, then realized I was amid people expecting me to say something.
“Oh, shit,” I laughed. “Um… thank you for coming. I appreciate it a lot. I love you all so much for being willing to come up here and celebrate our boys. I never thought this would happen somehow, but I’m so glad it has. Also, are those cheesecakes?”
Dahlia nodded, “The menu is all foods you were craving—my brother’s idea.”
I turned to Davey. “Who are you?”
“A sap who waited months to hear I love you.”
“Was it worth the wait?”
Davey kissed my forehead. “It was worth every moment. I love you, too.”