Chapter 28 #2
We opted for a more non-traditional co-ed affair.
Most of Olivia’s family will be here, along with Callie’s sister and niece, and Caroline and Shawn.
I wish my parents could attend, but it seemed silly to invite them.
What would they do? Hop on an intercontinental flight just for their daughter’s baby shower?
That would be ridiculous. It makes way more sense for them to visit after the baby is born, though we haven’t discussed any details yet.
The space is beautifully decorated with fabric draping between the beams and a massive ivory-and-sage balloon arch with greenery and baby’s breath woven throughout.
Several tables are set up around the area, draped in vintage lace tablecloths and floral centerpieces. There are three separate gift tables with children’s books and pens for the guests to sign—Callie’s idea—in lieu of a guestbook.
Olivia’s dessert trailer is set up outside the barn doors with tons of sweet treats and baked goods, and there’s a buffet of finger foods and a massive charcuterie board off to the side of the room. All of it is calling to me like a siren song now that I’m actually able to keep my food down.
Callie and Olivia both look effortlessly beautiful, wearing sage green and pastel pink, respectively.
I opted for a comfortable white off-the-shoulder sweater dress, but I’d much rather be at home in one of Griffin’s shirts with my hair in a bun and a pint of ice cream on my lap.
I can’t wait to hold my baby in my arms and never ever do this again.
Some women are born for this; I don’t think I’m one of them.
Pregnancy is great in theory, and the result will be worth it, but in practice, it’s a nightmare.
I regularly want to punch Griffin in the dick so he can be miserable with me, and it’s not even his fault.
He’s an innocent bystander, guilty by proximity.
Violent impulses aside, I’ve grown somewhat attached to that particular appendage. My body is hyper-sensitive, and I’m horny 24/7. I didn’t realize cravings could include regular orgasms, but I’m not complaining. Griffin’s as thorough with satisfying this craving as he was with the sourdough.
Before everyone arrives, Evelyn gathers us all together for a quick photoshoot in the barn.
I stand on the left with Olivia in the middle and Callie to her right.
If our general appearances weren’t so wildly different, we’d resemble a pregnancy bump progress photo.
It’s ridiculous, but I’m grateful I don’t have to go through this alone.
We’ve created a sisterhood of sorts, much to the dismay of the men in our lives.
Evelyn snaps a few photos of the three of us, then she prompts Jaxon, Griffin, and Wilder to join.
Halfway through the photoshoot, Callie palms her lower back and winces. “I hate you,” she grumbles at Jaxon. “You couldn’t just give me one baby. Your fucking super sperm just had to show off.”
Jaxon chuckles and wraps his arms around her from behind. His hands cradle her bump, and he slowly lifts.
Callie releases a long exhale, resting her head back against his chest. “Fine. Maybe I don’t hate you.”
“Wait. What the hell just happened?” Wilder asks.
“He’s holding her bump,” Olivia replies. “I’ve heard it feels amazing.”
Callie smiles lazily. “It takes the pressure off my lower back and pelvis. Like a literal weight being lifted. You should try it.”
Without hesitation, Griffin stands behind me, and his large palms slide beneath my belly. As he lifts, the relief is immediate.
“Oh god,” I say breathily, dropping my head back against his shoulder.
“You keep making sounds like that, and we’re gonna have to leave the party early,” Griffin whispers into my ear.
A camera flash goes off, reminding me what we were supposed to be doing. Griffin carefully releases me, and all of the pressure returns.
“I’ll pay you to stand like that for the next ten weeks.”
He kisses my temple. “I’ll hold you and tater tot anytime you want. No payment needed.”
“Auntie Lina!” A blur in the shape of Emmy Lou comes rushing toward me.
I crouch down low and catch her in my arms, getting a hit of her lavender scent.
“Are you having a girl?” she asks. “Mama’s having a girl. And Uncle Jaxy and Auntie Kiki are having girl babies, too. That’s a lot of girls.”
A chorus of laughter follows Emmy’s stream of consciousness.
“I don’t know what I’m having,” I tell her. “What do you think?”
She shrugs. “Dunno. I’m gonna have so many cousins! This is the best day ever!”
I wobble on the balls of my feet. Griffin steadies me, then helps me stand. He holds out his other hand for Emmy Lou. “How about I take two of my favorite girls to get a treat,” he says. “Then we’ll find a seat so Auntie Lina can rest.”
Emmy bounces up and down excitedly. “Yes!”
The guests start streaming in, and we make our way to the buffet table at last. I fill up on all of my favorites, including the sourdough bruschetta Olivia made with Griffin’s help. When I’m full to bursting, I pass my leftovers to Griffin and rest my head on his shoulder.
“Tired?” he mumbles around my leftover pastry.
“Exhausted,” I admit.
He presses a kiss to my forehead and runs his hand over my bump. “Thirty minutes and I’m taking you home to rest.”
“Ok.” I lock eyes with Caroline, seated across from us, and she smiles like we’re in on some sort of secret.
A loud clinking sound fills the barn as Evelyn draws our attention to the small stage in the center of the room.
“First and foremost, I want to thank everyone for coming to celebrate my amazing daughters-in-law. Callie, Olivia, and Angelina—I can’t tell you how grateful we are to have you in our lives.
Thank you for loving our babies. I couldn’t ask for better partners for my boys, and mothers for my grandbabies. ”
My heart gives a jolt of longing. Love was never a part of the equation for us.
After all of these months, I’m still not sure how we got here or why he stuck around.
It doesn’t make sense, but I suppose it doesn’t have to.
This is our life, and maybe it isn’t love, but it’s still the most real and honest partnership I've ever had.
“This isn’t really a traditional baby shower,” Evelyn continues. “But lord knows we’re not the traditional type.” She glances at Wilder before her gaze shoots to Griffin.
I can’t help the laugh that bubbles out of me. “Damn. She got you there.”
“Should I take you on a walk down memory lane to remind you who got us into this situation in the first place, Mrs. Hayes?”
“Mm. I wouldn’t mind another wedding night, Mr. Hayes.”
He lifts his sleeve to check his non-existent watch. “Has it been thirty minutes yet?”
“Shh. Your mom is talking.”
He groans, and we tune back into Evelyn’s speech.
“...time for our first game!” she says.
After a few rounds of baby shower bingo, a weird game with tiny plastic babies frozen in ice cubes, and the one where they measure our bellies with toilet paper, the party winds down, and guests start to trickle out.
Caroline stops me near the gift table and pulls me in for a hug.
When she lets go, she hands me a small gift bag with sunflowers on it.
“I know the invitation said you weren’t going to open the gifts today, and I completely understand how chaotic it would’ve been for the three of you, but it’s important to me that you have this. Would you mind?”
I squeeze her hand. “Of course not.”
I pull out three bundles wrapped in white tissue paper.
The first item is a gold picture frame with a photo of Jess and me at her baby shower six years ago.
My heart leaps into my throat as I trail my finger over her smiling face.
The next is a white hand-knit baby blanket, identical to the one Caroline made for Emmy Lou, and last is a newborn onesie that says two words.
Two simple words that simultaneously tear my heart open and stitch it back together: heaven sent.
I’ve never been a particularly religious person.
My mom is Greek Orthodox, and when they married, my dad adopted her faith, but I was raised to make my own choices and stand firm in my beliefs.
When I lost Jess, I didn’t have a god to turn to, but my belief in our soul-deep connection never wavered.
If there is an afterlife, she’d find a way to show me she was still out there somewhere, so I look for her in the clouds.
When that’s not enough, I lean on her parents for their guidance.
“I just know she’s so happy for you,” Caroline says. “The way Griffin looks at you like you’re his whole world… I know she wanted that kind of love for you.”
There was a time when I wanted that for me, too. I thought I had it with Tyler, and I don’t dare to hope that I’ll have it again. Whatever this is between me and Griffin, friendship or something more complex, I’m content to know my baby is loved.
Arms wrap around me from behind, lifting my bump and releasing the pressure off my back. If this is going to be a regular occurrence, I’m all for it. Griffin’s warmth envelopes me, and I lean into him.
“Thanks for coming, Caroline,” he says.
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” She pats his cheek affectionately. “Take care of our girls.”
“You think it’s a girl?” I ask.
“Call it intuition.” She winks. “You need anything, we’re just a phone call away.”
Once Caroline’s out of earshot, Griffin says, “You made me wait more than thirty minutes, wife. How do you think I should punish you?”
My skin prickles with awareness, and that familiar craving returns. “Do your worst, Sourdough Daddy.”
A bark of laughter startles me.
“Fucking hell,” an amused voice says. “Sourdough Daddy?”
My face flames as I lock eyes with Jaxon. That’s what I get for trying to be funny. “I—”
He holds up his hands and takes a step back. “I don’t need to know what you two get up to in your alone time.”
“It’s not—”
“Nope. Don’t say anything.”
I groan. “It was a joke.”
“Sure,” Jaxon says. “Don’t worry. I don’t kink shame.”
I turn and bury my face in Griffin’s chest. A dark chuckle reverberates through him. “I knew you had a daddy kink.”
“I hate you.”
“Liar.”
He’s right. I don’t.
Not even a little bit.
The opposite, in fact.
Fuck.
Two Weeks Later
Baby Mamas
Callie: Why did nobody warn me that my nose could grow three sizes when I’m pregnant???
Me: I don’t think that’s a thing.
Callie: Oh, it’s definitely a thing.
Callie sends a selfie.
Callie: This is bullshit. You two are all glowy and shit, and I look like fucking pinocchio.
Olivia: Sweaty, not glowy.
Callie: Potato, potato.
Me: If it makes you feel any better, none of my shoes fit anymore.
Callie: Oh no. Beautiful flawless Angelina Rossi can’t fit in her shoes.
Olivia: I see the irritability has kicked in.
Callie: Somebody get these babies out of me!
Griffin
Baby Daddies:
Jaxon: Nobody say anything about Callie’s nose at family dinner or else.
Me: What’s wrong with Callie’s nose?
Jaxon: Don’t ask. Just smile and tell her she’s glowing. Got it?
Wilder: Holy shit, Olivia just showed me the photo.
Jaxon: NOT A SINGLE WORD!!!