19. Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Nineteen
Laynie
“We have a spot this weekend you can fill. I know it’s a bit of short notice,” Garrett says through the phone.
Humming, I check the calendar app on my phone just to double check, although I doubt I have anything on besides baking. It’s all I do with my spare time.
“I can make it this Saturday. How much is it for the spot?”
“It’s fifty bucks for the lot, and that comes with a fold out table and chair. Everything else you’ll need to bring with you. The setup starts at seven, and the market opens at eight.”
I nod, adding the information into my phone. “Thank you very much, Garrett.”
“Any time. I’ll keep you in mind if we need a spot filled or if something becomes available one weekend, but I have you down for once a month right now,” Garrett adds, his gruff voice deep and older.
“Great. I really appreciate this.”
“Have a good day, Laynie.”
The call ends, and I quickly transfer the money to him. I then pull up my message chain with Grayson.
LAYNIE: Are you free Saturday morning?
BLONDIE: Depends on what you’re wanting to do.
I roll my eyes.
LAYNIE: Farmer’s market in Hollow Grove. I’ll need some help.
BLONDIE: AKA, you need to use my ute. Wow.
LAYNIE: Not just that. I need you to help me as well.
LAYNIE: Macie and Reid will be coming with your mum.
BLONDIE: You’re fun to rile up, Biscuit.
BLONDIE: I’ll pick you up at six?
BLONDIE: I have to be home by two.
BLONDIE: Knox is coming over to ride dirt bikes with me. I’ve been teaching him, and he’s getting pretty good.
LAYNIE: Paisley’s younger brother?
BLONDIE: Yeah. She asked me and I thought it would be good.
BLONDIE: Turns out I was right ;)
LAYNIE: Well, there’s a first time for everything…
BLONDIE: I’ll pinch you.
LAYNIE: You wouldn’t dare.
BLONDIE: Dare me. I dare you.
My laugh carries through the empty house.
Sadie is out at the ballet studio in Hollow Grove where she picked up a position, and I presume Dad is still at the hardware store where he works during the week.
I have no idea about Mum, she floats around between her art pieces out in the garden shed, and teaching at Ashwood Primary School three days a week.
LAYNIE: I’m not daring you because I don’t want you to.
Rubbing Freddie’s face, where he lies peacefully on my lap, I decide it’s time I get off the couch. I told Macie this morning that I was going to come into Golden Hour late, which I definitely needed after the past few days. They have been packed with appointments, baking, and family dinners.
Burying my face in his calico fur, Freddie’s purring loudens as I ruffle the hair around his face and ears before walking him into my bedroom and dropping him on my bed.
“I need to shower, sweet boy. Then I’ll give you some breakfast, all right?”
Wide green eyes blink back at me as I grab some fresh clothes to change into.
Undressing in the bathroom, I go to grab a towel out of the cupboard when I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror.
My skin has a soft glow to it, as if the moon is reflecting off it.
Shimmering golden hair has half fallen out of the bun I tied it in this morning.
Releasing it, strands fall over my shoulders, down my back, and that’s when I see it.
Fingers reaching down, I touch the small bump of my stomach that definitely wasn’t there yesterday. Did it just appear today? Overnight?
Breath hitching softly, I graze my smooth skin ever so gently, as if I’m afraid it might pop like a water balloon if I’m not careful enough. It’s so tiny, but clearly noticeable, and I can’t contain the sprinkle of joy that dusts through me at the sight.
My baby is growing. It’s finally showing.
A small noise of delight escapes me as I turn to the side and assess it in the mirror. It looks as if I went to town for dinner, but I know this isn’t a food baby.
This is the real deal.
Grinning from ear to ear, I pull up the camera app on my phone and snap a photo.
This is one I’m going to keep forever. I might even make a copy and put it in an album, because I never want to forget this moment.
It feels like the third step in this lifelong journey.
First the tests, then the scan, and now the stomach pop.
I’ll need to get some glue and glitter and decorate the heck out of this photo album.
I send the photo to Macie, Sadie, and Mum. My finger hovers over my messages with Grayson, tossing up whether I should send it to him as well. My hesitation continues as I wrestle with my own internal thoughts. He is my friend, after all, and as my friend, he’d be excited about this.
Right?
I spend the time in the shower mulling it over. Standing under the spray, it’s invigorating and replenishes my energy, but I soap up my stomach more times than necessary. More because I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of feeling it.
Dressing into my overalls and sweatshirt, I grab my phone.
BLONDIE: Fine, no pinching. Only because you need to be looked after right now. All the time, but especially now.
My insides turn a little gooey, like caramel.
BLONDIE: Also, we’re going to Afterhours tonight. I know you can’t drink, but Macie told me that they have a crispy cola.
BLONDIE: Want me to pick you up?
LAYNIE: All right. I’m in.
BLONDIE: Just like old times ;)
My smile drops a little. I don’t think things will ever be like old times again.