Chapter Fifteen
Ellis
Soft music and laughter float through the doors of Alie and Liam’s home, mingling with the brisk spring air. As the quarterback of the Titans, and Alie being the team owner’s daughter, their home is stunning. It’s a white estate nestled on a beautiful piece of property.
At thirty weeks pregnant, my body temperature is starting to go a bit off the rails, so I stepped outside a few minutes ago to cool off and sip my sparkling water with a splash of cranberry. I take in the view, thinking about how my life has changed and won’t slow down anytime soon.
When Alie, Presley, and Eva first approached me about hosting my baby shower, I thought it might be too much, but I’m really glad I did it now.
They involved my mom, so that meant I did have to offer some input.
My one clear directive was that I wanted this shower to be fun, relaxing, and comfortable for everyone.
No formal place settings and stuffiness.
I’ve spent my life navigating the performative, high-society circles of Manhattan’s upper crust without ever blinking an eye, but I wanted this day to be warm and inviting and carry the excitement of my son’s birth.
And my girls executed the vision flawlessly. I mean…they may have gone a little overboard with the florals, but it’s all so soft and stunning.
Floral installations of cream garden roses, soft sage greenery, and white hydrangeas drape over the archways inside the house.
And the tables are set with linen, glassware, and gold silverware.
A three-tier cake decorated with hand-spun sugar flowers sits on the table, along with enough food to feed the entire football team.
Which…most of them are here today, so I guess it was necessary.
It’s sophisticated, no doubt expensive, but completely genuine.
I run my hand back and forth over my bump as I look around, and the baby moves. I swear he already has relentless energy.
Instinctively, I look for Brody.
Every time I see him, I swear my pulse jumps, and it’s been months now that we’ve been together, and a few months since we’ve been living together. I hope I never stop having this feeling.
He’s standing next to Aston with a bottle of the Lone Star beer that Aston insists on having at every family event or get-together.
Brody looks every bit of the professional football player he is, even in the offseason.
He and Liam, Aston, and Saint worked out this morning before coming over as the party was starting.
Standing near him are his mother, June, and his sister, Lauren.
June has an iced tea and wears a navy blue dress, her short hair neatly styled as she glances over at her son with maternal pride.
And Lauren is bright-eyed and wears a floral dress, gesturing wildly with a napkin while speaking to my mother, who looks entertained. They seem like kindred spirits.
When Brody flew to Ohio a few months ago to tell his mom about the baby and me, I couldn’t go with him because of non-negotiable business dealings.
But I hadn’t spent any time worrying about how they would react, because the world, and even our own families, with the exception of my brother, only know one truth: this baby is Brody’s son.
And we know what we are and what we’re building.
Since then, I’ve developed a relationship with both of them via FaceTime calls and texts. June loves to send me recipes when I tell her what I’m craving, and Lauren floods my phone with baby clothes and nursery ideas. Having them here with us in New Jersey makes the day, the weekend, even better.
Yesterday was Brody’s twenty-seventh birthday, which worked out well with the baby shower weekend.
While he was working out with Aston, I went to pick up his mom and sister from the private airport my family uses.
I handled the entire arrangement weeks ago without telling him or even dropping a single hint.
I sent our family’s private jet to pick them up from Ohio, and set up the guest rooms, and Brody had no clue.
I was honestly surprised Lauren didn’t spoil it. She was so excited to come.
When he came home from his workout, the first thing he saw was his mom and sister standing in the kitchen with big smiles on their faces.
Brody catches my eye from across the room. A breathtaking smile breaks across his rugged, gorgeous face as his gaze focuses entirely on me.
I raise two fingers, signaling for him to come outside.
His grin widens, he nods at me, hands Aston his bottle of beer, then cuts straight through the crowd toward the doors leading to me.
Brody steps out onto the stone terrace, the breeze catching his short dark hair. He closes the distance between us in three strides, stepping into my personal space, making me tilt my head back to meet his gaze.
Without saying a word, his palm slides over the curve of my stomach, then around to my lower back.
“Hey, Princess,” he says, his voice a low rumble. “You doing okay? You need to sit for a while?”
“No, I’m okay,” I reply, my eyes locking onto his with calm confidence. “I’m perfect, actually. How are your mom and Lauren holding up with this crowd?”
“Oh, they’re loving it,” he says, his thumb brushing along my spine. He pauses, his gaze darkening with emotion. “Ellis…yesterday…seeing my mom and sister in our home…you really didn’t have to do that.”
“I wanted to,” I say plainly, reaching up with my free hand to rest my fingers against the sharp, rough line of his scruffy jaw.
“You take care of everything. You never ask for credit or praise either. Bringing your family here wasn’t a favor, it’s what you deserve.
It’s okay to let me take care of you every once in a while. ”
His eyes burn into mine as he leans down, pressing his forehead against mine, his breath fanning across my cheek.
“I love you, Ellis,” he growls softly.
“I know you do, Vaughn,” I murmur back, a knowing smile on my lips. “And I love you.”
“Alright, mommy and daddy to be! Save the kissing for after the presents.”
Alie’s voice carries outside to us as she stands in the doorway.
Presley, Eva, and my mom stand beside her, surrounded by a massive mountain of beautifully wrapped packages, custom wood boxes, and floral gift bags stacked neatly on one of the tables.
“Everyone, please find a seat!” Alie calls out, her type A personality shining through her bright smile. “We’re moving on to toasts, tears, and terribly cute baby gifts.”
We follow Alie in, and Brody leads me to an armchair near the front of the room, making sure I’m completely comfortable before positioning himself directly next to me. He places a hand on my leg, a steady reminder that he’s right here with me to celebrate our baby boy.
June and Lauren sit on the other side of Brody, June giving me a warm smile.
Alie claps a few times, her gaze sweeping over the guests, a mix of family, friends, and Titans’ players and their families.
“When Ellis first told us she was pregnant,” Alie begins, her voice carrying, “I was so excited to have a friend going through pregnancy at the same time as me.” She places a hand on her bump.
“But we,” she points to Presley and Eva, and then nods at my mom, “also knew we were going to throw her a shower fit for a Renwick. And just look at our mama-to-be, looking radiant. It’s clear that today isn’t just about presents, cake, and flowers.
It’s a celebration of the extraordinary life she and Brody are building together for their baby. ”
A soft round of applause sweeps through the room. I glance at Brody and see his eyes on Alie, but I can feel the warmth of his hand on my leg, like an anchor.
“Ellis and Brody, we’re so excited to celebrate your baby boy today. To baby Vaughn!”
“To baby Vaughn!” the guests echo in unison, raising their glasses.
I take a minute to absorb the moment, a smile on my face as Eva steps up next, carrying a box tied with a thick velvet ribbon.
“Okay, no more emotional speeches, I’m not ruining my makeup!” Eva says, laughing. “We have gifts to open, and Presley spent like three weeks tracking down the perfect gift, so let’s get started.”
For the next hour, the room is a blur of laughter, chatter, and tearing wrapping paper.
Eva and Aston gave us a beautiful set of hand-carved developmental toys.
Alie and Liam had an heirloom-quality rocking chair crafted by an artisan in Vermont.
Presley and Saint gave us a set of classic children’s books, each with handwritten notes inside.
Brody’s mom made the baby a hand-stitched quilt made from soft cotton in sage and cream, her eyes shining with emotion as I smooth my fingers over the delicate pattern.
“My mother made one for Brody and then for Lauren when they were born,” June says softly. “I wanted my grandson to have one too. Carry on the tradition.”
“It’s stunning, June,” I say, meeting her eyes. “It’s going to stay with him forever.”
Brody’s hand tightens on my shoulder, his pride palpable.
As my mom clears away the final gift, I turn in my seat and catch Brody’s eye.
“We have one more gift,” I say, my voice cutting through the voices around us.
I reach down to grab a small bag beneath my chair, pulling out a polished wooden box tied with a simple leather cord. I turn to face him completely, holding the box toward him with both hands.
“This is for you, Brody,” I say, smiling. “A day late for your birthday, but I think it’s perfect for today.”
The guests go quiet and lean forward to see Brody look down at the gift in my hands. His brows furrow in confusion.
“Ellis, you already got my mom and sister here,” he says, his voice only meant for me. “You didn’t need to get me anything else.”
“Open it,” I tell him, my tone leaving no room for argument.
He takes it from me and unties the cord, flipping the lid open. Inside, resting on a bed of dark red velvet, is a pocket watch polished to a mirror finish. Brody carefully lifts the watch from the box and turns it over in his palm to read the engraving on the back.
Brody—
Our time started with you.
Love always, Ellis
Brody goes completely still.
He stares down at the engraved lettering, his broad thumb rubbing slowly over the words. The composure he usually maintains for the rest of the world cracks for a brief second, replaced by something raw.
He looks up from the watch, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that burns right through the afternoon light.
Without saying a word to the people watching us, Brody reaches down, cups my face in both hands, and pulls me into a possessive kiss.
The room erupts in cheers and whistles. Lauren squeals in her seat, June wipes her eyes with a tissue, but I simply lean into him, resting my hands against the solid wall of his chest.
When he finally pulls back, his breath is uneven, and his eyes are dark with something between love and desire.
“You’re something else, Princess,” he rasps.
“I am, aren’t I?” I tease, a smirk playing on my lips. “Now help me get out of this chair. I’m ready for some cake.”
He lets out a rumbling laugh, sliding his arm around my waist to support me as I stand.
I see that my father and Bryan finally arrive after a golf outing earlier in the day and walk over to say hello to Brody and me. Almost like they timed it with the cake cutting.
We slice the cake, and our guests scatter again, armed with the sweet, decadent dessert, coffee, and wine.
I stand near the table, leaning back against Brody’s chest as he stands behind me, his arms wrapped around my waist, resting over my stomach. We watch as his mom and sister blend in with our friends and my family.
Our two worlds blending. No pretense, no awkwardness, and no hesitation.
“I love that all of our people are here together.” I turn my head against Brody’s shoulder to look at his face. “I think your mom might adopt Alie, and I think my mom and Lauren are planning a vacation together or something. It’s like my mom has another daughter now.”
“My mom and sister recognize good people,” Brody chuckles against my cheek. “And we have a good crew here, Ellis.”
“That we do. Me and this baby are so lucky to have you and them in our lives.”
He looks down at me, his eyes loving and sincere. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. It’s just hard to believe that in ten weeks or less, he’ll be in our arms.”
“Ten weeks,” I repeat, laying my hand over his.
A strong kick presses against us, a small reminder that he’s coming soon. Brody lets out a laugh, his hand pressing gently against the movement.
“We know, little dude, and we’re so excited.”
As I look around at all these people who came to be part of our day, I stand with this man who shares my strength in our love for each other and this baby, and I know without a doubt that our story is unshakable.