Chapter 48
SPENCER
SEVEN YEARS AGO
“Oh my god,” Harlow mutters at my side. “They really did go all out.”
The rented-out space in a local restaurant is decorated with yellow and cream balloons, a painted arched sign that says Oh, baby!, and there’s a fully decked out tablescape. I only know that word because I’ve heard my mom utter it about twenty times in the past week.
I give her hand a squeeze and she steps over the threshold.
“This is incredible,” I say to my mom, and her eyes immediately shine with tears at the praise. “Thank you for doing this for us.” I let go of Harlow’s hand to hug my mom.
I know how blessed we are that our parents have been supportive of the situation. I’m not sure we could be doing this without them.
“You’re welcome.” She lets me go and takes my face between her hands. “I’m proud of you, Spencer.”
“Proud?” I question, not sure what I’ve possibly done to be proud of. I’ve gotten my girlfriend pregnant, dropped out of college, and I’m working at a surf shop. I’d think by most people’s accounts I’m failing epically.
“Yes.” She pats my cheek. “You’ve stepped up to the plate and you haven’t complained once.”
I’m not sure doing the right thing is also anything to be proud of. It should be the bare minimum to do what I have. But all I say is, “Thank you,” and pull her in for another hug.
When I turn to check on Harlow, I find that she’s greeting her extended family. Willa hovers close to her with a no nonsense look on her face, like she’s daring any of the family to say something about Harlow’s teen pregnancy.
A bump against my shoulder has me turning to see Jasper—T.J.’s older brother and Willa’s boyfriend. “Hey.”
“Hey, how are you?” I ask.
His gaze immediately goes to Willa, and he grins. “Good. I’m real good. Is Harlow doing okay?”
I sigh and swish my hand back and forth. “Her back is starting to kill her, and her ankles are swelling and no matter how much I tell her she’s fucking gorgeous she doesn’t believe me. But other than that, she’s doing well.”
“It’s going to be a big change for you guys.” He doesn’t say it aloud, but his look clearly says can you guys handle that?
Frankly, I don’t know if we can, but I know we have to.
“Huge,” I agree. “We’ve taken a few parenting classes and both got CPR certified. CPR is crazy different on infants so I’m glad we did it. It gives me piece of mind.”
He nods in understanding. “Yeah, that makes sense.”
Harlow’s mom scurries over to me and takes my hand. “Do you like everything?”
I chuckle, because even if I hated it, it wouldn’t matter what I think as long as Harlow is happy, and from the beaming smile on her face, I’d say she’s pleased.
“This is great. You and my mom did an incredible job. It…” Fuck, I’m going to get choked up about this. “It means a lot to me that you guys are supportive about the baby.”
Her smile is pure understanding, and she pulls me into a quick hug. “This baby is going to be so loved, and not just by you and my daughter.”
With those words, she quickly moves on to greet a new guest coming in the door.
Jasper eyes up the corner of the room and groans. “They’re going to make us play games, aren’t they?”
I laugh. “Oh, totally.”
He grunts out, “I’m too anti-social for this.”
“You’re in the wrong place then, bud.” I clap him on the shoulder.
“You’re telling me, but Willa wanted me to come, and I can’t seem to tell that girl no.” His eyes find her automatically in the room and he smiles in her direction.
“I feel you. I’ll do anything for Harlow.” That girl has me wrapped around her finger and I know if we have a daughter, she’ll do the same.
“All right, everyone’s here, so let’s take our seats,” my mom calls out to be heard above everyone.
I nod my head at Jasper and head over to my girl. Our seats are side by side and I’m glad no one got the wild idea to separate us.
The restaurant serves our catered meal and when that’s over our mom’s move onto the games before ending the day with the gifts for the baby.
Her parents already purchased the crib and changing table for us and mine took care of a stroller and the car seat, so most of the gifts consists of smaller items like infant medicine, pacifiers, and diapers.
Lots of diapers. I swear by the end of it I could build a fort out of them, but I’m not going to complain.
From what I’ve read, babies go through a ton of diapers.
We have to load up my car, Harlow’s mom’s car, and my mom’s car with all the stuff.
Harlow slides her hand into mine as her mom pulls away from the restaurant. “I didn’t expect everyone to spoil the baby so much.”
“I didn’t either,” I admit. “There’s not much else we need to get.”
She rubs her stomach. “I’m terrified to give birth, but I can’t wait to meet this baby. I feel like I’ve been pregnant forever and I still have two more months of this.”
“Yeah.” I eye her. “And we haven’t even come up with names.”
Every time I’ve broached the subject she’s panicked and shut me down. She says naming another human is overwhelming and I have to agree. It’s baffling that I’m expected to come up with a name for someone I don’t even know yet. Name’s can make or break people.
She purses her lips. “I know we need to talk about it, but it gives me hives just thinking about it.”
I cock my head to the side and open the car door for her. “It does not give you hives.”
“It’s hyperbole.” She rolls her eyes at me and sticks out her tongue. “But it does stress me out.”
“I just don’t want us to get to the hospital and not have it figured out. We’re going to have to fill out a birth certificate.”
She groans. “Ugh, don’t remind me.”
I close her door and go around to get in my side. “Do you want ice cream?” I ask her. There was cake at the shower, but she barely touched it. Lately, ice cream has been one of her pregnancy cravings.
“Yes!” She instantly perks up. “Cookies n’ Cream.”
I love how she reminds me, as if I don’t know what ice cream she wants.
I head to her favorite spot and leave her in the car while I run inside to order.
I can’t help but laugh when I exit the shop and she spots me, holding her hands up in a grabbing motion for her ice cream.
“Here you go.” I hand it to her through the open window.
She’s already on her second bite when I get I in. “You didn’t get any,” she says in an accusatory tone.
I sigh. “Yeah, well, did you not see that huge ass piece of cake I ate? I’m going to be riding that sugar high for days.”
“That’s true. I suppose I can forgive you.” She swirls her tongue around the spoon. “I bet this kid is going to love ice cream.”
I laugh, picturing a chubby cheeked face with smeared ice cream. “They might.”
I stay parked in the lot while she enjoys her sweet treat. When she’s done, I hop out and toss the cup in the trash.
“Spencer, feel.” She grabs my hand before my ass has even touched the seat. “The baby is moving like crazy.”
I’ve felt our child move plenty of times now, but there’s never not a time that it doesn’t leave me in awe. I’m not sure I’ve ever felt it move this much, though.
A surprised laugh flies out of my parted lips. “Wow.”
“I think the baby is agreeing that they like ice cream.”
“I can’t wait to hold them,” I whisper, moving my hand around to follow the kicks.
“I know this is real, I mean look at me.” She glances significantly at her rounded belly. “But I don’t think it’s truly going to hit me until I’m holding them.”
“It’s a bit surreal,” I agree.
Despite watching her grow, and baby items slowly invading her parents’ house, it’s strange to realize that a new human is going to be here soon.
She leans her head against the headrest and looks at me with a wistful smile. Her fingers gently caress the back of my neck. “You’re going to be an amazing dad. I hope you know that.”
I smile, appreciating her belief in me. “And you’re going to be the best mom. This baby is so lucky to have you.”
She smiles, leaning over to kiss me. “I love you,” she says, looking at me like I’m her whole world. In a few months I know she’s going to be giving our child that same look.
“I love you, too.”
It always seemed too good to be true to meet the love of your life in high school, but I know I did.