Chapter 11
Coco
Five Years Later…
“Where are you headed after this?” Pearl asks as we wrap up lunch.
“I’m going to meet Alec over at the restaurant.”
She grins. “Palmer’s or Coco’s?”
I laugh. “Coco’s. We’re spending the day shopping up there.”
“Baby shopping?” she asks excitedly.
I nod. “Yeah, we finally picked a paint color for their room, and Alec is going to do that on his next day off.”
“Want me to come over and help?” Pearl offers.
“I wish. He’s insisting I leave the house that day. Something about the fumes being dangerous.”
Pearl snorts, but she can’t tease me. Wells was just as over-the-top protective with her when she was pregnant.
“Well, we can hang out that day then,” she says.
“How’s the baby?” I ask, changing the subject.
Pearl’s whole face lights up at the mention of her baby. I threw the baby shower, and I don’t think Pearl has stopped mentioning me having a baby next since. It was the first thing she said to me when I went to the hospital to see her and meet the baby. That was when I told her the news.
I was actually pregnant for the last part of her pregnancy. I almost told her at her baby shower and a million times after, but I didn’t want to take away her spotlight. I knew she was nervous and needed the focus to be on her until the baby was delivered.
Pearl screamed so loudly that she scared the nurses and woke up half the babies in the hospital when I told her my news. Wells hugged me and Alec, congratulating us. It was a great day.
Now, I’m almost due. Well, nine more weeks, but with the way I’ve popped in the last few months, it feels like it could be any day now.
“She’s great,” Pearl gushes. “She’s sleeping for five hours now, so that’s been heaven for Wells and me. We’re talking about introducing solids in a few months. I mentioned wanting to try to make it for her, but Wells has already ordered a machine and all of the gadgets that go along with it.”
“Fun.” I laugh.
“You can come over and help. You might want to make some for when you’ll need it in a few months.”
“True. Okay, yeah, maybe we can do it when Alec is painting the nursery.”
“Sounds good. Wells can help Alec that day.”
I love that Alec and Wells have become so close. Alec makes it a point to be on good terms with everyone who’s important to me, but since Pearl is my best friend, he’s grown extra close to her husband.
They hang out when Pearl and I want a girls’ day, and we’ve started doing double dates once a month, though that stopped for a few months as they adjusted to being new parents.
“I’ll text you and see what day works,” Pearl says.
I nod, drinking the last of my water. The baby kicks, and I wince, rubbing my swollen stomach over the spot.
“Kicking?” Pearl guesses.
“All the time lately.”
“I’d tell you it gets better, but I’d be lying.”
“Does feeling as big as a house get better?”
“Oh yeah! After the baby is born,” she teases, laughing loudly.
“Ughhh,” I groan.
She slides her water glass toward me, and I take a gulp, chewing on some of the ice.
“Thanks,” I say as I take another drink.
The server appears, dropping off the check. I reach for it before Pearl can beat me to it.
“Hey! No! You paid last time.”
“I still owe you, remember?” I ask.
She frowns. “For what?”
“The cooking classes five years ago.”
Her face softens, and I smile as I think about how that moment changed my life. Sure, Alec and I might have gotten together even if I hadn’t signed up for his class, but it definitely sped things up for us.
Now we’ve been together for five years, married for four and a half. We bought a house together and made a life for ourselves here in Wolf Valley. My photography business is going amazingly. Alec has opened a restaurant named after me and done the impossible—he’s taught me how to cook.
I’m still not an expert like him, but I can do the basics, and there’s no danger of me burning down our house anymore.
Alec is no longer so rigid and tense. He’s learned to enjoy himself, and I’ve learned that I can have it all. I’ve found a man who has his own interests and who lets me have time to myself because he knows I need it. I’ve found my soulmate.
Pearl and I gather our things and stand. I’m hugging her goodbye when I see Alec heading our way over her shoulder.
I grin at him, waving as he hurries my way. “I was going to meet you,” I remind him.
He shrugs. “I finished early and thought I’d come and meet you,” he explains, wrapping his arm around me and kissing my forehead.
“Hey, Alec. Good to see you,” Pearl says.
“You too. How was your lunch?” Alec asks.
“Great. I’ll let you two get to your baby shopping.”
I wave as she leaves.
“I’m parked over here,” I tell my husband.
He nods, leading me to my car. “I’ll follow you home, and we can take my car. Or do you want to go home and get some rest? How are you feeling? Are you tired? Are you—”
“I’m good,” I promise, patting his arm.
Alec nods, and I hide my smile as I slip behind the wheel. He leans in, pressing a sweet kiss on my lips before standing and closing the door.
I start the car and make the short drive home. I can’t stop smiling as I park in the driveway, and Alec stops next to me.
I used to be lonely. I used to think something was missing in my life. Now I know that missing piece was Alec. He’s given me a family, a future, and a home. He’s my everything, and I know that I’m his too.
“Ready to do this?” Alec asks as he opens the door for me.
“Yeah,” I say.
I’m ready for anything as long as Alec is with me.