33. Mia
Mia
I don’t know why it took me until the third trimester to put a chair in my bathroom so I can sit while I get ready. This chair might never leave now, and with all the maneuvering it took to get up here, I can’t say Adam will argue.
Granted, he doesn’t argue much to begin with—well, that’s a bit of a lie. The first time he sat down in front of me, we technically argued. Deciding on a baby name took weeks…it’s the debate training in us, but damn, does he make it fun.
I feel slightly guilty being the reason he’s late today. I know it was most likely eating him up inside, but I’d probably still be lying in bed if he hadn’t stayed…and be a little grumpier.
When it officially gets two minutes past the standard Adam time, the texts come through rather fast and I can’t say I’m surprised.
The Family Lineup
Will
Adam, where are you at?
Beck
I never thought I’d see the day.
Callie
You’re freaking me out. Where are you?!
Tripp
I’m just glad I wasn’t the last one today.
Emma
That’s when you know it’s bad.
Tripp
Hey, I’m never late! Unlike someone now.
Adam
I’m on my way. Relax.
I set my curing iron down, and just as I’m about to reply with a pregnant wife excuse, another text comes through.
Adam
Dex, is Miles with you? Ellison just got here and he’s going to bring Stevie.
Wait…like Jett and Wyla? What is he talking about?
Just then, a knock comes to the bathroom door.
“Hi, want some company?”
A surge of giddiness runs through my body. “Oh, my goodness, Wyla, hi! What are you doing here?”
Wyla meets me with the best hug she can manage with her sweet little baby in her arms. “You think we’d miss y’alls baby shower?”
“Well, it’s a long trip and you just had a baby a few months ago. I wouldn’t hold it against you if you did.”
Wyla waves her hand. “Please, there was no question.”
“Well, I have questions and the first one is, can I hold this sweet girl?”
“Be my guest.” Wyla passes Andie to me. “Here, sit, I’ll curl your hair.”
“Wyla, you don’t…” Andie gives me this big smile, and I’m never giving this sweet child up. “Actually, yeah, okay.”
Sitting back down in my chair, I plop Andie on my stomach. “Look at that, the perfect seat for you.”
Her head wobbles slightly, but she recovers rather well. Her hand comes up, grabbing at my face and Foster starts kicking the crap out of my stomach.
“Okay, I got one outside and one in attacking me.” I move her down to my lap. “You two play with each other.”
Wyla laughs as she picks a section of my hair. “Yeah, the hitting and kicking sort of morphs into grabbing and pulling—really, there’s still some hitting and kicking, but ya know, you get to teach them to stop.”
“That’s okay, Aunt Mia doesn’t mind. No, she doesn’t.” I dive straight into my baby talk voice and Andie smiles big again. “Oh my goodness, Wyla, she’s so beautiful.”
“Thanks, Jett and I have to agree with you.”
Speaking of… I snap a quick picture and send it in the group chat. “Jett and Stevie went with Adam to practice?”
“Yeah, Stevie wants to meet Miles. And them hitting it off will most likely be crucial for her not absolutely going crazy at the baby shower.”
“Eh, I don’t know, I could see that duo getting into a bit of fun trouble.” I chuckle. “They won’t hurt anything, I promise. It’ll be great to see them play together. And any mischief they have will mostly be a great distraction from my mother.”
“You say that now, wait until Stevie’s sliding down your banister after a cupcake.”
“At least there’ll be entertainment.”
Andie coos as she plays patty-cake with my stomach while Foster rolls and kicks back.
“I think they like each other.” I dip back into my baby voice. “Are you two best friends?”
Wyla chuckles as she works around to my other side. “If not, we’ll force ’em. I always thought Nashville was going to be my and Jett’s favorite place since we met there, but Boston is quickly growing on us.”
“Oh, any chance I can convince you to move here?”
“Sorry, girl, I fear I could never fully leave Aster Creek, but I’m thinking we’ll be visiting a whole lot more.”
“I’ll take it. Who knows, maybe we’ll come down to you sometimes, too.”
“Anytime, babe. Any—”
“Mia,” my mother calls from my bedroom, and before I can even respond, she calling my name again. “Mia…oh, there you are. I was knocking and knocking on your front door.”
“Sorry, I didn’t hear you, but thankfully you know the code to get in.” I bounce Andie slightly in my lap. “I’m a little preoccupied right now.”
“I see that.” My mom comes around my side. “Who’s this sweet angel?”
“This is Andie, and her mom, Wyla. Her husband Jett used to play with Adam in Seattle.”
“Oh, more baseball players for your father. Don’t get me wrong, he’s very excited for you, dear, but I’ve told him he has to keep his baseball talk to a minimum.
” My mom looks to Wyla with a shake of her head.
“He’s always been a huge Blues fan. I suggested we only do women for this shower, but that idea was voted down rather quickly. ”
Yeah, that was not happening. Between the way my aunt handled us moving in and our situation entirely…
I need more buffers here. I’m half tempted to start the whole shower off with a giant disclaimer, so I don’t have to answer the same rude—yet delivered in a very polite manner—questions about how Adam and I are doing things differently…
At least with the team and our friends here, we should be able to escape a few of those conversations rather quickly. My dad was really thinking of himself on that front, though; seeing him fangirl over the team really is one of my favorite things.
“Well, I’m going to get everything situated downstairs, but first…can I hold the baby?”
“Mom.” I hold Andie close when she starts to reach before Wyla can even answer.
“What? I’m sorry, I’m excited for my grandbaby to get here, and she’s so adorable.” She leans back, holding her hands up. “I can wait.”
“It’s so okay.” Wyla chuckles. “Take her with you if you want. She doesn’t know a stranger. All I ask is no one kisses her.”
“We can do that.” Mom scoops little Andie right up from me. “We have a lot of setting up to do. I’ve got caterers coming, a dessert board, and decorations to do. You’ll be my perfect little helper.”
“Boss people around,” I mimic in my mom’s soft tone.
She snorts. “And you thought you got your bossiness from your father…ha, comical.”
“Great, then it’s hereditary. Think we’ll have Foster as our first female president?”
“One of, I hope. I’d love to see a female president in my lifetime.”
“Amen.” Wyla lifts a hand.
Mom places a hand over my stomach. “I’ll see you downstairs in a bit. I want to get a kick from her later.”
“Sounds good, we’ll be down soon.”
Wyla grins as she waits for my mom to fully retreat out of the bathroom and get down the hall. “And you said she’s driving you crazy…she’s precious.”
“She is. I also never said she wasn’t great, just a bit of a hoverer, major worrier, and you know…”
“A mom?” Wyla finished for me.
“Oh no, am I going to turn into her?”
“In some ways. I couldn’t help but notice that she’s also wearing a solid four-inch heel. It’s all making sense to me now.”
“No, make it stop. I can’t even have a drink while I process this news. Couldn’t you have at least waited until I had her to point this out?”
Wyla tilts her head back with a laugh. “The best I can do for you is a sweet from the dessert table later.”
“Not nearly strong enough, but I’ll take it.”
After finishing my hair, we tackle my makeup, and I opt for one of Adam’s T-shirts and a pair of maternity leggings while everything is getting set up.
I’m very excited for my dress today and I refuse to spill anything on it before the party starts.
I’m not sure if it’s a hormone thing or pregnancy brain in general, but I no longer trust myself with drinks or food.
I know I made the right call when that dessert table shows up and the chocolate fountain is the first thing up and running. Taste testing is an absolute must, and no one but my mother dared to comment on me constantly drenching the strawberries and shoving them in my mouth.
With everything finally perfect, I can’t help but have one more strawberry.
“Mia, dear, there’s not going to be any left for the shower,” my mother scolds.
“It’s your granddaughter. She loves them.”
“Now, that’s not fair. How am I supposed to argue—”
Foster starts rolling around in my stomach, and I cut my mother off, taking her hand and placing it on my stomach. “Wait for it.”
Her eyes light up like they do every time. “Oh, you have all the strawberries you want.”
“If you insist.” I laugh, reaching for another, but when I look back, I see the tears filling my mother’s eyes. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing, I’m just so happy for you. I’ve always been proud of your accomplishments, and I admire the drive you got from your grandfather and dad…
And I know you love it, that’s never been a question, but I see you with Adam and carrying this baby—I don’t know, I’m happy you’re getting some of me, too. ”
“Mom.” I pull her in for a tight hug. “We can’t both start crying right before the party starts.”
She laughs. “I know, I know. You go get dressed and we can cry over it after.”
“Deal.” Stepping back, I take one more strawberry for my trip up the stairs and she shakes her head. “We’ll need more of these for that cry, too.”
“I’ll have the caterer bring some more.”
“Foster and I really appreciate it. I’m going to change and I’ll be back.”
Heading back upstairs, I give my hair a quick fluff and do small touch-ups to my makeup before sliding into my pale pink dress. The soft fabric gives me the perfect amount of shape, especially with my bump.
One of the more annoying aspects of pregnancy has been the maternity clothes—I constantly feel like most of them try to hide my stomach or give this really weird emphasis to it.
But this dress is perfect. I’ve held off on wearing it for this very special occasion, and now I may wear it to work every day.
The one flaw is the small dip in the back that has ties for a bow. I attempt a few times and while I get a mediocre one going, I’m not satisfied and want it to be perfect.
Pulling the strands apart, I let out a short breath. Man, I could also go for not getting winded at everything.
“Need some help with that?”
When Adam gets right behind me, I lean my back against his chest. “Look at you and your perfect timing. Yes, please.”
His hands glide from my waist to my stomach and he kisses the crook of my neck. “Honey, I can’t seem to get use to how breathtakingly stunning you are. “
I take a deep inhale of this intoxicating scent and goosebumps tingle down my arms. “With how you adore me…I may get a complex.”
Adam’s husky laugh dances across my skin and the goosebumps light up all over again.
“If you don’t have one already, then I haven’t been doing my job properly.” Adam’s hands slide down to my hips and his lips trail down my shoulder.
For a moment, I fall in a lusty haze of his body against mine, but it breaks when the doorbell rings.
“Hold on there, All-star. We’ve got a baby shower to get to downstairs.”
The growl Adam lets out threatens a small urge to cave, but he stands and presses a quick kiss to my cheek. “Later it is. You want this in a bow back here?”
“Yes, please. A pretty one, if you can.”
“I’m going to choose to not be offended by that.” He steps back with a smirk as he ties the straps. “Alright, how’d I do?’
Angling toward the mirror, I manage a decent glimpse. “Hey, that’s actually really good.”
“Again, choosing not to be offended.” Adam kisses my forehead. “I took a shower after practice at the facility, so I just need to change really quick. I know Jett and Stevie found Wyla downstairs feeding Andie, if you want to head down—”
“I’ll wait on you.”
“Honey, you can—”
A loud knock comes to our bedroom door. “Mia, people are starting to show up.” My mother’s voice carries into our bathroom.
I let my head fall on Adam’s chest. “Alright, thanks for letting us know.”
“See you down soon?”
I can tell enough in her tone that she’s not going to go down without me. It’s honestly not worth the annoyance, plus we just had a pretty nice moment, and I don’t want to let that one be overshadowed that quickly.
Adam gives me a kiss. “It’s my turn to force you out. I’ll be right behind you.”
“I’m giving you three minutes tops.”
Adam chuckles. “I’ve done more with less time, baby.”
“I’m well aware.” I hold his hand as I glide past him and refuse to let go until the space simply has his touch slipping away. “Time starts now.”
When my mother spots me, her shoulders drop slightly, but they won’t fully relax until this event is over. “Coming down with me?”
“Yes, I’m coming. Adam’s got to change and he’ll be right behind us.”
“Wonderful.” She spins on her heels. “I know this was a tight timeframe. That schedule of theirs does not make it easy for planning.”
“Really? This is how I saw everything working out… Perfectly in line with all my plans.”
My sarcastic tone isn’t exactly well received, but I don’t get chastised either.
“You know, your grandmother used to always tell me and your grandfather, over-planning kills the magic. He rarely lived by that metric, always had plans A through Z thought out, but magic might be finding its balance right now.”
“I mean this in a non-sarcastic way, I swear, but lucky me.”
My mother turns to me with a small laugh as we reach the bottom of the stairs. “That’s right. Lucky you.”
“There she is.” I hear my dad’s voice coming from around the corner, and when I step into his view, I pause.
Did he invite people from his work? The couple behind him look like the picture of perfection and class on the outside, but I swear the hair on the back of my neck stands up.
In one sentence, every ounce of luck I’ve had runs out.
“Mia, sweetheart, Adam’s parents are here.”