19. Rosie
19
ROSIE
M y sister holds up her cake pop with icing and blue sprinkles. “So basically, we eat the balled-up cake with blue or pink sprinkles since your dearest ex-husband still won’t tell anyone.”
I take another bite from the blue one I have in one hand and then the pink one in my other. “You’re supposed to choose the one that is your guess,” I say with a full mouth.
“Sprinkles are gross.” She returns to the counter to enjoy her snack plate.
I laugh then soak in the scene filled with baby shower decorations and a buffet table on one side. Hailey kept it exactly how I wanted. Not over the top.
The dining table is a mess from making candles together, but it’s perfect.
My cousin, Gracie, has a faint cheeky grin on her face as she grabs a paper plate with a teddy bear on it. “So how upset is the Blisswood clan that you’re not doing this at their winery?” She’s busy adding vegetables to her plate.
I scoff a laugh. “About a ten, but they will get over it as soon as someone else is knocked up or engaged, either order will do.”
She takes a big bite of her carrot, causing a snapping sound. “I didn’t realize how much I enjoy these parties.”
“Me too,” I agree.
A touch on my shoulder startles me, and the moment I turn to face Carter’s mom, I force a smile. I like her, I do, but I’m well aware to brace myself for the words that are about to come out of her mouth. Gracie even gives me a humorous eye roll.
“This is a fun little get-together.” I hear a but coming from my ex maybe future mother-in-law. “The candle making and need to sit barefoot on floor cushions with flower petals all around while we all share in a circle is a little… out there.” She straightens her turquoise statement necklace.
My eyes fling to the table. “Your candle is nice.” It’s kind of ugly, but fine.
“Whatever you say. How sweet that all of the candles will be going home with you and potentially burn down my son’s house.” Her smile is a little on the fake side, but I will let it go. Instead of getting to host the baby shower, she compensated with a giant diaper cake, a stuffed animal the size of my body, and a stroller that is far too expensive.
“Oh, if that happens then we will just move in with you. I’m sure you won’t mind having a crying baby at home again.” I smile sweetly.
Her finger dabs the tip of my nose. “Always the funny one.” Her smile is now honest, and we are reminded that we very much get along, even if we both have what we consider out-of-this-world ideas.
“Hopefully the baby gets that gene. Would hate for him or her to be prickly and grumpy all the time.”
She chuckles under her breath. “Me too. My son can be a little uptight at times,” she jokes.
I shrug. “Sometimes.” Most of the time, but not with me.
Her eyes drop to my stomach, and she gushes another smile. “What a miracle. Plus, you’ll have the whole street around to help. Carter will be a wonderful father, I just know it.”
He will. I don’t doubt that.
Nancy’s eyes slide to the side, and she frowns. “Jet, get off of there,” she chides. “Hailey! That mutt is eating from the counter again.” She tries to shoo the dog away, and I can only grin.
Hailey rushes from across the room to grab Jet by the collar. “Sorry. He’s just excited.”
“I told you to keep him in the other room.”
Hailey ignores her mother-in-law and leans down to scratch Jet’s ears. “Not this guy. He was invited. Rosie said he can be her emotional support dog that is needed in the company of overbearing mothers.” She smiles brightly.
“She’s right,” I add.
Hailey begins to rub Jet’s cheeks. “Look at him,” she coos. “Such a sweetie. I know you also brought him gourmet dog treats that you picked up in Chicago. Don’t try to hide it.”
Nancy rolls her eyes as her smile drives to the side. “Perhaps. Doesn’t mean I want his slobber on the charcuterie board.”
Jet patters away, and Hailey stands, amused. “It’s fine, but I think we might be out of champagne.”
“What?” Nancy is quick to answer, alarmed. “I brought twelve bottles!” She marches off in search of the alcohol.
Hailey and I just laugh at one another. She crosses her arms and leans against the counter. “It’s too easy. Especially since she means well.”
I lift a shoulder. “She’s just excited. It’s the first grandchild. Same with my family.” I softly pat my belly. “The first grandchild and grandniece or nephew for the Blisswoods.”
She shrieks in excitement. “I can’t wait for aunt duties.”
“You’ll be the fun one, and one day, he or she will go to your preschool.”
She claps her hands together and jumps. “I know.”
I reach out and touch her arm. “Thanks again for throwing this shower. It’s perfect.”
“No problem at all. I loved doing it. I hope Carter is having fun with the guys at the River Bell for drinks and dinner.”
“I’m sure he is.”
One of our neighbors from down the street hands Hailey a mimosa in passing, and Hailey takes a sip. “It must be super busy with the baby, mayorship, your… relationship thing.” Her hand sweeps my body as her face screws. “I hope you two are having some alone time.”
My head bobs. “We’re trying. Tomorrow we are having dinner together. Enjoying the silence while we can.”
“Enjoy sleep, too.”
“Oh, I am.”
My mom interrupts us. “May I steal my daughter away for a second?” She tips her head to me to indicate down the hall off the kitchen.
“Absolutely,” Hailey replies.
My mom’s eyes are inviting and filled with love that I imagine only a mother can have. I follow her until we are by the bottom of the stairs, without the noise of the party in the background. She hands me a bag filled with gold tissue paper.
“Something for you.”
I’m curious and dip my hand inside and feel a soft animal. Pulling it out, I grin. “Jelly.” My stuffed unicorn growing up.
“I figured you might need it for your baby.”
Pulling the stuffed animal close to my middle, I can’t shake away the sentiment of this moment. “It might not be a girl,” I remind her.
“Doesn’t matter. Jelly can find a place in the baby’s room.”
Stepping in for a big hug, I can’t help but let tears form in my eyes. “Thank you.”
She rubs my back as I pull away. “You know… I’m not sure if you remember, but when you were really young, you would carry the unicorn around and offer it to your father before he and I even were together. Jelly had a front-row seat to watching how our lives unfolded.”
I stare at the animal for a few seconds. “I remember there was a tornado and Dad went upstairs to grab Jelly because I forgot it.”
“From moment one, you had him wrapped around your finger. But we didn’t come together because of you. You were just the bonus, and Jelly, too.”
It’s hasn’t unfazed me how Carter’s and my situation runs parallel to my own parents. They ended up where they were always meant to be.
“I guess Jelly gets to have a front-row seat to my current situation then.”
She smirks and affectionately sweeps my hair behind my shoulders. “Nah, the unicorn is just reminding you that everything will come together… and don’t worry, Jelly had a trip to the washing machine the other day. He is ready to report for duty.”
I wipe a tear away. “I’m happy to hear.”
“Rosie, babies happen in their own time. But everything else is in your own time.”
Sniffling another tear, I’m going to blame this on this special day, except I can’t. “I’m scared. Labor, motherhood, being a wife again.”
“Labor, you have no control with. He or she will come into the world on their own terms. Every person who enters motherhood feels the same. Being a wife again with the same man, well…” Her face squinches, and it causes me to laugh and cry at the same time. “You will create your own path on that. Good news is that there is no wrong trail. There might even be a few detours.”
The corner of my mouth snags as I listen to her advice that is hidden under her perspective. “I guess I have Jelly to remind me of that then.”
She nods while her gaze pins to mine. “You do. Detours sometimes get to the destination faster.”
Hugging her again, I’m well aware that I’m the one drawing the map.
* * *
Maybe I’ve been quiet, but it’s not for any reason that should concern Carter. I take another bite of my pizza with vegetables and mozzarella, and it turns into a devouring-mouthful moment.
It causes Carter to grin. “Hungry?”
I finish my bite and wipe my mouth with my napkin. “More like stockpiling fuel. I’m hungry, but I don’t have much room left to actually eat, so the few bites that I manage, I make it count,” I explain.
“Solid plan.”
The baby shower came and went, and the house is ready. All the while, my feeling is unbearably strong, and it’s time to share it. A silence begins to hang over us, and it causes Carter to shift in his seat.
“I’m going to assume that you’ve been quiet lately because the approaching labor might feel daunting?”
A smile begins to crawl on my face. “Nah. It’s something else.”
He stands and offers me his hand. “Come on.”
My brows furrow, and I let him lead the way. He tows me to the middle of the living room and spins me straight into his arms, and we begin to sway. We always have background music on when we’re eating dinner. And now it seems to help fit his desire to dance.
“What are we doing?” I wonder.
“Dancing.” His piercing eyes spear straight into my heart. “We used to do this all the time.”
It’s true. I would pull him into the middle of the kitchen to dance with me for no reason. “Are you trying to calm me?”
He brings my hand to his chest. “Do I need to?”
That flutter floats inside me again. “No. I’m perfectly relaxed lately.” Especially as my thoughts have unraveled into clarity of what was meant to be.
“Good to hear.”
Inhaling a deep breath, I’m ready to lay it all on the table. “You know how we managed to forgive our own stupidity, otherwise known as our divorce?” I attempt to throw in some light-heartedness, and I’m thankful when the corner of Carter’s mouth shoots up. “Well, I also didn’t want to feel as though we needed to have a shotgun wedding because I’m pregnant.”
“I get that. However, that’s not why I want that ring back on your finger,” he assures me.
My fingers resting on his shoulders curl into his shirt. “But I also wouldn’t want to marry because I’m caught in an emotional moment when we meet our child.”
Carter cocks his head to the side, and his eyes have a glint of curiosity as he searches for a clue in my own eyes. “Where are you going with this?”
“We’ve had a quickie wedding once, and this time I’m pregnant and it’s kind of the cherry on top.”
He doesn’t blink. “Again, what are you trying to say?”
The magnetism surrounding us is heavy.
“Carter, I want you to slide the ring back on my finger because I’m ready. I do want to get remarried. I’ve never been more certain.” My entire body feels lighter.
What happens next is a blur, and the only thing keeping me grounded is Carter’s lips on mine. A confirming approval. Hard until he brushes his mouth side to side. He hooks his finger under my chin and steals my view, but then he abruptly drops his hand and whisks off in a hurry, leaving me standing in confusion.
The sound of him thumping up the steps fills my ears, followed by heavy feet on the upstairs floor. Blinking a few times, Carter returns downstairs at the rate of a shooting rocket.
Holding up the rings, I chuckle under my breath.
He pants as he lowers to one knee. “I needed the fucking rings.”
“I noticed,” I say blankly.
His facial features grow stoic. “Rosie, after everything we’ve been through, we’re only stronger, I promise. I’m asking you again and for the last time. Will you marry me?”
I touch the sides of his face because I need to feel him, and I grin at him. “Hmm, let me consider.” I toy with him as I draw out the moment. Faltering, I nod. “Yes!”
I pray that the ring still fits around my finger because everything seems bigger on my body. Luckily, the ring wraps around my skin, still a perfect mold.
He bounces up to kiss me, and I throw my arms around him.
Because I’ll only ever have one husband in my life, and it’s Carter.