Chapter 51
A LITTLE LADYBUG IS ON THE WAY
LYDIA
THIRTY WEEKS PREGNANT
“Oh my god, look at you!” Grace squeals as Fletcher and I enter the event space at the rink. “You really popped this week.”
I run a hand over my even bigger bump. “Yeah, it seems that way.”
“It’s sexy as hell.” Fletcher holds me close, rubbing a soothing hand up and down my arm.
I scoff. “I look like a beached whale, and I still have ten weeks left.”
Grace frowns. “Stop that. You look beautiful. This dress is stunning. Red is definitely your color.”
“Agreed,” Fletcher says, looking at me adoringly.
I blush furiously, glancing around the empty hall. “Are Mom and Dottie here yet?”
Grace winces, shaking her head. “Not yet. We haven’t heard from your mom, but Dottie called in a panic. Her car wouldn’t start, and she hit some traffic. But it’s fine. Everything is all set up.”
Fletcher squeezes my arm, and I sigh heavily. Yeah, I should have expected that my mom would be slacking on communication.
“How was dinner last night?” Grace asks in an obvious attempt to change the subject.
I cringe. “She was late for that, too.”
“I’m sorry. Was it okay otherwise?”
“It was awkward. She kept asking all these questions about where I plan to send the baby to school, if she’s going to go to private school since Fletcher could afford the admission fees, if she’s going to take Fletcher’s last name… the list goes on.” I wave my hand dramatically.
“It was an interesting night to say the least,” Fletcher says.
“Well, we are going to make today amazing.” Grace beams. “Want to come and see everything?”
“Yes!” I clap my hands together.
Grace leads us down the hall, where a red, pink, and black balloon arch is strung across the doorway. She opens the door to reveal a room decorated so beautifully that I hardly recognize it.
The tables are covered in alternating pink, red, and black tablecloths with beautiful floral arrangements in the center.
There are cookies shaped like ladybugs and flowers, an assortment of cheese and crackers, and so much more.
My eyes grow wide as I take every detail in, including the large, handmade banner that reads, ‘A Little Ladybug is On The Way,’ with ‘Congratulations, Lydia,’ underneath.
Zoey stands up from the table she was arranging a few items at, beaming. “You look adorable,” she shouts, running and wrapping me in her arms.
I hug her back as I continue to take in all the details in the room around me. It’s absolutely perfect, and everything I wanted.
“You guys, it’s amazing,” I gush.
Hattie skips over, joining our hug. “It’s so cute in here, isn’t it?”
“It’s perfect.” Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Dylan standing on a stool, hanging a little red and white speckled mushroom from the ceiling.
“Hey,” he calls, turning back to the task.
Fletcher rushes over to spot him, and when he steps down, the two hug.
There won’t be a ton of people here, mainly my mom and Fletcher’s, a few of my co-workers, a group of the WAGs from the MBH, and some friends from college that I keep in touch with now and then. Honestly, I prefer when things are more low-key.
The door opens, and Dottie rushes in, hauling a few gift bags. “I’m so sorry I’m late! There was an accident on the freeway, so I got stuck in traffic.”
“Mom, slow down.” Fletcher laughs, returning to my side. “It’s fine.”
“Hi, honey.” Dottie sets the bags down, kissing Fletcher on the cheek before stepping over to me. “Sweet girl, look at you. You’re glowing!”
Her hands rub up and down my arms. I haven’t seen her in person since the night I found out I was pregnant. So much has changed since then, but I’ve been sending her bump photos whenever I can. I send them to my mom and dad, too, but Dottie is the only one to respond.
“Thank you.” I give her as tight a hug as I can with my growing bump in the way. “And thank you for coming. It means the world to me.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it,” she replies, pulling back and pressing a hand to my cheek. “May I?” She gestures to my bump.
I nod, and she rests her hand over my stomach, caressing.
She looks back up at me with tears in her eyes. “I’m so proud of you, Lydia.”
Her words strike me in the chest, warmth swimming through my veins. I don’t think anyone has ever told me they were proud of me. Certainly not either of my parents.
“Thank you,” I whisper, tears filling my eyes. I blink rapidly, trying to make sure they don’t ruin my makeup.
Dottie swipes under my eyes as my baby girl kicks.
“She’s saying hi to her grandma,” I say.
“Hi, baby girl.” Her voice shakes as she speaks. Dottie keeps one hand on my stomach, reaching out to take Fletcher’s hand in the other. “Oh, this is just so perfect. I’m so happy for you two.”
Fletcher’s flecked green eyes grow watery as he glances between his mom and me. He leans forward, pressing a kiss to my temple, and I melt into him.
“Thanks, Mom,” Fletcher whispers as the door to the event space opens.
At long last, my own mother finally arrives.
“Hi, Mom.” I try to sound excited, even though I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. Who knows how she’ll act today? I can only hope she doesn’t make a big deal out of something minuscule.
“Hello.” Mom glances around the room, cringing subtly before she straightens her expression. “This is… something.”
I drop Fletcher’s hand and stride toward her. “They did a wonderful job.” I point at the table with the cookies and desserts.
“Yes,” Mom mutters, still glancing around apprehensively.
“It’s exactly what I wanted.” I smile at Grace, Zoey, and Hattie before bringing my mom over to introduce her to Dottie.
The two shake hands awkwardly while Dottie asks a few questions to get to know my mother, but my mom shows no interest in returning the gesture. The whole thing is so awkward that I call out to Grace from across the room.
“Grace, do you need my mom or Dottie’s help with anything?” I raise my eyebrows to plead with her. She’s standing beside Dylan on the step stool, directing him to hook one of the hanging mushrooms to the ceiling.
“Oh,” Grace squeaks. “Umm.” She glances around the room, biting her lower lip. “Sandra, can you wash the rest of the fruit and cut the strawberries?”
My mother looks affronted. “You didn’t hire a caterer?”
“It didn’t make sense to hire one when we are only having snack foods,” I say to my mother, turning to look at her with soft eyes. “Please?”
Mom sighs heavily and heads over to the attached kitchen, where Zoey is. I feel bad about sending Mom to Zoey, but at least she’s out of the main area for now. Dottie exhales heavily once the door closes behind Mom, wrapping an arm around my waist.
“Well.” Dottie tuts. “Someone needs to take the stick out of her ass.”
“Mom!” Fletcher scolds.
But I’m laughing so hard I can barely breathe. “You are so right.”
Fifteen minutes later, the first guest arrives, and Grace promptly throws a sash over my body that reads ‘Mama to be.’
I greet my boss as she enters, offering her a hug and another thank you for allowing us to use the space. Guest after guest arrives, each toting a gift bag or box, and everyone cooing over my growing bump and the adorable event space.
Fletcher is by my side the entire time as I mingle with people I haven’t seen in ages, and I introduce him as my boyfriend. After the first time, the term rolls off my tongue easily, but it feels like he’s more to me than simply my boyfriend. Perhaps partner is the right word.
My mom pops out from the kitchen, glowering, but I choose to ignore her. This is how I’m choosing to be celebrated, and it’s not my fault that our tastes don’t align.
When it’s time to open presents, Fletcher tries to sit in the group of people who are staring at me, but I pull him with me.
“I can’t handle having that many eyes on me alone,” I whisper, to which he laughs.
“I wasn’t sure if you wanted it to be all about you or not.” As he helps me into the chair, he pulls an extra one up beside me right as the door opens.
Three people walk in, and I can’t help but smile. I wasn’t expecting them to come, but I appreciate it, nonetheless. Calvin, Adam, and Trigg grin and wave as they enter, finding Grace, Zoey, Hattie, and Dylan at the edge of the crowd.
My mom sits in the front with a glass of punch, while Dottie settles beside her. Fletcher hands me the first present, and I get started opening the mountain of presents.
I can’t keep track of all the adorable clothing sets, blankets, toys, and baby gadgets I’ve received, but thankfully, Grace is making notes for me.
I’ve cried more than once at just how cute and small everything is.
I can’t handle it, especially not when Trigg passes a box forward that contains an adorable hat and a tiny hockey stick with the words ‘my first hockey stick’ painted on it.
After that, Calvin and Adam both give me little Minnesota Blue Herons gear, including some mittens and a sweatshirt.
The gifts from his teammates and friends make me think about Fletcher teaching her how to skate and play hockey, and another round of tears starts. I’m pretty sure everyone thinks I’ve lost it, but I don’t care. I’m so incredibly happy, it’s not even funny.
To make it even better, my mother has been snapping photos the entire time, and it puts me at ease. Maybe she does actually care enough about her granddaughter and me.
With only two gifts left, I stand and stretch while Fletcher runs to get me something to drink. He comes back over with a glass of punch and a cookie for me but kisses me gently on the lips before handing them over.
“Doing okay?” he asks.
I nod, taking a kiss of my own from him before grabbing the snack and drink.
Fletcher rubs a hand over my stomach as our baby girl kicks, while everyone in the room lets out an “aww.” I blush furiously, turning my head to avoid everyone's eyes, but note that my mother is snapping pictures. I’ll have to see if she can send me some of them.