Chapter Thirty-Eight
KATIE
It’s been a couple of weeks since Noah surprised me with the nursery and new furniture.
I’m eager to finish decorating it, but today is finally Gemma’s baby shower, and I couldn’t be more excited to see everyone.
Yesterday, Everleigh, Belinda, and I decorated the event room we rented.
We hung streamers and balloons, and set up all the tables to make sure everything would be perfect for today.
Since Loretta and my mom will also be there, Owen’s staying with Elliot and Anthony for the afternoon while Noah works on the house for a few hours.
“Hey, we’re leaving soon. Got all the stuff you wanna bring?” I poke my head into Owen’s room and scowl at the dirty clothes on the floor. “It’s amazing how you manage to get your shirts right next to the hamper…” I walk in and struggle to pick them up.
At over five months pregnant, bending down is a daunting task I’m sure will only become impossible in the next coming months.
“Sorry.” He gives me his cute puppy eyes. “Yeah, I’m ready. But—”
“What?” I ask, turning to face him once I’ve picked up his floor.
He lowers his eyes and shakes his head. “Never mind.”
I sit on his bed next to him. “What is it, sweetie?”
Shrugging, he stays silent, but I can tell something is bothering him.
“What’s wrong?”
“I overheard Mimi talkin’ to Pawpaw the other day, and he said something about Daddy and Anthony.” His voice lowers when he mentions his father.
“Okay…” I linger, prepared for what he’s going to say. “What’d you hear?”
Owen swallows hard and blinks before meeting my gaze. I try to stay calm so he doesn’t see the nervousness written all over my face.
“That my dad was also Anthony’s dad,” he blurts. “Mimi said something about how Anthony’s mom told him.”
I stare, waiting.
“Is it true, Mom?”
I flash a small smile, taking his little hand in mine. “Yes, sweetie. You and Anthony share the same father.”
He’s silent for a moment and furrows his brows as he tries to figure out how that can be.
“But we have different moms?”
“Correct. So you’re half brothers,” I explain.
“How come we don’t have the same last names then?” he ponders.
“Well, that’s because Anthony’s mom decided to give him her last name, and we gave you Daddy’s. But that doesn’t mean you aren’t related. It just means you have different last names.”
“Was Daddy married to Anthony’s mom too?”
Oof. I contemplate how to answer without making Gabe sound like the piece of shit he was for cheating on me.
“No, honey. He was only married to me. He and Anthony’s mom got together before I was pregnant with you,” I say, hating that I’m not telling him the whole truth, but he’s too young to understand an affair or cheating.
Even though Gabe doesn’t deserve my kindness, I don’t want to taint Owen’s thoughts about him.
Someday, he’ll realize it, but he doesn’t need to know now.
“Oh okay,” he says. “So we share the same dad but not the same mom.”
I smile. “Correct.”
“Does that mean Anthony has to come live here with us since his mom is gone?”
“No, he’ll live with Mimi and Pawpaw.”
“But my friends all live with their siblings,” he states, though I know it’s an exaggeration. Some are blended families and share custody between the parents.
“Every family is different and unique, honey. It’s okay that you don’t live with Anthony because he gets to be with his grandparents now, and you’ll get to see him at school and anytime you’re over there.”
“That’s true. It’s kinda cool saying I have a brother.” He grins. “And soon, I’ll have two more.”
My smile grows wider. “That’s right. Two little baby brothers who are gonna adore you and look up to you.”
“Well, that’s because I’m taller.”
I pull him in for a hug. “I hope you realize how much I love you. Nothing will ever change that.”
“I know, Mom. I love you too.”
“There have been a lot of changes this year, and it hasn’t been easy, but I’m proud of the young man you’re becoming,” I tell him honestly, hardly believing he’ll be eleven soon. “I wasn’t prepared for you to grow up so fast.”
He giggles and rolls his eyes. “I’m almost taller than you.”
“Ugh,” I groan. “Don’t remind me.”
Noah pops his head in and grins. “Y’all ready to go?”
“Yep. Everleigh will probably be late, which means I can’t be.” I snort.
The three of us pack into the car, and after we drop off Owen, Noah drives me to the town hall.
“Owen knows about Anthony,” I say once we’re alone. “That’s what we were talking about in his room.”
Noah’s brows shoot up. “How’d that happen?”
“He overheard it at Loretta and Elliot’s. Honestly, I’m kinda relieved. He and Anthony could have a genuine brotherly relationship. I never wanted to keep that from him, but I’m worried about what Brittany told Anthony about Gabe.”
“You mean, about how he died?”
“Yes. I have no doubt she fed him some bullshit story, and if so, it’s only a matter of time before Anthony repeats it to Owen.”
“What do you wanna do? If you want me to tell him, I will.”
A small smile appears on my face. “I know you would, but I think he should hear it from me. That way, he can ask me questions right away if he has any, and you’ll be close by if he wants to speak to you.”
“I’ll support whatever you wanna do, sweetheart.” He takes our interconnected hands and kisses my knuckles.
“That’s why I love you.” I smile wider, then sigh. “There’s never a right time for that sorta conversation, so I’m not sure when. Perhaps after we move, so it’s not one stressful thing after another?”
He nods.
Though I hadn’t planned on ever telling Owen the details of what happened, I also don’t want to risk him finding out from someone else. If he easily overheard about Anthony, it’d only be a matter of time before he hears about this too.
“Don’t forget you have to come back and help us load up everything,” I remind him when he parks in front of the building.
“I won’t. Just call or text when you need me.” He leans in and cups my face, pressing his lips to mine. “And I know you won’t listen anyway, but please take it easy. Belinda, your mom, Loretta, Everleigh, and Ruby will be there. Let them do the work.”
I grunt. “I’m the co-host. I can’t just sit on my ass.”
“But you’re supposed to be staying off your feet,” he reminds me.
“I know.” Groaning, I grab my purse from the back seat. “I’ll be careful.”
A couple of weeks ago, after my ultrasound, my doctor called and said that due to having high blood pressure, being over thirty, and carrying multiples, I’m at risk for developing preeclampsia.
To avoid swelling up like a balloon and gaining too much weight, she advised me to elevate my feet, drink a lot of water, and get more rest. Seeing as I have a mortgage, rent, bills, and a family to support, I can’t risk being put on bed rest. I don’t want to waste my maternity leave lying in bed before they’re born because I only get twelve weeks.
“Love you,” he calls out.
“Love you too,” I say through the window. “Have fun at the house today. It’s hotter than hell and half of Georgia.”
He smirks with a wink. “I’ll be fine. Stay off your feet.”
Once I’m inside the hall, I find relief with the cool air conditioning. Considering Gemma’s due in a month, I don’t know how she’s surviving in this heat. I remember being so miserable at the end of my pregnancy, especially since Owen was born in August, the hottest month of the year.
Belinda’s catering the lunch, and I find her in the kitchen getting everything ready.
“Everything looks delicious!” I exclaim as I steal one of the rolls. Taking a bit, I double-check my list to make sure I didn’t forget anything. With my baby brain, I’ve had to write everything down, or I simply don’t remember.
Mrs. Wright made cupcakes, and Alessandra delivers them just as Everleigh prances in.
“It’s party time!” she shouts.
“Finally,” I scold.
“What? We said noon. I’m fifteen minutes early.”
“Noon for the guests, eleven for the hosts,” I clarify.
She shrugs. “Potato, potahto.”
“At least you’re here before Gemma.”
Gemma strolls in, beaming.
“You look gorgeous!” I tell her, admiring her adorable pink sundress. “We have a crown and sash for you to wear too.”
“Oh my gosh, you didn’t!” she squeals. “Okay fine, I’ll wear it.”
“And since you two bitches can’t drink, I’ll be drinking for three.” Everleigh smirks, holding up a bottle of vodka.
“Everleigh!” Gemma scowls. “It’s noon.”
“Ever hear of mimosas?”
I snort. “You’re a handful. Gonna pray for the poor man you end up tying down someday.”
“Oh, he’ll be tied down alright. Rope, handcuffs, cable ties…”
“Not the kind I meant, Ev.” I chuckle.
Once the guests arrive, we chat and mingle until it’s time to eat. Everleigh was in charge of the games, and after the first one, I realize what a mistake that was.
“Baby Advice Mad Libs,” she sing-songs. “Fill out the card, and whoever has the most creative answer wins this lovely gift basket of lotions and bath bombs.” She holds it up. “You’ll get twenty minutes while you eat, and then I’ll read them aloud.”
“How’re you feelin’, sweetie?” Loretta asks as I chug water.
“I’m great. Constantly tired and I still get nauseous a few times a day, but I honestly can’t complain that much.”
“It’s gonna be so nice having so many little babies.” She smiles.
“Imagine if Everleigh gets pregnant next,” my mom chimes in.
“Imagine if I had a girl, and she falls for one of your little boys,” Everleigh adds, waggling her brows. “Or both.”
“This sounds like a naughty Hallmark movie.” Gemma snorts.
“Your children aren’t allowed near my boys.” I place a protective hand over my belly. “Especially the girls.”
“I take offense to that!”
The group of us laughs.
When the twenty minutes are up, Everleigh collects everyone’s cards and begins flipping through them.
“Alright, I think we have a winner,” Everleigh announces with a shit-eating smirk.
“My advice for the mom-to-be is: no matter what he says, anal is not permitted after giving birth.”
“Oh my God, I think I peed myself.” Gemma laughs. “Who said that?”
“There’s no name on the card,” Everleigh says, flipping it over. “Alright, you dirty birds, who wrote this one? You can’t get your prize if you don’t come forward.” She rocks the basket back and forth, trying to entice them.
Finally, someone raises their hand.
“Mrs. Florence!” Everleigh announces with a gasp.
Everyone’s heads turn, and I snicker at the way she’s blushing. The librarian.
“It’s always the quiet ones, y’all.” Everleigh giggles, bringing her the basket.
After games and food, Gemma opens her gifts, and I write down every item while Everleigh takes pictures.
Watching her excitement makes me so happy for her and Tyler, and it makes me even more eager to hold my babies.
Since they’re waiting to learn the gender, most of the clothes are yellows, greens, teals, and purples.
Once they’re all opened, Belinda announces it’s time to count the clothespins to see who won the grand prize, which is a hundred-dollar gift certificate to the deli.
The door opens, then slams with a loud bang. Eyes stare at the woman marching in with a deep scowl on her face. I don’t recognize her, and by the looks of everyone else, they don’t either.
“Hello, can I help you?” Belinda asks nicely.
“I’m looking for Everleigh Blackwood,” she sneers.
Oh shit, this can’t be good. The woman’s flaming red hair is perfectly curled at the ends, and her green eyes pop against her pale skin. There’s a big shiny rock on her left ring finger, and I have a gut feeling I know where this is going.
“I’m Everleigh,” she announces next to me. She stands and waits for the woman to stalk over.
Before any words are exchanged, the woman slaps Everleigh across the face. Gasps echo through the room.
Just as I’m about to yell at the woman, she speaks up.
“You homewrecking whore! You slept with my husband!”
Yep, that’s where I thought this was going.
Everleigh holds a hand to her cheek and furrows her brows. “I did not!”
I lean over and ask, “Who’s your husband?”
“Eric Hudson,” she replies.
My eyes widen in shock as I direct them toward Everleigh. “You slept with the bodyguard?”
Everleigh shrugs with a guilty expression. “Well, yeah. But he wasn’t wearing a ring. I didn’t know he was married!”
“Well, he is!” the woman exclaims. “Perhaps you should ask a man before jumping into bed with him.”
“Perhaps he shouldn’t be sleepin’ around then,” Everleigh counters.
The woman lowers her eyes up and down, then scoffs. “Perhaps you should cover your body, and you wouldn’t be temptin’ a spoken for man.”
I snort at her sexist comment, and she scowls.
“I think your anger is directed at the wrong person here,” I say kindly. “Eric should be to blame.”
As much as I’m grateful for his help, he’s not innocent in this.
“Don’t worry. He’ll get what he deserves,” she spits out, then storms out as fast as she entered.
“Everleigh!” I scold again.
Gemma waddles over with frustration in her eyes. “How could you do that?”
Everleigh shrugs. “I was bored.”
“Then knit a sweater!” Gemma grits between her teeth. “You don’t sleep with a married man.”
Everleigh clears her throat. “I didn’t know he was married, y’all,” she announces to the room of onlookers. “Totally not my fault. He should’ve said something.”
“To be fair, I don’t think any of us knew,” I say. “He never mentioned it to Noah or me.”
Gemma’s shoulders relax. “Me neither. After the death of his girlfriend last year and how devastated he was, I’m surprised he jumped into another relationship so quickly.”
Yeah, that is kinda odd.
I make a note to ask Noah and Tyler about it later.
“Okay, back to the game, everybody.” Belinda claps her hands, drawing people’s attention back toward her.
Three hours later, the shower finally comes to an end. Noah and Tyler arrive to help load all the gifts into their car and pack up everything.
“You ladies have fun?” Noah asks, wrapping his arm around me. “Did you stay off your feet?”
I groan with an eye roll. “Yes, I behaved.”
“She really did,” my mom adds with a grin. “I made sure of it.”
“Well, thank you, Dianna.” He flashes her a charming smile.
“I don’t know how you managed it, but I swear you have my mother wrapped around your finger,” I tease as he leads me to the car.
“It’s the Reid charm, baby.” He leans in and tilts up my chin. “Took a while to work on you, but…” He lowers his eyes to my stomach. “Worked eventually.”