December 23rd
Makes me laugh.
Ainsley
“I have news,” I tell Sammy at breakfast this morning.
“Let me guess—you’re pregnant,” he quips.
I roll my eyes at him. “Apollo is joining us for dinner tonight.”
“And you didn’t ask me first?! What if I had plans?!”
“Do you have plans?” I ask.
“No, but I considered heading to my parents’ tonight.”
“Sorry, I didn’t run it by you first, but the invitation was spur of the moment.
He called me with some questions about the project just after I spoke to Damon last night.
And I just asked him. It’ll be early. Around five, if that works for you.
So, if you wanted to have dinner with us, then go to your parents’, you’d still be able to. ”
“Is Apollo not going home for the holidays?” Sammy asks.
“I honestly don’t know. I guess you can ask him tonight. Have you not spoken to him?”
“No, and I’ve been freaking out about it.”
“You shouldn’t be at all, Sammy. He’s very busy working. The last few days have been a whirlwind.”
“Okay, fine. I would love to be at dinner. Have you talked to Chef about what’s on the menu tonight?”
“I literally just got up, got ready, and came to get something to eat before I head to work.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Sammy says.
“I know you’re excited. Just don’t make a big deal out of it, okay? It’s just dinner. And I expect we’ll talk work a lot of the time.”
“Are you saying I shouldn’t even be here?” Sammy asks, looking appalled.
“I wouldn’t have invited you if I thought that,” I tell him. “And besides, you know that Damon will be here tonight, probably around eight. And I’m pretty sure we’ll want some alone time.”
He grins. Big.
“I love that for you,” he says, then mutters. “And for me.”
Work is a blur. Buck, Apollo, and I start talking logistics regarding the building. And they have a lot of great ideas. At this point, we’re splitting them up into must have and would be amazing to have.
Knowing Tripp, I’m sure he’ll want to do it all.
We order in lunch, eat while we work, and then start talking about the stuff I love, like how to make what they want both functional and beautiful.
Before I know it, Buck is heading to his daughter’s house, and Apollo and I are doing a little more organizing to finish up the day.
I check the time, seeing that it’s only four, so I text Sammy to give him a heads-up, letting him know that we may be early.
He replies that he’s been ready all day.
Which makes me laugh.
I send Damon a quick text to tell him that I can’t wait to see him tonight, knowing that his practice won’t be over for at least an hour.
I take one last look at everything spread out on the sample table, close my eyes, and gently stroke my belly, knowing that everything I do from this point forward will not just be for the company, but for her.
Dinner is a lively affair. Mom got to meet Apollo in the Ozarks, and I’m proud of Sammy for at least playing it a little cool. I was afraid he would just be gushing all over Apollo and making it uncomfortable.
But it’s not. We catch each other up on what’s been going on in our lives since we all were in the Ozarks together, talking about new jobs, new loves, and new babies.
And before I know it, the doorbell rings. I look at the clock on the wall and realize what time it is.
“Damon!” I say, letting out a squeal as I open the door and find him standing there.
I rush into his arms and kiss him. Well, I get as close to him as I can with this baby bump.
I swear, it sticks out further each day.
Jennifer keeps telling me that I should drop soon in preparation for birth.
But from what I read online, that doesn’t happen until about a month before, and I still have eight weeks to go.
All I know is, I’m ready for this baby to be out of me.
Like, in a good way.
“Have you had dinner?” I ask Damon.
“Not really,” he replies.
“Do you want to join us? I can heat you up something.”
“Who is us?” he asks.
“Me, Mom, Sammy, and Apollo. Do you remember him from the Ozarks?”
“Of course. Good golfer,” Damon says. But I know he’s thinking about the golf course, not golfing, when he strokes my belly and grins.
“Shut up,” I tease, then grab his hand and lead him into the kitchen.