Chapter 32 – Mackenzie
CHAPTER
THIRTY-TWO
MACKENZIE
I’m officially thirty-six weeks pregnant, with no more contractions or preterm labor scares. I’ve been diligent in keeping my blood pressure down and resting, so my doctor signed off on hosting the baby shower at Jordan’s apartment in Charlotte.
I don’t know who’s been more stressed about it—Reagan or Carter.
You see, my bestie was planning the shower when Carter decided Jordan needed one too.
Instead of trying to do his own ‘sprinkle,’ he convinced Reagan this needed to be a co-ed celebration.
Reagan is the most organized person I know and Carter, well, he’s just Carter.
It’s been hilarious watching their visions collide.
I laugh to myself thinking about the frantic phone calls I’ve received this week.
“What’s so funny over there?” Jordan and I are on our way to his place. To say that I’m happy to be out of the house is an understatement. I cried tears of joy when he came to pick me up.
“I’m just thinking about all the phone calls from your sister this week about Carter.” Rolling his eyes, Jordan picks up my hand that was resting on the center console, kissing the center of my palm. He does that often and every single time, I feel butterflies take flight.
“He’s been driving her and me crazy. I had to let him sleepover last night so he could have first dibs on setup. My sister was not thrilled when she showed up at seven and he’d already started.”
“Oh, my word. This is going to be insane, isn’t it?”
“Nah, Reagan will keep him reined in. She knows how to handle Carter.”
Pulling into his reserved parking spot in the garage, he opens my door, helping me down. My belly feels like it’s doubled in size over the last few weeks and I can barely see my feet.
Closing the door, I turn to walk toward the private elevator to his penthouse, but his hand catches my wrist, gently pulling me back to him. He walks me backward until my back hits the side of the truck, caging me in with his muscular arms, and then his lips are on mine.
Being on bedrest and him in season has not given us much time together, especially alone time.
I melt into the kiss, his perfect lips tangling with my own.
This is what home feels like. He’s my home.
I put my arms around his neck, deepening the kiss and a soft growl escapes him, causing me to smile against his mouth.
I don’t know how long we stay like that, but I’m breathless when we finally pull apart from each other. Smiling down at me, he tucks an errant curl behind my ear. The contact causes a shudder to race down my body. This man does something to me.
“Ready to go inside?” I give him a nod, still trying to catch my breath from kissing, and we head to the elevator and ride up.
Once we’ve reached the top floor, we walk hand-in-hand across the short hall and Jordan punches in his code to open the door. As it swings open, we’re met with a chorus of cheers from all our favorite people.
I don’t know how they did it, but Reagan and Carter have put together the perfect celebration for this little one.
The first thing you see is a huge balloon arch made up of varying shades of yellow and grey, with a white background and props for everyone to take pictures.
Beside that is a cork board with baby pictures and numbers attached to them.
Guessing each one will be fun and I have a feeling we’ll all be horrible at it.
They have the kitchen counter lined with appetizers and desserts, along with a make-your-own-soda-bar.
There’s every kind of soda available and a variety of syrups you can pump into your cup.
A table is also set up for gifts, and it is piled high.
I have no doubt this baby will be spoiled and loved by our little family.
After everyone chats for a bit and we have a winner of the baby picture game, Paige, of course, Carter stands up and whistles to get our attention. “Okay, we’re starting our next game, follow me into the dining room.” Carter literally skips over and starts explaining the rules.
“On the table we have everything you need to change a baby’s diaper.
Each person will take turns with the doll removing its diaper, placing it in the trash can beside you, then you will use wipes and put on a clean diaper before passing it to the next person.
The team who finishes first will get gift cards to Cookout, Mack’s favorite pregnancy craving spot.
“Team Banks has our Baby Momma, Riggs, Lindsey, Mr. Banks, Mrs. Banks, and Mrs. Hart… uh, the OG Mrs. Hart, not you Rea.” We all burst out laughing at that and Reagan turning bright red.
“Team Mills will include Daddy J, Rea, Williams, Mr. Mills, Mrs. Mills, and yours truly. Everybody line up at your station, one team on each side of the table. The last person will both start and stop the timer beside them.”
We all scatter and line up along the table, mostly in couples.
Williams stands across from Lindsey and they barely make eye contact.
Reagan has theories about them liking each other, but Lindsey is dating Keagan Wilder.
Apparently they grew up together and had a falling out.
I’m not sure, but something is going on.
Carter is across from Riggs’s mom, Nora, and he shoots her a wink which makes her giggle.
“You’re going down, Baby Momma.” Jordan stares across to me, a devilish glint in his eyes. We’re both competitive and it’s going to be so fun to wipe the floor with him this game.
“Oh, please. I’ve been changing diapers since I was twelve and started babysitting. I think you’d better be begging to share that gift card, Daddy J.” His eyes flare at the name and then I’m the one blushing bright.
Carter once again takes over, “Enough flirting, Momma and Daddy. Everybody get ready, get set, go!”
Jordan and I are the first in line, and I am flying through the process, taking the diaper off, rolling it into a ball and walking it to the trash can. Through my peripheral I see Jordan shoot his from his spot, and of course it goes in, so now he’s a little ahead of me.
I catch up quickly, as he puts the diaper on backward at first, his sister in his ear hissing directions and to go faster. I pass my baby off to Riggs just before Jordan hands theirs to Reagan.
He looks up at me, winking, before he goes into coach mode talking up everyone on his team as they go. It’s effective for Williams and Mr. Mills, but when he gets to his mom, she swats him away.
As the game ends, it’s between Nora and Carter, and Riggs’s mom doesn’t disappoint. She hits the timer, giving Team Banks the victory a full three seconds before Carter finishes!
“Whoo!” I run over and hug her, my teammates joining in for a big group hug before we all laugh.
Jordan sidles over, putting his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. “You gonna share your Cookout with Daddy J?” His eyebrows danced.
I push him off, laughing. “We’ll see how good you are today.”
Everyone decorates a onesie for the baby with fabric markers.
Thankfully, Reagan reminded the boys to keep it G-rated, which had Carter running to the garbage can and throwing it away before grabbing a new one.
I don’t want to know what was on there, but it did earn him a smack in the back of the head by my best friend.
After we all scarf down the food and treats, Jordan and I take our seats together on the couch as Reagan starts handing us presents to open.
About thirty minutes later, when we finish opening the last gift, the house looks like Babies R’Us threw up everywhere. I stand, catching everyone’s attention.
“I couldn’t let this day pass without saying thank you to each of you for coming today.
Your support means the world to me and this little one.
Y’all know this isn’t the typical family being created, but I wouldn’t want to do this with anyone else by my side.
So, thank you, Jordan. Carter and Reagan, you blessed us with the best shower/sprinkle and I couldn’t ask for better family or friends than y’all.
” My eyes are leaking tears down my cheeks as I sit back down next to Jordan.
He kisses my cheek and then he’s the one standing.
“I echo everything Mack just said. She and this little one are my whole world. I couldn’t be prouder to stand beside her.
That said, I do have one more gift for Mackenzie.
” Reaching down, he pulls me back up to standing and I look around the room to see all the women in the room crying and the men are close, even Carter’s eyes look misty.
We head toward the bedrooms and Jordan stops at the room I’ve yet to see. He said it wasn’t finished a while ago and I didn’t think twice about it.
“I want you to know I love you more than words. I want us to build a life together and I’m hoping you’ll do it here, with me, in Charlotte. You don’t have to move in, but be here as much as possible, at least until we’re married.
“I also arranged for all the newborn essentials and a mini crib to be set up at your parents. I know it will be crazy until the season is over and I want you to feel supported in this.” He opens the door and I step inside to see the most beautiful nursery.
“Jordan,” I whisper as I take it all in, emotions overwhelming me.
The room is painted the lightest shade of grey with white trim.
The vintage-style white crib he found for me so long ago sits assembled against the far wall, with a soft yellow sheet for bedding.
Beside it is the coziest rocker with the softest white fabric, a blanket covered in yellow-and-grey elephants that match the bedding draped over it.
Turning my head to the other side of the room, I find a gorgeous changing table that matches the crib with a mural of an elephant painted on the wall. There is the sweetest book nook already full of all the classic picture books, including the one Jordan read to my class in London.
As I walk over to the changing table, I pull open the small drawers to find diapers, wipes, and all the changing essentials already in place. There’s plenty of space for clothes, toys, and a closet that can be utilized.
Turning back to find Jordan, I walk straight to him, wrapping him in the tightest embrace possible.
My tears flow as I hold on to the man who loves me more than anyone else ever has.
He had this nursery constructed for my baby, in his home.
A baby he could be resentful of, but instead, this incredible human loves them.
“Baby, don’t cry.” Jordan tells me as we let go of each other and he forces my face up to his.
He wipes the stray tears with his thumbs, something he’s had to do a lot lately.
Then puts his hands on both of my cheeks and his touch grounds me.
I never thought such a simple gesture could rock my soul with the love he’s pouring into me.
“Thank you so much, Jordan. I don’t know what to say. It’s perfect. You’re perfect. I love you.” His answering smile is everything.
“Mack, I love you. I’ve loved you since we were fourteen and I’m going to love you for the rest of my life. I would do anything for you and this baby. I meant what I said, the two of you are my world.
“Don’t think I forgot about you using the M-word earlier. You want to get married?”
“Baby. It doesn’t matter when, but as soon as you let me, I’ll put a ring on your finger and give you my last name. I want to give the baby my last name too, if you’ll let me. I’ve already been looking into it.”
My heart, once shattered into a million shards, feels the final piece click into place. This man. This man is nothing short of exceptional and I get to call him mine.
“The answer is yes, to all of those things. When you ask, that is.”
“Yeah?” He still sounds uncertain which is understandable after how long it took for me to see him. Once I did, I fell hard and fast.
“Yeah, J.”
“That’s what I was hoping you’d say.” He kisses me until we’re both breathless for the second time today. A girl could really get used to this.
Later in the evening, when everyone’s gone home and all the gifts are put away, I find myself back in the nursery, sitting in the soft rocking chair. Rubbing my belly, I feel my baby kick and move around.
“I can’t wait to meet you, little one.”
When I found out I was pregnant, it felt like my life was in a total free fall.
Moving to London gave me the perspective and confidence that I could raise this child alone.
And then Jordan walked back into my life and flipped it right side up.
I smile, closing my eyes as the chair rocks me to sleep.