Chapter 49
Chapter Forty-Nine
Ava
It’s not easy preparing for a wedding, a baby, and an interstate move all at the same time.
Fortunately, all won’t be happening at once.
The wedding is next week. The baby is coming next month.
And Grady Memorial graciously agreed to push off Trevor’s start date until four weeks after our little girl’s arrival.
We talked about which would be easier—moving when I’m eight and a half months pregnant, or moving with a newborn. Since they’re paying all relocation expenses, there’s not much for us to do other than get ourselves there. So it was really a wash between either option.
But waiting until after the baby arrives gives us more time to sell the shop. More time with his parents. More time with friends. More time in the only place I’ve ever lived.
Maddie’s grandmother walks into the coffee house, shaking her head at the For Sale sign in the window. “I didn’t believe it,” she says, approaching the counter. “Even after Maddie told me, I still had to come see with my own eyes. You’re really leaving?”
“It’s for the best, Rose. The job Trevor got is amazing. It’s a great opportunity for both of us.”
She raises a brow, clearly wanting to argue about how it won’t be quite as great for me. I’ll no longer have this coffee shop. Not to mention my support system.
“He had an opportunity here once before, couldn’t that be arranged again?”
“Cardiothoracic fellowships last three years. It wouldn’t be fair to ask him to wait around here for two more just on the hope that when the next one opens up, he’ll be the one to get it.”
“But there are dozens of hospitals in the city. In neighboring towns.”
I smile sadly. “There are, but everyone knows about his amnesia by now. Hospitals are hesitant to hire someone with memory loss, even if he has proven his medical knowledge is intact. The only reason he got this offer was because of a friend’s confidence in him.
It may be the only way to advance his career.
He had to take it. He deserves this chance. ”
Her eyes become misty. “Oh, but how my granddaughter will miss you.” She puts her old, weathered hand on mine. “We’ll all miss you.”
After she leaves, I escape into the office, tired of doing the same song and dance with everyone who walks through the doors. Word has spread quickly. Everyone is shocked. They don’t understand why we’d do it. And I’m sure most of them think it was solely his decision.
But what kind of wife would I be if I didn’t support him? I’m getting the one thing I’ve dreamed about for decades: a baby. It’s only fair he gets to realize his dreams as well.
“You don’t have to sell the place,” Jason says, leaning against the doorway. “I’ll run it for you. And you’ll still have it, you know, just in case.”
“You think I need to have a backup plan?”
He shrugs. “It’s not the worst idea. I mean, I like the guy, I do. I guess I’m just playing devil’s advocate.”
“Trevor is my life, Jason. Do you know how lucky I am to have him? He could be dead. He could have rejected me and the baby. There are so many other ways this could have turned out. But we’re together.” I touch my stomach. “And we’re about to be a family. Isn’t that what matters the most?”
He scoffs and tilts his head. “You love him that much?”
I nod without a hint of hesitation. “I do. And I hope that one day, you find someone you love enough to give up something this important.”
I look around the office, knowing how much I’ll miss this place. The coffee house has been my life for so long now, I’m not sure what I’ll do without it. Atlanta is a huge city. There will be a Starbucks on every corner. No need for small corner coffee shops. Oh, how things are about to change.
The baby jabs me in the ribs, and I’m reminded just how much things are going to change. I’ll just concentrate on being the best wife and mom I can be. Everything else will fall into place. I’m sure of it.
I glance at Jason who’s still studying me pensively.
Because this is what I want... isn't it?
“Surprise!”
I almost drop the coffees when I see all my friends—every single one of them—along with my mother-in-law, standing behind the ice cream shop.
I look down at the six cups of coffee I brought, knowing there aren’t nearly enough.
But as I walk closer, I come to understand coffee isn’t needed on this particular Tuesday night.
There’s a large ‘It’s a girl!’ banner strung between two trees. Our usual picnic table is draped with a lovely pink tablecloth and covered with various finger foods and drinks. Another table is loaded with gifts and stacked with packages of diapers. Yet another with party games.
I knew Maddie and Regan were planning something. There’s no way they would let this pass without throwing me a shower. And I figured it was going to be a surprise based on their total lack of asking me any questions about it. But I had no idea it was going to be here, now.
“You guys.” My eyes mist up as I glance around at the people who have been such a huge part of my life. The women who kept me sane during all the years of Trevor’s service. The people I’ve come to call family.
Regan steps forward and drapes a ‘Mommy To Be’ sash over my head. Then she squeezes me hard. “Tuesdays just won’t be the same without you.”
“We should make these last ones count,” Nikki Calloway says. “I’m not sure they’ll happen once you’re gone.”
I give her crazy eyes. “What? No. That’s ridiculous. Of course you’re going to keep it up.”
Amber hands me a pink frosted cupcake. “You’ve always been the center of it, girl. You’re the one who’s kept it going all these years. It just wouldn’t feel right if you’re not a part of it.”
I glance around at each of the dozen or so women watching me. “Promise me you’ll still do it. I can always FaceTime in.”
“But who’ll bring the coffee?” Addy says.
I’m not sure why Addy’s words hit me harder than all the others. But they do. And my heart twists wondering if I’ll ever again make friends like these.
Loud cheering comes from across the parking lot, and I turn toward Donovan’s. “I wonder what’s going on there.”
Maddie cracks a smile. “Surprise bachelor party for Trevor.”
“Seriously?”
“When you told us what he said about wanting to get married again so he would have all those memories, we knew he needed the full experience. Tag, Carter, and Jaxon have been planning it for weeks.”
Now I’m full-on crying. “You all are just so amazing. The best. I hope you know that.”
Serenity puts her arm around my shoulder. “We love you guys.”
More cheers come from the pub, and I wrinkle my nose as a thought occurs. “Do you think they got strippers?”
They all laugh, but then some turn and look inquisitively at the pub, being as their husbands are there, too.
“Don’t worry about what’s going on at the pub,” Dakota says. “We’re going to make baby diapers out of toilet paper. What could be more fun than that?”
Trevor climbs into bed just after midnight and spoons me. He always spoons me. Just another thing I love about this new version of him.
When we first moved in together all those years ago, before he went overseas, we’d cuddle and I’d rest my head on his chest. Most nights we wound up sleeping in a tangle of limbs. But then, as time passed, it just stopped happening and we’d end up on opposite sides of the bed.
Maybe we’d each just gotten used to sleeping alone.
I sigh appreciatively, loving how it feels to be in his arms.
“How was your night?” he asks softly in my ear.
“Perfect. And yours?”
“Pretty amazing.”
I turn and look at him in the soft moonlight filtering through the window. “Were there strippers?”
“There was one stripper.”
I know it’s conventional to have strippers at bachelor parties—as cliché as it is, it’s still practically a mandatory time-honored tradition—but it’s hard not to think of Trevor looking at a perfectly proportioned, not-heavily-pregnant, nearly naked woman.
He obviously sees the disappointment on my face. “Babe, the only naked woman I want to look at is you.”
“Thank you for saying it, even if you’re basically obligated to as my husband-slash-fiancé.”
“I’m not just saying it, Ava. It’s true. Anyway, you have no idea.” He chuckles and kisses the tip of my nose. “The stripper was hilarious. I wish you could have seen it. She wore a prosthetic pregnant belly.”
“You’re kidding.”
“No, I’m not. It was great. I’ll show you the pictures tomorrow.”
As he tells me all about the party and I recount every detail about the shower, emotions that have been building up all week finally break through, and I cry in his arms.
“I can’t believe they did all that.” My breath snags in my throat. “We have the best friends, don’t we? Do you know they said they don’t want to do coffee Tuesdays anymore after I’m gone?”
His hand runs soothingly down my arm. “Don’t be sad. We’ll make more friends.”
I sniff away the tears and paste on my best supportive wife smile. “Of course we will.”
I try hard not to reveal my true level of sadness. Because how can I not be sad about leaving these friends behind? Sure, we’ll make more. But deep down, I know no one could ever replace these friends. These tried and true, ride or die friends who have been there for me through good times and bad.
Looking on the bright side, I’ll have my man. I’ll have my baby. That will be enough for now.
Won’t it?