Chapter 28 Lainey
Lainey
Kendra and I are at Brooks and Books dropping off her first full order of mugs to display and sell in the store.
Sutton was right, of course, and Kendra’s samples she left when we first came in sold out almost immediately.
Today, she brought in enough to fill the table—a wide variety from several of her past collections.
My jaw dropped as we kept pulling beautifully crafted mugs from the wrapping. “Kendra, how on earth did you have time to make all of these and keep up with the online orders and the salon?”
She grins at me and tells us, “Well, I decided to pause the online store for the time being. I wanted to focus on getting a lot of mugs made for my table here. I was really inspired and excited to see my work in an actual store. So, I have been spending all of my extra time in my studio working my sexy butt off . . . and I must say it’s some of my best work.
” Kendra holds up a teal mug with delicate wildflowers hand-painted on it, a design from her spring collection last year that was very popular.
Sutton, organizing the mugs just so, says, “Kendra, these are stunning. I have a really hard time letting them go every time somebody buys one because I want them all. But I also know that they will bring so much joy to each customer. I think you should stick around sometimes to see people buying them.”
“I would love that!” Kendra claps. “With an online order you don’t get to see how the person reacts when they see the final product, the joy, as you say.”
“What if you did a pop-up shop?” I suggest. “Like a day where people know you will be here at a certain time, and they will be able to come in and ‘meet the artist.’ We could advertise for it, make it like a little party or something?”
“I LOVE that idea!” Sutton nearly lets a daisy-printed mug slip from her hands in her excitement. “Oh, shit!” She carefully places the mug down and wipes her hands on her legs.
Kendra lets out a relieved, slightly nervous, sigh. “Why don’t you take a break, mama, and let me and Lainey finish the unpacking? You need to get off of your feet anyways.”
“You’re right, they are killing me. I also wanted to ask you a favor, Kendra?”
“Of course,” Kendra says, placing down the last few mugs. “Whatever you need!”
“You might say no.” Sutton looks pointedly at her, crossing her arms and not looking at all intimidating.
“Doubtful,” she says, laughing. “You know I would do anything for my girls. Need to bury a body? Pllllease tell me it’s Cora’s,” Kendra begs playfully.
“Unfortunately and thankfully no.” Sutton snorts. “I am hoping this will be something fun for you to help me with.”
I can’t wait to hear what this is going to be.
“Deck should be home anytime now, and I know the baby’s gender, but he doesn’t since I am going to all the appointments by myself. They asked me if I wanted to know last time, and I said yes,” Sutton tells us, eyes shining with excitement and bursting to share her secret.
“Oh my gosh!” I exclaim. “We had no idea you knew already. Sutton! This is huge news.”
Sutton is beaming, rubbing her prominent baby bump, her cheeks pink with emotion, and tells us, “It’s a GIRL!”
We all collectively freak out. Laughter, hugs, squealing, and so much happiness fill the entire store.
I could not be more happy for my friend.
Babies are such a blessing, and I know that Sutton is going to be an amazing mom.
I don’t know Derek yet, but from everything Remington has shared, he is crazy about Sutton and can’t wait to be a dad.
Being a girl dad, I am sure, will make him even more overprotective.
It will be fun to watch a big, strong, military man like Deck be wrapped around the finger of a tiny, precious, little girl.
“What favor do you need from me though?” asks Kendra.
“I want to do something special for a gender reveal when Deck gets home. He loves coffee, and we even have that little coffee bar area in our kitchen. I was thinking of setting it up all cute with decorations.” Sutton describes her plan.
“Love that!” we tell her in unison.
“I was hoping Kendra could make me a special mug?”
“O-M-G, yes!” Kendra shouts, making me and Sutton giggle.
“What did you have in mind?” I ask Sutton.
“I was thinking of an oversized mug with teeny, tiny, pink hearts all over, and then script on the front that says ‘Girl Dad.’” She looks to Kendra with a hopeful smile.
“This is going to be so freaking cute! I’m on it.” Kendra nods and starts packing up her boxes and paper she had wrapped the mugs in.
Laughing Sutton says, “I don’t mean right this minute! Aren’t we getting lunch?”
“Ugh, I guess,” Kendra says. “But you got my creative juices going, and I am ready to get my hands into my clay.”
“Well, I am glad you’re excited, and I really, really appreciate you making my vision come to life. He’s going to love it.”
The girls hug, and a warm fuzzy feeling spreads through my body. There has been so much bad happening with my mom, Cora, my car, and dealing with the restraining order. I needed this today. Good news and time with my best friend and someone who is also very quickly becoming another best friend.
It feels like I have known Sutton so much longer than I have, and friendship with her came easily.
Same with Jess and the fire station girls.
They have been blowing up our text chain, checking on me, and making sure I don’t need anything.
Jess even had me over for dinner a few days ago with her and the kids.
Matt and Remington were both on shift, and Remington is still uneasy about me being home alone the whole time.
Our family and friends are rallying around us, me specifically, and I have never had this kind of love and support in all my life. I feel unworthy of it, honestly. The broken parts of myself feel like if I let these kind, wonderful, normal people too close I will cut them unintentionally.
The hot sun warms my skin as I sit out on Remington’s back deck.
I was trying to relax, read, and distract myself from my anxious thoughts after getting back from lunch with the girls, but I was exhausted and found myself nodding off.
I barely go back to my apartment anymore besides picking up things I need and checking my mail.
We’ve basically moved me into Remington’s house, especially after Cora ruined my car, but haven’t labeled it yet.
If you would have told me when I was burning my ex-boyfriend’s things on a late night in March that by now I’d be sitting here, I never would have believed it.
To some it would seem fast that I spend all this time here, but to me Remington has always just felt right.
I’ve never felt more safe or more seen. It makes me think about how I had the foreboding earlier in the day with the girls, worried about how my brokenness could hurt them.
Remington has seen a lot of that brokenness.
I have not shared all of it with him, but he knows most of it.
Witnessed and felt the vitriol of my mother firsthand, has heard the stories of my father and brother.
He knows the unhealthy history I have with men and dating.
And yet he still embraces me and has not made me feel like I need to hide any pieces of myself, smooth over my emotions or hide things to keep the peace.
I let the comfort of his solid presence in my life wash over my body with the warm breeze, pushing back the nagging worries.
I am in so deep with this man.