Tears glisten in her eyes, breaking my heart. “I know,” she says softly. “But I’m fine. You probably have a million things to do. Go. I’ll catch up with you later.”
I hesitate. Maybe she wants to do this alone. Finally, I hug her tightly. “Okay. But call me if you change your mind.”
“I will.”
I step out of the doctor’s office into the cold air, then turn right back around. We might not be biologically related, but we’re family.
two
Eloise
I’m sittingin the waiting room, crossing and uncrossing my legs, pretending I’m reading a magazine. I feel the eyes of the other women on me. They’re probably wondering why I’m so antsy since, from the looks of their swollen bellies, I’m here for a very different reason than they are.
The door to outside opens, and everyone looks over to see who it is. My anxiety lessens a little when I see Jade. When we make eye contact, her shoulders fall a little.
“Did you forget something?” the receptionist asks her.
Jade stops and turns to face her, motioning to me. “I’m here for her.”
Dawn, the receptionist, glances at me and smiles. She knows who our husbands are and that they play together. “Welcome back then.”
My friend sits next to me, grabbing my hand.
“I know you have a crap-ton on that to-do list of yours,” I mumble.
She shrugs. “You’re on the top of the list now.” She squeezes, and I lay my head on her shoulder in gratitude.
When we found out that last night’s game was postponed until tonight, I thought Conor was going to quit hockey and fly home. I’m actually surprised he didn’t show up in the middle of the night. But I’m proud of myself for talking him off the ledge. He’s a hard man to calm down when it comes to anything to do with me.
“So, what are you reading?” She nods at the magazine open in my hand.
I shut it to see it’s aTravel the Midwestmagazine talking about the best places to see the leaves change in the fall. “Clearly something that will be useful this year.”
She laughs.
We talk about the cabin we’re renting and how we’re hoping the boys make it home, but if there are any more weather delays from the storm moving from east to west, they’ll be meeting us up at the cabin. Still, I cannot wait to celebrate an early Christmas with our best friends.
Finally, my name gets called, and I stand.
“If you don’t want me to go with you, I can stay here,” Jade says.
I debate the decision in my head. It’s a let’s-see-what’s-going-on appointment. It could be premature for me to be here, but regardless, having someone in there to support me will be nice.
I hold out my hand and she slides her hand into mine, smiling.
“Back so soon? You know it’s not going to change, right?” The nurse laughs, and Jade rolls her eyes.
“Did you find out the sex?” I ask, my gaze shooting to her swollen belly.
“Well, it’s on a piece of paper in here.” She taps her purse. “We’ll open it when we’re together.”
“I’m sorry.” I know they must both be disappointed that Henry is missing the moment they’ve been waiting months for. They were going to find out together, then surprise Bodhi and their family.
“This is our life. The one lots of women dream about, being married to a professional athlete.” She slides her arm through mine. “Now get on that scale. I’ll turn around. Although I’ll tell you, your number will be much lower than mine.”
I laugh, plop my purse and jacket on the table, and toe off my boots. “You can look. I’m not that hung up on it.”
“Now you aren’t. And ugh, you got to take off your boots.” She points at my boots on the floor.
