"This is nothing. You're having a baby, Emma. My best friend is having a baby." Her eyes water. "I'm so happy for you."
Now I'm crying too. These pregnancy hormones are going to be the death of me.
"Stop being nice," I manage. "You're making me emotional."
"You're already emotional. You're pregnant."
"That's not an excuse."
"It absolutely is."
We end up in the checkout line with approximately three hundred dollars worth of baby items. The cashier rings everything up while giving us knowing smiles.
"First baby?" she asks.
"Yes," Julie answers before I can. "And we're very excited."
"Congratulations. It goes by fast. Enjoy it."
Outside, Julie loads everything into my car. "You're going home and showing all of this to Miles. He's going to love the drinking buddy onesie."
"He's going to think it's hilarious."
"Exactly."
She's right.
"Thanks for this," I tell her. "For understanding. For being excited. For not cornering me in Target until I confessed."
"I cornered you at Seaside Sweets. The Target thing was just smart maneuvering on your part." She hugs me again. "And Emma? Next time you're going through something big? Tell me sooner. Don't make me demand you show up at my office."
"Deal."
"Good. Now go home and tell your husband about our shopping spree. I want full report on his reaction to the onesie."
Miles is in the kitchen when I get home, and he spots the Target bags immediately.
"That's a lot of bags."
"Julie may have gone overboard."
"How overboard are we talking?"
I pull out the "Daddy's Drinking Buddy" onesie. He stares at it, then starts laughing.
"This is terrible."
"Julie insisted."
"I love it." He holds it up. "Our kid is going to be so embarrassed by us."
"Good. That's our job."
He pulls me close, kissing me softly. "How'd it go?"
"I steered her to the baby section without realizing it. She figured it out. There was whisper-screaming."
"Sounds about right."
