“Best let them go on this, Zoe,” said Kate. “I know there’s no stopping my mom when she gets like this.”
“I agree,” said Robert.
Zoe nodded. She wanted her parents with her for Christmas. It would be timely if they came to her new home. She just hoped Max was going to be all right with what his mom was planning, encouraged wholeheartedly by her mom. She inhaled slowly, hoping to settle the flutter of nerves in her belly. She had been worried that not everyone would get along.
How wrong was I?
Instead the opposite was happening. Helen and Leanne were getting on famously, and her dad, as usual, was going along with the flow.
“Now tell us, Zoe. Is it a girl or a boy?” asked her mom. “I need to know what to start buying.”
“I guess I’ll find out with the scan.” She swallowed hard, remembering that Max didn’t want to find out.But I do. And Max wasn’t there.
“Good,” said Helen. “I want to know, too. Stuff this waiting for a surprise until the baby is born.”
“Mom,” interrupted Kate. “This is Zoe and Max’s choice.” She turned and looked at Zoe. “But as the only aunty to this baby, I would like to know the gender beforehand. I plan to spoil him or her and be the favorite.”
“Good luck with that,” challenged Helen. “I’m going to be the favorite.”
“No, way, I am.”
“Don’t forget about me,” interjected her dad.
This was what Zoe was worried about, but the women were all smiling. “You’ll all be baby’s favorite.”
“But you’re right. Zoe, what do you want? Secret or not?” Helen looked at Zoe, waiting for an answer.
“I’d like to find out.”
“Great.” Leanne smiled. “You can tell us all next week.”
“Yeah, but—”
“I can’t wait to find out if it’s a girl or a boy,” said Helen. “I think it might be a girl.”
“Oh, I do. too.”
“I dunno, I think it’s a boy,” said Kate.
When had they all decided on the gender of her baby?
Hell, she had no idea if it were a boy or a girl. She was still trying to come to terms with being pregnant, and in a relationship, and living hundreds of miles away from the only city she’d ever lived in.
What was she going to do now?
How was she going to handle this potential situation?
Zoe doubted that her mom or Helen would be able to keep the gender a secret from Max, and he didn’t want to find out.
Did his opinion matter?She was carrying the baby. And why should she not find out because he didn’t want to.
Was this the crack that would push them apart?
Zoe looked at the screen trying to determine if her baby was a girl or a boy. She didn’t know how anyone could tell. To her it was a smear of gray tones. A mess. Her mom hovered by her side. A hospital rule meant only one person could be with her.
“Do you want to know the gender?” asked the technician.
Zoe paused.
