Maybe I wanted Noah to be the father, because of our mutual attraction and proximity to each other. Not that our mutual attraction would make co-parenting a child together easier, but at least his proximity would help. Plus, I knew he’d be a decent father, even if nothing more happened between us.
I barely knew the other prospect, and what I did know about him wasn’t exactly positive. He’d left a bad taste in my mouth, and I wouldn’t be reaching out him to let him know about the possibility, even if I had a way of contacting him. I didn’t know his last name, and I’d blocked and deleted his number after our unsatisfying encounter, when he’d shown way too many red flags.
If Noah wasn’t the father, I’d be doing it one hundred percent alone, and I was oddly fine with that. I was more nervous about the prospect that my inkling was right, because it meant I’d have to find a way to share this part of my life with him for eighteen-plus years without allowing the mess of my emotions and feelings get in the way.
It would be better if my inkling was wrong, but that was the thing about my inklings: they were hardly ever wrong.
“Are you still worried you’ll lose your job over this?” Sage asked, looking sympathetic.
“Yeah, I am. No matter what, I’m going to be giving birth during the summer. That’s peak season for the resort, Sage. They need a full-time receptionist, especially during the summer. And what if I can’t work full-time in the coming months? What if I end up on bedrest?” I asked, voicing my deepest concern.
Dr. Kramer had told me that with the elevated risk of preterm birth, I may end up on bedrest to ensure that didn’t happen. I hadn’t even allowed myself to think about that possibility. It was too scary.
Sage could sense my growing anxiety over that, and she shifted so she could take my hands in hers. “That’s not going to happen. But if it did, if you ended up on bedrest, I promise you, we’d figure it out. You’re not alone in this.”
My eyes welled with unshed tears, my heart squeezing. “I appreciate you so much,” I told her, trying to blink them away. Her eyes misted, too.
“You’re the sister I never got to have growing up, and I’m so glad I found you,” she squeezed my hand. “This next chapter of your life—of both our lives—is going to be so magical and amazing.”
Sage’s words unleashed the floodgates.
“I know, but seriously, can we change the subject before I start ugly crying?” I laughed, wiping away my tears with my free hand.
“Is it even a girls’ night without ugly crying?” Sage asked, blinking away her own tears with a self-deprecating smile.
“It’s a slippery slope with the way my hormones have been lately. I’m afraid I won’t stop once I start.”
“Mine, too.” Sage said, releasing my hand to grab a chip from the bowl on her coffee table.
Sage and Nix hadn’t told Daphne yet about the baby. Sage said she wanted to make it special for her, and that Nix’s idea was to tell her by bringing her to the house he was building and letting her help design the baby’s room.
However they told her, I knew Daphne would be over the moon about having a sibling.
“I still can’t believe we’re pregnant at the same time,” I admitted, shaking my head and smiling.
“I know, it’s great, isn’t it? Last time I was pregnant, all my friends were in their college partying era. It was kind of isolating. This time, we’ll be shopping for maternity clothes and baby things together.” Sage’s eyes lit up. “Oh my gosh, we could have a double baby shower!”
“Oh, yeah,” I tried not to let the sadness I felt suddenly creep into my tone. I was excited, but Sage’s mention of a baby shower made me think of my mother, who traditionally would be expected to help throw said baby shower.
“I know you’re thinking about your mom,” Sage sent me a sympathetic look. “I promise you, no matter what her reaction is, things are going to be okay.”
Out of everyone, Sage would understand exactly what I was feeling. She’d been through it once before with her own mother when she was pregnant with Daphne. But this time around, she had her aunt, her uncle, and her cousins—plus Nix’s incredible family. I had met his parents at Halloween, and they seemed great. I could tell that they were happily involved in their children’s, and grandchildren’s, lives.
I was happy Sage had all those folks in her corner, though, and I didn’t want the slight twinge of jealousy I felt over not having that to bring my friend down. She deserved their support and their excitement.
“You’re right,” I smiled. “And a double baby shower would be great.”
“It really would be,” Sage said dreamily. “I didn’t have one last time, with Daphne. My mom wasn’t excited, and like I said, all my friends were in their college party era. Nobody was thinking about baby showers.”
“Well, this time will be different,” I assured her. “Speaking of your mom, have you told her yet?”
“She’ll be the last to know,” Sage shrugged a delicate shoulder. “I’m still not exactly over her telling Warren where I was.”
A few months ago, Sage’s mother had told her ex-fiancé where to find her, and he showed up at a school fundraiser she was volunteering at to “talk to her”. Nix had handled that situation like a hero in a romance book, backed by his brothers, and Warren got the hint that Sage was over him for good.
I’d never liked Warren and was glad to see Sage cut him out of her life. Especially because it left room for Nix, and I adored him. He was good to her in all the ways she deserved. I’d never seen my friend so happy and fulfilled.
“Yeah, I haven’t told my parents yet, either. Not sure when I’m going to.”
