“I mean it, man—I’m really finished this time.”
“I hear you,” he says. “Thanks for your service.”
“Don’t mention it.” I hang up and drive home feeling equal parts fearful and free.
Chapter 14
Hazel
“These are adorable.” Folding a tiny giraffe onesie, I tuck it back in the box. “Brooke, thank you. You must’ve known there’s a jungle-themed nursery at Luke’s place?”
“I didn’t.” Kaleb’s fiancée flashes her kindhearted smile. “The giraffe is the land mammal with the largest heart, so I’ve always had an affinity for them. Besides, like you said—how freakin’ cute are those? I bought six more so I can give them to other friends having babies.”
“Brooke, my favorite sister-in-law.” Cassidy winks as she logs the giraffe gift on my thank-you card list. “Please say I’m getting one, too. If not, I need you to tell me where you got those, because that’s seriously the cutest thing ever.”
“Oh, don’t worry,” Brooke says. “There’s one for you and one for Calliope and Parker. They’re also getting one covered in tiny salmon.”
“Oh, they’ll love that.” I pass the box of giraffe onesies to my left so everyone else can admire them. “I’ve never done a remote shower. Did somebody figure out a system?”
Zoe raises her hand like a good little librarian. “I booked us the big upstairs conference room. It’s got all the good tech for a virtual event.”
“And I’m sending our gifts to Alaska in one shipment.” Cassidy looks up from her clipboard. “Parker and Callie can open them together while we watch.”
“Perfect.” I love how my friends have been handling this onslaught of baby celebrations. Even winter troll chinook season can’t derail everyone’s unflagging excitement for new family members. “Are Parker and Callie registered anywhere?”
“Jake’s Bait Shop,” Erika quips. Actually, I don’t think she’s joking. She hands me the next gift from the pile. “Open mine next. Hurry! I’m dying to see how you like it.”
“All right, all right.” I gently peel back the paper, taking care not to rip it. “This is too pretty to tear.”
“Oh, for the love of Pete.” Erika snatches the package and shakes out the box from the end I’ve just opened. “I’ll give you the entire roll of wrapping paper and tell you where I bought it. Let’s get this show moving.”
“So impatient.” I love her, though. And she obviously put lots of thought into her gift. “Oh, Erika—these are cute.”
She pokes at the onesie on top. “Organic cotton. All of them are.”
“All of them?” Looks like there’s more than just baby clothes here. I study the word emblazoned in pink on each onesie. “Blame it on pregnancy brain, but what does proof mean?”
“You’re supposed to read the grownup ones first.” She tugs an adult-sized t-shirt from the bottom of the box. “See?”
Scanning the words, I laugh. “I make beautiful babies.” I hold it up so everyone else can read it. “That’s true, and I haven’t even met them.”
Erika beams. “There’s one in there for Luke, too.” She gives me a salacious wink. “Extra-large, right?”
“Shh.” I’m blushing, though I’m pretty sure nobody heard. Or assumed I shared intimate details with Erika, which… Okay, maybe a little. What? Having regular sex with a gifted guy is kind of a new thing for me.
I pull out the extra-large shirt and laugh. His has the line about making beautiful babies on the front pocket, but the back has a second message. “Dad of twins,” I read. “Classic overachiever.”
“I know you said he loves clever shirts, and these made me laugh.”
“Thank you.” I hug Erika tightly. “I picture the four of us wearing these to plenty of family outings.”
“That’s the idea,” she says.
Across the room, Zoe and Cassidy’s mother looks befuddled. “You’re dating the baby-daddy?” Ruby Brooks frowns. “I thought the two of you were just?—”
“Mom,” Cassidy hisses.
“What?” Ruby looks confused. “There’s nothing wrong with raising babies by yourself. I did it with you girls, and if that’s what Hazel wants, there’s absolutely no shame in it. She’s a strong, capable woman with a community of other strong women to help her.”
