Zoe pipes up to rescue me. “I already declared Hazel an official Vulvarine.”
“Thank you.” My eyes sting with gratitude, or maybe that’s pregnancy hormones. “I agree that single parents are superheroes, and also that couples can co-parent beautifully without romantic entanglement.”
“Bravo,” says Erika, nodding. “As the daughter of the world’s most badass single dad, I’m with you there.”
Ruby smiles sweetly. “Very true.”
I’m not sure if Ruby’s agreeing that single parents rule or that Erika’s father—Ruby’s new husband—is, in fact, Superman. Either way, she seems pleased.
And curious, naturally. “So you can do it on your own,” Ruby says. “And while there’s absolutely no reason on earth a new mother shouldn't play hide the salami with the father of her children?—”
“Good God, Mom.” Cassidy buries her face in her hands.
“Well?” Ruby remains undeterred. “All I’m saying is that women have needs. And if you can get those needs filled by a handsome man who’s kind and generous and also the children’s father, that seems like winning to me.” Ignoring the mortified looks from her daughters, she gives me a motherly smile. “How about it, Hazel? Are you getting the best of both worlds?”
Everyone’s eyes swing to me. Swallowing hard, I feel heat fill my face. I expected to be in the spotlight at my baby shower, but maybe not this way.
“Hey,” Erika whispers, touching my arm. “You don’t have to answer. I can play guard dog if you want me to?—”
“I’m okay.” Clearing my throat, I address the whole room. “So yes, it’s true. Luke and I are…” How do I put this? “We’re seeing each other.”
Ruby smiles. “That’s sweet.”
But it’s more than that, isn’t it? For some reason I need them to know. “We’re in love and we’re extremely sexually compatible.” They didn’t need that detail, did they? “Um, we’re taking it one day at a time. Not putting labels on things, you know?”
“That makes sense.” Ruby looks at Zoe. “Great sex is so important, isn’t it?”
Zoe rolls her eyes. “Nice, Mom.”
“What?” Ruby fluffs her hair. “I’m a newlywed, aren’t I? And Greg is absolutely exquisite in bed.”
Beside me, Erika groans. “I’ll take ‘Things I Didn’t Need to Know About My Father’ for five thousand.”
I hand her the gift box to add to the stack behind her. “Would you rather she complained that he’s lousy?”
“I’d rather pretend my dad only had sex to make me.” She fakes a dramatic shudder. “And I’m sure he’d prefer to believe Mason and I have separate bedrooms.”
“Nothing beats the power of denial,” I muse as she hands me the next box to open. “Who’s this one from?”
“There’s no tag?” She turns back and digs through the pile. “Oh—looks like it’s from Mr. and Mrs. Hartman.”
“How sweet of them.” Harry Hartman is the guy who crashed through my gate, and Mrs. Hartman—God bless her—babysat half the kids in Cherry Blossom Lake. She’s in memory care now, and Mr. Hartman rarely leaves her side. “They didn’t have to get me anything.”
“Harry insisted,” Lucy says. “I went to see them Tuesday, and they asked me to bring it. He said he felt bad for wrecking your gate.”
“Please tell him he shouldn’t.” Smiling, I tear through the wrapper. “If he hadn’t crashed through my gate, I wouldn’t have ended up pregnant.”
“Whoa.” Ruby sits up in her chair. “There’s a story I need to hear.”
“Later, Mom.” Rolling her eyes, Cassidy whispers to me. “Don’t worry. She’ll forget.”
“I don’t mind.” It feels nice to be open with female friends. “Luke fixed my gate, and we got to know each other better afterward.”
“Much better.” Erika grins, since she knows the whole story. She watches me open the Hartmans’ package. “More adorable onesies,” she says. “What do they say?”
I hold up the first one, which looks identical to the other. I peer at the print, which features tiny pink handcuffs. “Um?—”
“Oh my.” Erika blanches as she stares at the words printed in pink by the cuffs. “Partners in crime,” she reads. “That’s cute for twins.”
