"I need no excuse to buy my wife anything at all." Turning her to face him, he traced a finger over her shimmering pale pink lips. "You're stunning."
"I actually think you mean that." She swayed slightly, hands clutching his dark blue sports jacket.
"Baby are you okay?"
"I just need to sit for a minute."
Taking her hand, he led her over to sit on the edge of the bed.
"What is it?"
"Nothing." She pressed a hand against her belly and took a deep breath.
"Do I need to call the doctor?" he demanded, alarm sounding in his voice.
"No." She shook her head and smiled. "It's just your babies playing ping pong in my uterus. God! Two weeks to go and suffice it to say, I cannot wait."
"We could sit this one out. Let me call mother..."
"Absolutely not." She gripped his hand to stop him from making good on his threat. "I'm all dressed up and raring to go."
"If you're not feeling well..."
"I'm pregnant with triplets. Not feeling well is a constant condition. Help me up, will you?"
Taking her hands, he eased her off the bed and studied her face intently.
"I'm fine."
"I'll be watching you like a hawk the entire evening," he warned.
"No need for reminders," she said with a grimace. "Which jacket?"
Staring at her for another minute to ensure she wasn't lying to him about feeling all right, he went into the closet and selected a soft clingy snug fitting waist length jacket that mirrored the colors of the dress.
He helped her on with it and was about to step back when she caught the lapels of his jacket and went on her toes. "Thanks for the necklace," she whispered, brushing her lips over his.
"You're welcome." Wrapping his arms around her thick waist, he held on for a minute more. "Ready?"
"Yes."
*****
The doors were already wide open, with people spilling out of the lofty foyer and onto the immaculate lawn. Valets looking tidy and very busy in black and white were busy parking vehicles. Balloons, what seemed like hundreds of them, hung suspended over shrubberies. Chairs decorated the grounds and a makeshift dais was to the left of the pool.
The end of May weather was being very cooperative, with the brilliant blue of the sky dotted with millions of stars. Peopledrifted around making conversation and holding glasses of champagne.
Spotting them immediately, Mary-Ann looking regal in sapphire blue came hurrying over. "Darlings." Holding out both her hands, she wrapped Leanne in a tight hug, before stepping back to study her face. "You're positively glowing." Turning to her son, she leaned up to kiss him on both cheeks.
"Everyone's here, including the grandparents. They flew in just this morning." Sliding Leanne's hand through her arm, she shooed her son away. "Let's go and find the rest of the girls."
Within minutes they were surrounded by the family, including the birthday girl looking stunning in a lime green off the shoulder dress and wearing an exquisite diamond necklace and a beaming smile.
"I never expected anything like this." She took the festive bag Leanne handed her and went in for a hug. "And look at you honey, you're glowing."
"That's what I told her." Mary-Ann's smile was wide as she took in her four daughters-in-law. Surely such blessing was undeserved.
"I see the cake has already been cut and I'm craving about three slices," Leanne told them, patting her swollen stomach. "Might as well just eat like a pig and be done with it." She turned towards the table, only to be intercepted by the myriad of nieces and nephews who insisted on touching her belly, so that they could feel the babies.
