“No problem at all. I loved doing it. I hope Carter is having fun with the guys at the River Bell for drinks and dinner.”
“I’m sure he is.”
One of our neighbors from down the street hands Hailey a mimosa in passing, and Hailey takes a sip. “It must be super busy with the baby, mayorship, your… relationship thing.” Her hand sweeps my body as her face screws. “I hope you two are having some alone time.”
My head bobs. “We’re trying. Tomorrow we are having dinner together. Enjoying the silence while we can.”
“Enjoy sleep, too.”
“Oh, I am.”
My mom interrupts us. “May I steal my daughter away for a second?” She tips her head to me to indicate down the hall off the kitchen.
“Absolutely,” Hailey replies.
My mom’s eyes are inviting and filled with love that I imagine only a mother can have. I follow her until we are by the bottom of the stairs, without the noise of the party in the background. She hands me a bag filled with gold tissue paper.
“Something for you.”
I’m curious and dip my hand inside and feel a soft animal. Pulling it out, I grin. “Jelly.” My stuffed unicorn growing up.
“I figured you might need it for your baby.”
Pulling the stuffed animal close to my middle, I can’t shake away the sentiment of this moment. “It might not be a girl,” I remind her.
“Doesn’t matter. Jelly can find a place in the baby’s room.”
Stepping in for a big hug, I can’t help but let tears form in my eyes. “Thank you.”
She rubs my back as I pull away. “You know… I’m not sure if you remember, but when you were really young, you would carry the unicorn around and offer it to your father before he and I even were together. Jelly had a front-row seat to watching how our lives unfolded.”
I stare at the animal for a few seconds. “I remember there was a tornado and Dad went upstairs to grab Jelly because I forgot it.”
“From moment one, you had him wrapped around your finger. But we didn’t come together because of you. You were just the bonus, and Jelly, too.”
It’s hasn’t unfazed me how Carter’s and my situation runs parallel to my own parents. They ended up where they were always meant to be.
“I guess Jelly gets to have a front-row seat to my current situation then.”
She smirks and affectionately sweeps my hair behind my shoulders. “Nah, the unicorn is just reminding you that everything will come together… and don’t worry, Jelly had a trip to the washing machine the other day. He is ready to report for duty.”
I wipe a tear away. “I’m happy to hear.”
“Rosie, babies happen in their own time. But everything else is inyourown time.”
Sniffling another tear, I’m going to blame this on this special day, except I can’t. “I’m scared. Labor, motherhood, being a wife again.”
“Labor, you have no control with. He or she will come into the world on their own terms. Every person who enters motherhood feels the same. Being a wife again with the same man, well…” Her face squinches, and it causes me to laugh and cry at the same time. “You will create your own path on that. Good news is that there is no wrong trail. There might even be a few detours.”
The corner of my mouth snags as I listen to her advice that is hidden under her perspective. “I guess I have Jelly to remind me of that then.”
She nods while her gaze pins to mine. “You do. Detours sometimes get to the destination faster.”
Hugging her again, I’m well aware that I’m the one drawing the map.
* * *
Maybe I’ve been quiet,but it’s not for any reason that should concern Carter. I take another bite of my pizza with vegetables and mozzarella, and it turns into a devouring-mouthful moment.
