“Apparently his family life was bad,” I give, not willing to offer any more on the subject right now.
CeCe stands up and starts turning on the flameless lanterns around the patio.
“Nash always said that Asher didn’t speak to his family. Something about them being bad news back in New York.”
My stomach drops at her words. An image of him in prison flashes through my head and still freaks me out a little, though mostly I feel empathy that he had to endure that.
“I’m hoping as time passes he’ll open up a little more,” I add, sidestepping her comment as I sip my own lemonade.
“Well, I say focus on the here and now. In the words of Ted Lasso, be a goldfish,” Ginger says, raising her glass to me.
“The man hewasdoesn’t matter. What counts is the man he is now. For you and your baby. To the new mama,” she adds. “May this pregnancy always make her glow.”
“May her nausea slow as her baby bump grows …” Ivy pipes up with a tipsy rhyme.
“When it comes to food cravings, may she not have to wait,” CeCe adds, holding up her own glass of iced tea.
“And may her baby daddy’s woodshop tables always vibrate!” Cassie snorts.
I can’t help it, I start to laugh. These girls are my rocks in a lake of uncertainty, and I couldn’t survive without them.
My phone buzzes on the table as they continue their chatter.
A
This is the size of our baby?
I pick up my phone and see a link to a pregnancy website telling me the baby is the size of a grape.
ME
Maybe, but with arms and legs.
A
A grape with arms and legs.
He sends me through a photo of himself. He’s at the fire-hall, in his uniform, but he’s making a “What the fuck?” face.
I laugh out loud as all eyes at the table land on me. I’m glad because, even after last night, it seems like things won’t be awkward between Asher and me.
ME
Well I for one think he or she will be a cute little grape baby.
A
Can’t wait to find out tomorrow, mama.
My heart clunks in my chest at the same time I hear Cassie whisper “I don’t smile like that at myfriends” to one of the other girls.
ME
Me neither. The app I have says to eat lots the day before so the baby will be active. I’m definitely doing that.
I send a photo through of myself eating a slice of Jo’s lemon loaf.
A
