“She’s perfect, right?” he whispers, and there’s a tremor in his voice that makes me want to scoop him up and hug him tight.
“She really is,” I say in a whisper as I peer at Meena. She’s staring up at me with the richest brown eyes I’ve ever seen.
“She looks just like her mom,” Sloane says next to me, taking a gander at the newest member of our family.
“Got the attitude too.” Todd chuckles.
“She’s going to kick ass,” I declare.
I look at Sloane, and I can tell she’s thinking the same thing I am. This is the single best way to start a day. Just the three of us—well, four if you count Todd, but he’sbasically an emotional houseplant at this point—standing in a sun-bright hospital room, and a whole new life starting in a plastic baby bed.
After a few minutes, Pia wakes up. She groans, sharp and dramatic, then reaches for the water.
“Am I alive?” she mutters, voice shredded. She spies Meena and her whole face transforms. She blinks the baby into focus and cracks a smile so unguarded it renders me useless.
I take the plastic cup and hold it for her while she sips. “You did it,” I say.
“You did it,” Sloane echoes, sitting on the edge of Pia’s bed.
Pia’s eyes fill. “Honestly, I thought there’d be more, like, ceremony. Instead, it just felt like vomiting but through my lower body.”
“That’s poetic,” Todd says, his voice high and thin with awe.
Sloane and I snicker. Pia glances at Meena, who is now making squished tomato faces and soft squeaks.
“You want anything? Food?” I ask.
She considers it. “I want my own shower. And maybe to never see Todd’s penis again.”
“That’s fair,” Sloane says.
“Noted,” Todd says, still gazing at the baby, like he’s spotting something miraculous in every blink.
I sneak a pic of them for the group chat, then send it to my mum. Ten seconds later, my phone buzzes. Mum sends back a string of emojis, most of them consist of hearts.
“You know, Eden, I was terrified of this. Of all of it. Even with you guys,” Pia says.
I nod. “You can be scared with people. That’s what they’re for,” I reply, leaning down and kissing her head.
There’s a commotion in the hallway and Bella bursts in, arms loaded with a helium balloon and breakfast tacos. Behind her, Jenna and Becca appear, each carrying more food and a weird patchwork baby quilt covered in angry woodland creatures. I’d bet money Bella sewed it while binge-watching horror movies.
Pia’s room transforms into a kind of fortress with every surface covered in snacks, pillows, flowers, and congratulatory cards. Sloane and I steal a corner and watch the parade.
Mum and Dad show up a couple of hours later, and I realise we’ve not told Pia that her parents aren’t coming home. I want to rant and rave, but who does it help? Not Pia, that’s for sure.
“Hey, honey,” Mum says, stepping up to Pia and pulling her into a half-bodied embrace.
Pia immediately starts crying. We all give her a soft smile and wait for her to let it all out.
“They’re not coming, are they?” she hiccups.
I fucking hate that Pia is so used to them leaving her to fend for herself that she doesn’t even sound surprised anymore when they let her down.
“No, sweetie. But that just means I get to look after you,” Mum continues. “We’ve got your room set up and plenty of people ready to get stuck in with this little nugget,” she adds, reaching down to stroke Meena’s chubby cheek.
Pia doesn’t answer but starts crying again. I think this is going to be the norm for a while.
We all spend another hour with the new family, but it’s clear when Pia needs a break. Mum and Dad tell her they’ll be back a little later to pick her and the baby up, and for the first time since Pia went into labour, I can see Todd relax. I’m guessing he was stressing out more because he knew just how bloody useless Pia’s parents would be.
