Max
Ailee and I linger over the parfaits and tea, then hit some stores for baby items. I want to give her some super-cute onesies. On the table for twins is a set in navy, one withCtrl + C, and the other one withCtrl + V. “Ooh, check this out.” I show them to Ailee.
She laughs. “That’s adorable!”
“Perfect for the twins, right?”
“Yeah.”
I start to grab them off the table, then stop. “What if they’re fraternal?”
“Does it matter?” She smiles.
“How about these?” I pick out the ones with the words WOMB MATE. One has an arrow pointing to right, and the other to left.
Her eyes sparkle. “Those’re great, too! How come so many are so adorable?”
“I’ll get both, just to cover all my bases.” I grin.
She picks up a onesie with the plump polar bear with the heart in the center, that says:Lovely Like Mommy. “This is perfect.” She sighs.
“Aww, I love it!”
We browse around, although we don’t buy much. “Akiko told me not to overbuy,” Ailee says.
“How come?” I ask in curiosity. Her husband’s family is too wealthy to care about dropping a few hundred bucks on baby items.
“She says they grow too fast. Apparently, most onesies will fit for about two months or so before becoming too tight.”
“That’s…sad.” I look at the polar bear onesie wistfully. The world is so unfair that little ones can wear it for only a couple of months. I go back and exchange the WOMB MATE onesies for a couple of sizes larger.
“But that’s the sign of healthy babies.” Ailee beams. “We can always come back and buy more together.”
I smile back. The unease that’s been plaguing me since finding out I’m pregnant eases a bit.It’ll be all right, I tell myself. I’m not like Mom, who had no one but Dad in L.A. I have my bestie, and millions in an emergency fund. I’ll shower my baby with so much love, it’ll have no choice but to see how amazing it is.
Besides, I’ve stewed long enough. Later today, when Rhys is back from brunch with his brothers, I’ll have an honest, no-holds-barred conversation and lay out all my cards. The plan terrifies me, but at the same time, it lightens the weight that’s been pressing on my soul since telling him about the pregnancy.
Be brave.You can do it!
By the time I return, Rhys is just climbing out of his car. He’s staring at his phone, brow furrowed. Guess the brunch with his brothers wasn’t as relaxing as I’d hoped. Or something’s happened with one of the acquisitions. He finally looks up.
“Welcome home, Freckles.” His eyes fall to the paper bag in my hand. “Shopping?”
“Ailee and I went to some baby stores.”
Something unidentifiable flickers in his gaze. “What did you get?”
“Actually, we bought onesies for each other’s babies.” I pull out her present. “Nice, isn’t it?”
“Very.” He runs his fingers along the writing. “‘Lovely Like Mommy.’” He lifts his beautiful blue eyes to meet mine. “Fitting.”
Air stutters in my lungs. Since I moved in with him, every time our eyes meet, tingling shivers justzingthrough me. “How was your brunch?”
“Good. A lot of fun, as usual. And productive.”
“Bet it was delicious too. Finn said Silas is a great cook when I was looking for a caterer for the office party my first year. He said something about how it was a shame that Silas doesn’t cater professionally.”
“Yeah, he would’ve done an amazing job, but his heart is set on managing Mom’s empire.” Rhys’s expression grows serious. “By the way, I need to be out of town for about a week.”
