Everything Unexpected (27 page)

I watch his eyes make their way to my hip, skimming over the skin. “What am I looking at?”

“Are you blind?” I ask. “Right here.” I point to a more accurate spot.

“What? This hive?” he says.

I take a breath. “It’s not a hive. It’s a stretch mark. I’m now permanently scarred for life!”

His shoulder shake with quiet laughter. “So what?”

“So what?” I repeat. “What if more come? What if by the time this baby decides to come out, I look like a road map!”

Shane stands, placing his hands on the sides of my face. “Comb, millions of women have them. Men even.”

I shake my head, pulling his hands away from my face. “You don’t get it,” I say quietly, taking a step away.

“Explain it to me,” he says.

I look down at my bump. I can’t even call it that anymore. A watermelon isn’t a bump. What I have is a mound.

“I’m exhausted all the time,” I start. “Most of my clothes don’t fit anymore. I can’t remember anything, and I cry at almost everything. Last night, a coffee commercial came on about a grandfather taking his grandson out fishing. I bawled for ten minutes. I have no control over my hormones, over my feelings. I’m tired of being pregnant and I still have two months to go.” I look down at the floor, almost ashamed at what I’m about to say. “I’m sick of being pregnant. What if I get sick of being a mom?”

“Oh, Comb,” he says walking up to me, brushing some of my hair behind my ears. “How can you even think that?”

I try and look away but he uses his fingers to swing my face back in his direction.

“Every day,” he starts. “Every day you floor me. Every day, I am more and more amazed by you. And
every
single day, I’m so thankful I’m doing this with you. Going through this experience with you. You are the strongest, most courageous woman I know. The night you told me you were pregnant, I was terrified. I had no idea what to do. But you took charge. You made the decisions and everything has fallen into place since.
We
have fallen into place since.”

He takes one step forward, eliminating what little space there was between us.

“Don’t be nervous about what kind of mother you’ll be because I already see it. It’s in how you take care of yourself, the sacrifices you’re already making.” He gives my chin a little flick with his fingers. “I know how terrible giving up coffee was for you,” he teases. Then he surprises me by getting down on his knees, lifting my shirt just enough to expose my hip.

“And this,” he says, laying a kiss directly over that hideous red mark, “this is not a stretch mark. This is a battle scar. A reminder to me and to everyone else that what you are doing is the most beautiful,” another kiss, “bravest,” another kiss, “and strongest thing anyone could ever do.” He rests his lips on that scar for another second. And when he looks back up at me, his smile brightens his entire face.

“I’m in awe of you,” he finishes.

I feel a tear fall, only this time it has nothing to do with fear or guilt or sadness. This lone tear is full of something much more positive. Happiness, courage, faith.

Love.

With that tear, I realize just how
in love
I am with Shane. Way past the moments of falling and landing dead center in the middle of the love’s bull’s-eye. How did it take six years for me to realize it?

“Shane,” I whisper.

“Shhh,” he says, slowly bringing his hand over to the hem of my pants, slipping them down over my hips, legs, and letting them pool at my ankles. His fingers brush my skin covered by only a thin layer of cotton.

“Let me show you how in awe of you I am,” he says, pulling the rest down.

He takes my hand, helping me step out of the clothing at my feet and lays me down on the bed, my legs falling off the edge. He falls to his knees and caresses my skin while simultaneously pulling my legs apart. A wicked smile tugs at his lips before his face gets lost between my thighs. My head falls back the second his tongue touches me and takes me to a place where nothing but this matters. My mind clears, only allowing these sensations to fill me. I leave my worries be for another time because even though he didn’t say those three little words again, being in awe of isn’t too bad either.

THE OUTDOOR TERRACE at Baoli on its own is one of the most beautiful spots in the city. With luscious small trees spread throughout the patio, full ferns sitting on top the half-walls for privacy, it feels more like you’ve landed in the middle of a secret garden instead of a restaurant not far from South Beach. I’ve been here once before, in the evening when the twinkle lights were on and the tableware was dark and sophisticated.

Today, in the middle of the afternoon, the terrace looks much different. The tables are covered in cream cloths with small hydrangea bouquets on each. The twinkling lights aren’t turned on but the branches from the trees all have large yellow tissue pompoms hanging from them. The chairs have white seat covers, each with alternating green and yellow bows. The terrace is set up for two hundred guests, even though my portion of the guest list only had thirty names on it. Regardless, all of this, the flowers, the food, the adorable cake, the gifts…it’s all for me.

The terrace would have been exquisite without all the added décor, but Baoli had no idea what they were in for the minute they let Charlotte Carlisle loose. The restaurant now looks like it belongs in a photo spread I’ve seen in gossip magazines. The ones where you get an inside peek at celebrity baby showers. But what Charlotte managed to created here today would give any of those Hollywood moms-to-be a run for their money.

“Wow,” I hear Holly’s impressed voice come from behind me. “She went
all-out
.”

I glance around the space once more. There’s even a fountain sprouting fruit juice in the corner. “Yes, she did.”

As soon as I step foot onto the terrace, Charlotte sees me and comes rushing over.

“Sweetie, you look absolutely lovely!” she says, kissing my cheek.

I smile, looking down at the gray maxi dress I have on. The top has a beautiful cream crochet design that helps keeps me cool during this summer heat. I look up at the trees in the middle of the terrace, thankful they cover the entire area with shade.

“And this,” she points to my headband, “is adorable!”

I touch the daisy petals on my head, smiling at how my look seems to completely fit the decor of the party.

“Thank you,” I answer. “Charlotte, this is—” I start but am unable to find the right words to describe what this woman has done for me today.

I always thought Shane was lucky to have a mother like Charlotte. A mother who would do anything for their child, love them fiercely. I never had that growing up. After the news broke to Shane’s parents about the baby, Charlotte has been nothing but most supportive and kind. She calls to check up on me, buys more things for the baby than I can keep track of or fit in my apartment and has taken me out to lunch several times within the last few months.

“Oh, honey, you deserve it. And so does my grandbaby,” she says, tapping my stomach.

“This looks amazing,” Holly pipes in beside me. “It definitely puts my shower to shame,” she says looking around.

“Hey,” I say insulted. “I helped plan that.”

Holly laughs, nudging my shoulder, letting me know she’s joking.

“Go ahead, look around. The rest of the guests are all starting to arrive. And try the mango papaya juice from the fountain. Oh and the mini quiche! I made sure the entire menu was pregnancy friendly. The goat cheese is pasteurized!” she says seriously.

I laugh. “I will try it all,” I promise.

She squeezes my hand briefly before heading off to speak with a few ladies who have walked in. They must be her friends because I don’t recognize any of them.

“She’s great,” Holly says.

I nod, smiling. “Yeah, she is.”

“Look,” Holly points to a table, “the mini quiche. Let’s go!” she says pulling me across the room to the food.

THERE ARE MOMENTS in life where not having a family of my own is felt stronger than others. Moments like when I graduated from college or law school. Or when I passed pass the bar exam. Holidays, weddings, celebrations. I imagined I would feel the same way at my own baby shower. Happy and excited, but like something was missing. I prepared myself for that feeling. It helped I had a lot of practice through the years, but just like all the other times, I told myself
Fuck
it
and not let it affect my day. I had a great core group of friends, co-workers I enjoyed. I had Shane and his family. I prepared myself to look at this day with the glass more than half full. What I didn’t expect was for the feeling something, someone, was missing to never come.

Today, I felt more included and more part of a family than I ever have. So much of that is because of Charlotte. Anything I could have asked for, dreamed of, all came true today. Even some I had never considered.

“Well then,” Charlotte says, coming to sit beside me at a table. “That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

I laugh, taking a sip from my virgin mojito. “No. It wasn’t.”

I look around the room, seeing women laughing and drinking and having a great time. I even see a few of Charlotte’s friends doting over Holly’s ring, asking her about the wedding.

“Charlotte, this was more than I could have asked for,” I tell her, overwhelmed at all she’s done. I turn, giving her my full attention. “I don’t even know how to thank you for today. Truly, I’m—I don’t—” Then finally, “You didn’t have to do all this.”

“Of course I did,” she says smiling. “But I didn’t do this because I had to. I did it because I wanted to. You are the mother of my grandchild. And that makes you just as precious to me as that baby in there.”

My lips break into a smile, my cheeks hurting. I do my best to keep my emotions at bay, not wanting to cry. It’s only harder when I see Charlotte trying for the same thing.

“I knew it,” she says, covering my hand with one of her own. “Years ago, I knew. I saw it.”

“What?”

“That you were the one. The one Shane would fall in love with. Start a family with. You were going to flip his world upside down. All those years ago when he brought you to the house, I knew it.”

I shake my head, reminding her that back then Shane and I were only friends.

“Yes, yes. Just friends.” She waves her hand, dismissing my words. “It didn’t matter,” she says. “Do you know that you are the only girl he’s ever brought home?”

I sit back a bit in my chair, surprised. “No. I didn’t know that.”

Charlotte smiles, like this bit of information only proves her point. “You are. The first and only. I remember telling Abel after you both left, ‘Watch what happens with those two.’” She laughs at the memory. “Of course it took a little longer than I thought it would, but everything happens for a reason. Even the most unexpected of things,” she adds, glancing down at my stomach.

I rest my hand over top the small mountain at my midsection. “This definitely was one of the most unexpected,” I say agreeing.

“Sometimes, the best things are.”

Charlotte’s faith in all things unexpected gives me some back as well. Maybe she’s right. Maybe Shane and I were always meant for more than just friendship.

“Maybe you’re right,” I agree. “Maybe this was all meant to be.”

“I think so.” She catches a glimpse of something behind me and her eyes light up a little. “Speaking of meant to be…”

I turn and look to see what’s caught her attention. Behind me a swarm of ladies have surrounded Shane who’s carrying the largest bouquet of white roses I’ve ever seen. I watch as he politely smiles, saying hello to everyone he passes. Hands reaching for his face, every one of them pulling him down to meet the kisses of fifty year old women. He slowly works his way through the crowd, his eyes looking to me every few minutes for help.

But I just sit and wait and laugh. It’s his turn to answer hundreds of questions.

He glares at me when he sees me refusing to get up, but it doesn’t stop him or his determined steps to reach me.

Once in front of me, I stand, greeting him with a kiss on the cheek, accepting the flowers. “I’m not sure you deserve them. Leaving me stranded like that,” he says into my ear.