END OF MARCH

Sadie is now two weeks old and we decided to put together a little co-ed baby shower for Jimmy and Tiff since we didn’t do one before. Candy and I had talked about doing something before the baby was born, but Tiff and Jimmy were so nervous about the birth parents changing their minds, so we decided to wait. Now that Sadie is safe in their arms and all the needed paperwork was signed, we started planning a party.

Everybody is beyond excited that we’re adding a new addition to the family as well. I’m only 14 weeks pregnant, but over the last two weeks I have gone from ‘ate too much at dinner’ to ‘there is definitely something else going on down there.’ I also officially moved in with Wes, which is weird because he’s still living in the ranch house with Betsy and Raymond, but it works for us.

Today I’m driving Annabelle to the bakery so we can pick up the cake that Kathy made for the baby shower. I was going to do it, but she told me I wasn’t allowed to work on family events and she would take care of it. She’s right though, I’d probably end up trying to make my own wedding cake and baby shower cake if somebody didn’t step in and physically stop me.

“Mommy?” Annabelle says with a huge grin. I’m still not totally used to being called mommy, but she loves it and if I’m being honest, I do too.

I glance in the rear view mirror to her car seat in the back, “Yes, Annabelle?”

“Can Baby Sadie eat cake?”

“No. Most babies can’t have cake until they are about a year old.”

“If she can’t eat cake, then why did we get her a cake?”

“Good question. I guess it is just kind of a cake for everybody to celebrate that Sadie is with us, not for Sadie.”

“I don’t think that makes sense.”

I chuckle a bit, “It does sound a little funny, doesn’t it?”

“Are we all going to get in Auntie Tiff’s shower?”

I seriously love the innocence of this child, she is always saying things that make me laugh. “No sweetie, they call it a baby shower because we shower the new baby with lots of gifts and love. Not a real shower like what adults take.”

“Oh,” she pauses for a second and then speaks up again. “Are you going to have a baby shower too?”

“Yes, I probably will. Auntie Tiff and Miss Stacy will probably put together one for this baby.”

That seems to be all the questions that she has for now. We finish the drive into town and I park in the alleyway behind the bakery. I help her out of her car seat and hold her hand as we walk through the back door. Gio is carrying a tray of muffins and waves at us as he heads to the front.

“Hey, Holly! Hey there, Annabelle!” Annabelle giggles and hides behind my leg. She’s got a little crush on Gio.

“Hey, Gio! Where is Kathy?”

“Kathy is right here!” From the front of the store, Kathy hollers at us. We follow Gio as he puts the muffins away in the display case. He even pulls one out to give to Annabelle and she blushes.

“Why don’t you go sit down at the table while Miss Kathy and I talk?” Annabelle nods and prances off the the table and begins to pick at her cupcake.

“How are you feeling?” Kathy turns her attention back to me.

“Great! Very excited about the baby shower.”

“What about your baby?” She glances down at my belly and I find myself resting my hand on my small bump.

“Doing good. I can’t believe it is growing in there, but I’m guessing in less than a month it’ll be full-blown obvious.”

“You’re going to look beautiful, even if you don’t always feel that way,” she adds with a nudge.

“Thank you, Kathy.”

“You’re welcome, sweetheart. Now, let’s get this cake all boxed up and in your car.”

“Yes, please!” I look over at Gio still filling the display case with goodies. “Gio, do you mind keeping an eye on her for a minute?”

“No problem, boss.”

I wince, “Don’t call me that!”

“Sorry, habit.”

Once the cake is settled into the trunk, Gio walks Annabelle out to the car and I get her buckled in and we head back to Valley View. I know it has only been two weeks and I’ve been here almost every day, but I kind of miss Harlington. My family is in Valley View though, so I need to be there too. It certainly wouldn’t feel right to be pregnant with Wes’s baby and have Annabelle call me mommy, but I still live on my own, away from them.

Back at the ranch, I help Annabelle out of her car seat and she runs off into the barn to find Wes as I take the cake into the house. Betsy has spent the morning decorating and it looks like a real-life fairy godmother has been here. There are splashes of pink and gold everywhere. It is just perfect for Miss Sadie.

“I saw Raymond tending to the smoker while I was outside. It is smelling good,” I say to her as I enter the kitchen and put the cake on the kitchen island.

“I tried to tell him everybody loves his butt, but he just makes this grunting sound and hardly smiles.”

I laugh at her, “Maybe he’d like you to emphasize the pork butt of that sentence?”

“He’s got no sense of humor, I tell ya!”

By the time the party fully begins the house is full of friends and family. Jimmy and Tiff are sitting at the front of the living room and everybody is getting the chance to hold Sadie. We aren’t doing any of those party games they do at other showers, but there are gifts to open. LOTS of gifts to open. Stacy and I went a little overboard, but Wes said it was just payback from everything Candy and Tiff bought him when he had Annabelle.

Finally, it is my turn to hold Sadie. I’ve held her a dozen times already, but it never gets old. I run my finger over her little bald head, feeling the peach fuzz that barely is beginning to form. I cannot believe soon I’m going to have one of these too. Wes puts his arm around me and kisses my cheek. He then puts his finger into Sadie’s hand and she wraps her hand around his giant finger. He’s such an amazing dad, I cannot wait to give him the opportunity again.

“I hope you have a girl!” Tiff says as she watches us. “I bet she and Sadie would be best friends since they’ll only be like 6 months apart.”

“No way, it is time for a boy baby up in here,” Bobby comments, even though he is clearly not involved with this baby at all.

“I don’t know, all you guys seem to be head over heels for all these little girls.”

Tyler adds to the conversation “I wouldn’t mind another little girl. I’ve got my small fry, my nugget, maybe I can get a tater tot next.”

Candy laughs and leans in against Tyler’s shoulder. “You should stop nicknaming these kids food names.”

“Why? I think it fits them. What do you think small fry?”

“I like fries!” Annabelle exclaims.

“See, what did I tell ya?” Tyler puffs his chest out. Tyler picks up Annabelle and sets her on his lap. She lays her head on his chest and Tyler looks like he’s in heaven. Now THAT is a guy who is going to make a great dad someday.

“So in a few months, I get to throw you one of these?” Tiff wiggles her eyebrows.

“I guess so. Crazy to believe, huh?”

“Only one more month until we find out what tater tot is,” Wes puts his hand on my knee.

“Oh my gosh, don’t start calling the baby that too!”

Wes laughs and moves his hand to my growing bump and gives a little squeeze. “What, it fits?”

“Yeah until tater tot comes out all like 8 pounds or something like that,” I scoff.

“Nothing wrong with an 8-pound tater tot, Holly. I’d be all for that shit.” I roll my eyes and we all laugh at Tyler.

Wes leans in and whispers in my ear, “I love you.”

I look at him and grin. “I love you too.”

“How much?”

“What do you mean how much?” I give him a confused look as he stands up, just to turn around and get down on one knee in front of me. “Wes!”

“First of all, don’t get mad at me for stealing their moment, I asked Tiff and Jimmy and they said I could do this.” I glance over at the two of them and they are nodding. I look back at Wes, already with tears in my eyes.

“Holly, I’m going to keep this short and simple. I love you and I love the way you love Annabelle. You’re already an amazing mom and I’m so lucky I get to raise this one with you too. The only thing that could complete our family is if you would marry me. So, will you be my wife?”

He opens the ring case to show a small solitaire ring with a band that I recognize right away. I gasp and grab the box, “Oh my god Wes, how did you get that?”

“I may have met up with your sister without you knowing.” The tears can’t be stopped, they fall down my face and I can hardly see through my happy and sad tears.

“Yes, Wes, yes I will marry you!” Wes slides the ring on my finger and pulls me in for a kiss and then holds me for a long hug. When we finally separate Annabelle is climbing on my lap to give me a hug too.

“Mommy, why are you crying? Aren’t you happy?”

I brush away tears and give her a big kiss on her cheek. “I’m so happy sweetheart. This ring that your daddy got for me is a very special ring that used to belong to my mommy before she passed away.”

Annabelle pulls my hand up and she examines the ring. “It’s pretty.”

“It is pretty.” I reach over and rest my hand on his cheek. “Thank you, Wes.”

“I knew it is what you would have wanted. I love you, darling.” The three of us squeeze into a big hug as our friends and family clap for us and give us all the well wishes in the world.