Page 92 of My Girlfriend is Not the Father

‘Lucy. Sunshine. Green.’ The kisses stopped and a firm hand squeezed her tush. ‘You have to get up. It’s time.’

‘Grrr …’ Lucy tried to groan, but a soft giggle escaped instead. ‘Seriously, who schedules a one-year birthday party for 10 a.m. on a Saturday?’

Jade laughed. Because clearly she also knew the start time was ridiculous. ‘The dads are very serious about keeping Lucille’s nap schedule, aren’t they?’

That was the understatement of the century. The nap schedule, the all-organic homemade food, the acceptance of Jade’s terrible advice on vegetarian cooking … they even made the poor kid eat sweet potatoes and peas for God’s sake! The second the baby could have dairy, Lucy was sneaking her some ice cream.

‘That nap schedule is designed with complete and total disregard for every other human on the planet.’ Lucy rolled onto her back. ‘Drew and Mason are so turning into those dads. What’s next? A participation award for every month she doesn’t get potty trained?’

‘Um, I think that is a few years away,’ Jade said.

Lucy wiggled the sheet down, past her naked chest and to her navel. ‘Are you sure you want to leave …’

‘Mmmmm,’ Jade murmured and licked the corner of her lip. ‘Nope, sure don’t.’

Lucy would never, ever get sick of the way Jade looked at her, the way her hazel eyes darkened until they were damn near ravenous. She thought when Jade moved into her house a few months after Lucy gave birth that their sex life would eventually slow.

She thought wrong.

‘You fight so dirty, Ms Green. But I promise I’ll make it up to you when we get home.’ Jade licked then blew into the crook of Lucy neck, in the place that always made Lucy squirm. ‘I’ll take Chucky for a walk while you’re in the shower and put the gifts in the car, okay?’

Lucy grinned and dragged herself out of bed. Was she excited to see the little peanut? Definitely. Did it still suck getting up at 8 a.m. on a Saturday to get ready? Yep.

These last six months had been such a whirlwind for both her and Jade that sleeping in on the weekend was a reward. When Lucy got the bank managerial job right over the holidays, it was simultaneously everything she dreamed of with the hours she feared. After many, many heart-to-heart talks and even a few couples counselling sessions (who knew you could pre-emptively do couples counselling before any issues started?), she and Jade both committed to maintaining a healthy work-life balance, and prioritising their relationship as much as possible, which was proving a tad difficult for a while with both of their rising careers. But finally, these last two months, things have settled into a routine.

A beautiful, most often, delicious routine.

After winning the award for the Best Salon of the Greater Twin Cities, Jade’s salon started booking out longer and longer lead times. An investor even approached Jade about opening a chain, but she declined for now. However, she did expand the store hours and hired an assistant manager to help with the paperwork and basic manager duties so Jade could cut back on her hours. For the first time in years, Jade worked a solid nine-to-five with no weekends.

And trust Lucy when she says they waste no time on the weekends making sure they are still aligned.

***

An hour later, Lucy rolled Betty Yellow into Drew and Mason’s neighbourhood. When she turned the block, her breath hitched. ‘Jesus …’

Jade covered her nearly cartoon-wide grin with her hand. ‘Don’t even say it. They’re just … excited.’

‘I mean, obviously. But wowza!’ Not that Lucy expected anything less but leading up to the house – starting from the mailbox through the driveway and up to the entrance – it looked like a jumbo jet-sized pink piñata had cracked open and rained down on the property. Lollipop lawn ornaments, a balloon arch that rivalled a high-school prom, a chalkboard ‘happy birthday’ sign, a bubble machine … and they couldn’t even spot where the party was being held.

Lucy actually kind of loved it. Sure, it was a lot, but she loved every time she and Jade visited their home; the place bounced with joy. Lucy interlaced her fingers with Jade and tugged. ‘I cannot wait to see what the backyard looks like.’

‘Oh my God, me too,’ Jade said, picking up her pace. ‘Do you think they actually—’

‘Got the pony?’ Lucy chuckled. ‘Honestly, I’ve known Drew my whole life, and I still don’t know if he was kidding.’

Over the last year, Lucy watched as the love of her life fell in love with the men. They all bonded more than Lucy could’ve ever dreamed, and Jade especially gravitated towards Mason. But, not as much as Jade gravitated towards Lucille. Jade was a full-on doting auntie superstar, sucking up every second she could with the baby.

Oh wow … okay, if the front yard was pretty spectacular, the backyard was downright phenomenal. In front of them lay a pink-and-white wonderland: a cotton-candy machine with a guy in a white chef hat scooping cones for kids, white-linen–clothed tables with pink-and-white place settings, balloons, flowers, a cake that rivalled Harry and Meghan’s wedding cake, and more bubbles. So many freaking bubbles.

Out of the corner of her eye, Lucy saw Jade scan the fifty-plus attendees until she locked eyes with Lucille, who was tucked into a white baby gown with a pink bow wrapped around her bald head. Jade dropped Lucy’s hand like it was sticky and beelined across the law. ‘Ah! Sweet girl! Come to Auntie,’ she said, holding out her arms. And of course, as always, Lucille’s face lit up the moment she saw her Auntie Jade.

‘Oh, hi guys, good to see you, too,’ Jade said to the dads and smooched the top of Lucille’s head.

Seeing this side of Jade brought so much sparkly joy to Lucy that sometimes she felt like she’d tip right over. Of course she loved Lucille, just like she’d love any of her close friends’ kids. No more, no less. But Jade loved Lucille, with a straight-up capital L.

After the birth, everyone seemed to ask Lucy if she had a special bond with the baby, and she’d always smile and say, ‘Of course! She’s my best friend’s baby.’

But the truth was no. Yes, she loved Lucille, but there was no bond, no connection, no longing that folks warned her about when she first signed up to be a surrogate. And it was perfect.