Page 31 of She’s Worth the Risk

I take a long sip of wine, shifting my weight. I hadn’t thought that far ahead.

“Probably not. I’m only in town until the end of summer.”

Iris’s face falls. “That sucks. How can we convince you to stick around?”

Another uncomfortable laugh. “I don’t really do… sticking around. It’s not who I am.”

Poppy frowns, drawing breath to ask more, but Daisy cuts in, as if sensing my discomfort.

“Should we talk about the baby shower? I’ve got some ideas.”

The others nod in agreement, and we settle in around Iris’s coffee table with our wine.

“Sylvia is so kind to offer her place,” Poppy says.

“That’s Gran.” I smile. “She’s always been generous. Donates to local charities, volunteers at galleries…” I trail off, remembering our trip to the Met, when her friend said she hadn’t been in for ages. When she forgot about Poppy and the others visiting.

But I don’t want to dwell on that. Gran is the only stability I’ve ever known, the only constant in my life. I can’t even think about what it would mean to lose that.

Daisy gives me a gentle smile. “How’s she doing?”

“Good,” I say firmly.

Poppy and Daisy exchange a look, and I’m grateful when they don’t say anything more.

“Now,” Iris says, pulling out a notebook and a stack of Post-it notes. “What are we thinking for the baby shower?”

“First up, I think the guys should be invited,” Daisy says. “We all hang out as a group, and it would be weird to exclude them. I’m sure Kyle will want to be there, too.”

“Agreed,” Iris says, flipping open her notebook. “And women-only showers can feel a little outdated.”

Poppy glances at me. “Do you think Sylvia would mind?”

“No.” I think of Aidan, old enough to behave himself, but I don’t know the rest of them. “Unless your husbands will bring a frat-guy vibe?”

The women exchange amused glances.

“That’s not their style,” Poppy says with a chuckle. “But I was looking forward to a girls-only day.” She thinks for a moment. “Maybe we could do a girls’ night at Marco’s soon? A sort of last hurrah before Violet doesn’t sleep for months on end?”

Iris grins. “You just want another excuse to get out of the house.”

Poppy clinks her wine glass to Iris’s. “Not going to lie, I am. But I think Vi would enjoy a night out.”

Daisy nods. “I do, too. Kyle has been coddling her a little lately. Now,” she says, returning to the topic at hand. “The baby shower.”

“When do you want to have it?” I ask, and Poppy tilts her head in thought.

“She’s due early-October, so maybe mid-September?”

I nod, unable to bring myself to say what I’m thinking, that I’ll be gone by then.

“They don’t know the sex of the baby,” Daisy points out, “but I don’t think that matters. The baby shower needs to be more than your run-of-the-mill pastel colors and games. That’s not Violet’s style. It should be something that matches her sense of humor, and also makes her feel supported.”

“Poppy suggested mocktails and a masseuse,” Iris says, “but what else?”

“We could do a cute photo corner,” Daisy suggests. “I’ll supply the camera and props.”

“Love that.” Iris nods, scribbling it down.