Page 86 of SnowBound

The baby pushed through the wall of my stomach with either a knee or an elbow, and I pushed it back gently. We did this dance three more times.

I laughed my heart out. “I guess it’s a yes.”

* * *

Facing the door, I rolled my shoulders back and exhaled. This was it. The moment I hoped my life would make sense again. I wrapped a shaky hand around the doorknob, and using the key I got earlier, I unlocked the door. Frozen on the threshold, I took it all at once. My new apartment was tiny—the only size I could afford in this city—but it was home. All mine. The place came simply furnished with a two-person round table, black appliances, a brown suede couch, a rectangular coffee table, a TV mounted over a console, a bookshelf, and bed frames in the bedrooms along with a nightstand and dresser. A small electric fireplace with a wooden mantle was set in one corner of the living room section, next to a window that offered enough daylight to light up the entire place.

My hands cradled my seven-month-pregnant belly while I spoke to my baby as I toured the place. “I can’t wait for you to see we have a home. It’s not a castle, but it’s perfect for us. You’ll have your own bedroom. We’ll make it ours. I have a few decor ideas for the nursery that I’m sure you’re going to approve of.”

My fingertips traced the walls as I entered and exited every room and looked around, unable to tame the smile taking over my face. With my arms stretched out on either side of me, I twirled on myself as I returned to the living room, laughing so much, my face hurt.

“You hear that, baby? This is me. Being happy. And hopeful.”

With a pep in my step, I went outside to grab my stuff from the car I’d rented for the day. I unlocked the doors with the key fob when two hands covered my eyes from behind. I yelped. A loud chuckle resonated from behind me. One I’d recognize anywhere.

Turning around, I embraced Ellie as much as I could with the baby in the way. “Elles, what are you doing here?”

She mirrored my grin. “First, you look like you’re about to burst any second, but you are beautiful, girl.” She pushed my hair away from my face and studied my expression for a beat. “You look tired but happy. Second, did you really think I would let you move in all by yourself while you are seven months pregnant?”

I blinked. “How—when—what?”

“Martha. I called the shelter. She told me when you were moving out. I wanted to surprise you.”

Emotions welled in my eyes. “You succeeded.” I enveloped her in my arms again. “Ohmygod, I missed you so much, you have no idea.”

She squeezed me tight. “Me too. So much to tell you. Sorry I was busy the last couple of weeks. I’m done with that internship now, and I’m all yours.”

“For how long are you staying?” Now that she was here, the idea of Ellie leaving to go back to college stung.

“A week.”

“You’re staying with me, right?”

“Gurrrl, I wouldn’t wanna be anywhere else.”

She let go of me and pivoted to open the car’s back door, lifting a box labeled Bedroom in her arms. I tried to do the same, but she tipped her hip to close the door.

“Hey,” I protested.

“You are pregnant. Let me do the heavy lifting.”

“Nothing is heavy, I swear. I can do this.”

“Nope. The only thing you are allowed to do is to open the food delivery app on your phone and order us lunch while I get everything inside.”

“But—”

She put her best Don’t argue with me face on.

“Fine. We’ll do it your way. This time only, though.”

She smirked. And padded toward the front door of the building as I hurried after her. After a dozen trips to and from the rental car, Ellie slouched on the couch just as the delivery guy rang the buzzer to announce the pizza had arrived.

“Hungry?” I asked my friend.

“Starving.”

We set the box on the coffee table in the living room, and with our legs stretched over its surface, we grabbed a slice each.