Page 8 of The Golden Hour

“Most people forget that you’re literally growing a human,” Fia had told Honey on the phone when she called to apologize for not being able to be at the shower. “They’re lucky we don’t commit one murder every day with the pain it comes with.”

It was a nice thought, but Honey wasn’t one to allow herself that kind of grace. Or at least her thoughts wouldn’t grant it to her, despite her heart telling her to be kind to herself. Her normal optimism was nowhere to be found these days.

“Thank you so much, Mom,” Honey says to Marlene, who bends to kiss her forehead.

“You are so welcome,” she says with a smile. Mason’s smile. The smile Honey hoped Daisy would have because she adored it so much.

Honey immediately deflates and shakes her head to clear it, but then regrets that motion when it makes her brain spin. She clenches her teeth and swallows down the saliva building under her tongue. Black spots dot across her vision for a moment, and she closes her eyes to clear her head.

“Honey?” Marlene asks, brushing a piece of hair from her sweaty forehead.

“I’m fine,” Honey chokes out, reaching for her water.

Marlene grabs it and hands the bottle to Honey, who takes a sip before resting the cool plastic against her forehead. The hum of the party guests is irritating, too loud and too bright combined with the pounding in her head, and she takes deep breaths until her stomach stops turning.

“Do you want ginger ale?”

“No,” Honey whispers, giving her mother-in-law a small smile. “I’m okay now.”

Marlene sighs and glances around the room, and her eyes dim slightly. “Do you want me to call him again?”

“He won’t answer,” she shrugs. She already called him twice. And texted three times. It was understandable; it was a Sunday. It could be busy. Sundays in the summer always meant barbecues, pool accidents, sunburns, drunk men doing stupid things near water because they suddenly thought they were twenty again.

But he said he would be here.

“I’m his mother,” Marlene huffs, shaking her head. “I brought him into this world; I can take him out. He’ll answer me.”

Honey shakes her head and paints the smile back onto her face. She wonders if it looks as painful as it feels. Neither Marlene nor her mother looks convinced.

“He said he would be here at the end to help bring this home,” Honey says with more confidence than she feels. “He’ll be here.”

Honey glances around the party, appreciating the beautiful garden-themed decorations.

Baby In Bloom — Welcome to Honey’s Baby Shower.

They had rented a hall for the baby shower they had to cancel, so Honey said she could just go without a baby shower, not wanting to inconvenience anyone again. Her mother had shot that down immediately and said they would have it at their house, which Honey was thankful for. She knew where every bathroom was, and if she got dizzy, she could go upstairs and lie down on the bed in her childhood bedroom.

“This one is for you.” Melissa walks up then and shares a smile with Marlene. “It’s a joint gift from both of us.”

Honey frowns in confusion, taking the small velvet box from her mother.

“It’s Daisy’s baby shower,” Honey protests lightly, glancing back and forth between the women, and trying to push down the tears gathering in her eyes. She’s failing spectacularly as she feels one tear slip down her cheek. And she hasn’t even opened the gift yet.

“No, it’s your baby shower,” Marlene gently cups her chin. “You’re doing all the work growing this little girl. You deserve to be celebrated.”

“So let us spoil you a little, honeybee,” Melissa says with a bright, proud smile.

When Honey opens the box, she gasps and glances up at her moms.

“You—this is…”

Melissa smiles and takes the necklace from the box while Marlene lifts Honey’s hair, working together to secure it around her neck. Once the partygoers see what it is, it just starts a whole new round of oohing and ahhing.

Honey presses two fingers to the charms and looks at her mom with teary eyes.

It’s a simple, delicate gold chain with a honeypot charm and a daisy charm.

“So even when you’re not carrying your little girl anymore,” Melissa says, gently pressing a hand to Honey’s belly.