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I bite my lip and nod. “Are you okay with that? I know you imagined a boy first.”
“Are you kidding? A little girl with your smile? I couldn’t be happier.”
Brandon comes over with Emily, pretending to cry.
“What’s wrong with him? I thought he was hoping for a girl.”
He groans audibly. “I was until I realized I’m so fucked. A mini Holden is dangerous enough, but a little girl who looks like you and Holden? I’ll never make it out alive.”
“Oh, shush.” Heather interrupts. “I’m having a granddaughter!”
And then it hits me. I’m going to have a daughter.
A COUPLE DAYS AFTER the reveal, Emily and Brandon stick around to help us shop and set up the nursery. Thankfully, Holden pretty much leaves all decisions to me. We choose a pale pink and gold theme, fully inspired by how gorgeous Skylar and Dawson’s wedding was. The guys spend a full day painting the room so that I’m able to work on the rest while H is away at Hockey.
“What about Jessa?” Holden suggests.
I shake my head. “No. Esther?”
Emily snorts but H holds his demeanor. “Are you giving birth to an 83-year-old, or a baby?”
“Irma?”
He face-palms. “Thank God she has me to tell you that your name choices are atrocious.”
Brandon holds up the one side of the crib while Holden screws it into place. Meanwhile, Emily and I are attempting to put together the dresser drawers. Who knew nursery furniture could be so complicated. Em suggests her and I just go shopping instead, but Skylar and Bree said I’m not allowed. They’re planning a baby shower that I’m not supposed to know the details of, and if I shop now, they won’t have anything left to buy me.
“Which way do you want the changing table?” Brandon asks me after they’re done with the crib. “It’s interchangeable.”
I try to picture myself changing the baby’s diaper, and answer accordingly. He nods and returns to what they were doing. I, however, need a break. There’s only so much a pregnant woman can do.
LATER THAT EVENING, THE four of us are sitting around and watching a movie. Holden isn’t paying much attention, though – too busy scrolling through hundreds of baby names.
“What about Juliana?” He suggests.
I cringe. “Not my type. Gertrude?”
He raises one eyebrow. “Have you lost your ever-loving mind?”
“What?! It’s cute.”
“No. No, it’s not. Gertrude Rivers, it sounds like an old lady babysitter.”
I laugh. “Okay, then what about River?”
“River Rivers? Seriously?”
“At the rate you two are going, your daughter is going to be named ‘Female’ on her birth certificate.” Brandon comments.
After the movie ends, H and Bran leave to pick up dinner. As soon as we hear Holden’s loud car pull away, Emily turns to me with a knowing look on her face.
“What?” I question innocently.
“Gertrude? River Rivers?”
I throw my head back, laughing. “What? They’re c
ute.”
