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“Oh, I’ve seen plenty of dresses that would look adorable on you, with or without a baby bump.” Larissa always tried to keep things light, but it wasn’t e helping this time. Not now, not with something so important.
“I never planned for it to be like this, I guess.” I willed myself not to cry. I had done more than my fair share of that lately.
“Amelia,” Melinda said, shaking her head, “you don’t have to go through with the wedding like it’s something you just have to check off a list.”
“No, Idohave to. I need to do this. It was my idea, and I’m going to see it through.” I nodded, resolute. “Ihaveto make this wedding happen.”
Melinda and Larissa didn’t understand. My parents weren’t speaking to me, even though I had a baby on the way. All of a sudden, my life was messy now, complicated.
The wedding was the one thing I could control.
“Look,” I said, forcing a small smile. “I’ve just been feeling emotional, that’s all. I didn’t mean what I said about the wedding being overwhelming. It’s fine. Really. I know you both just want what’s best for me, and I’m lucky that the best sisters in the world have my back. But I do want to plan this wedding, and I want to hold it before the baby comes.”
Larissa inhaled deeply and let out a heavy breath. “OK,” she said. “That’s your choice. We’ll support you either way.”
Melinda nodded her agreement, looking less than convinced.
“Hopefully by the time the wedding rolls around, Dad will forgive me so he can walk me down the aisle.” I felt my lower lip wobble, the emotions of pregnancy taking hold when I least needed them to. Larissa reached across the table for my hand, and Melinda leaned over to sling an arm around my shoulder.
“He’ll come around, sis,” Larissa said softly.
“He will,” Melinda agreed.
They could both sense my distress at the prospect of not having my father at my own wedding. If that were to happen…
Well, my heart might never be whole again.
Chapter 34
Nathaniel
“Shit–” I hissed after dropping a hammer on my foot. My stomach was growling, my back was hurting, and I was a sweaty mess from working upstairs all day at my house on a surprise for Amelia.
A nursery.
For years, I had used one of the spare bedrooms as an in-home massage room where I had a standing weekly appointment with my favorite mobile masseuse. Now that the baby was on the way, I wanted to convert it into a room for our little one.
I had picked out all the furniture knowing Amelia loved light woods and coordinated each of the accessories to match her favorite color yellow. It had to be gender neutral, since we wanted to be surprised when the baby was born. So, I looked up ideas for decorating a nursery and found a video tutorial that walked me through painting a wall mural I hoped she would like.
I wanted to have it all done before Amelia arrived for the special dinner I was going to prepare for her. I had stopped at the gourmet market on the way home from picking up a plush upholstered rocking chair for the room. Amelia had been craving spicy food, so I found a sweet potato chili recipe online and did all the chopping and prep work before I finished putting together the crib upstairs.
Everything was coming together for a special night in. It had been hard watching Amelia struggle lately. I was hopeful that making her a homey dinner and surprising her with the nursery would give her a boost.
After the fiasco that had happened with David, we both needed a night where we could just enjoy each other’s company. My friendship with David might be on the rocks, and it was possible that our bond would never be the same, but I had made a choice, and my choice was Amelia.
I jumped in a quick shower before she arrived and bounded down the stairs when I heard the doorbell ring. Swinging the door open, my heart skipped when I saw her glowing face, her cheeks rosy and chestnut hair in a loose ponytail, wearing a t-shirt and jeans with the diamond studs I bought her.
“Hi,” she said quietly as I pulled her in close.
“Hi.” We shared a kiss, long and promising, until Amelia pulled away, inhaling.
“Is that chili?” Her eyes went wide, and her brows shot up to her hairline.
“Homemade.” I watched a grin overtake her face as we headed to the kitchen. “I hope you like cornbread,” I said, checking the oven as Amelia opened the lid of the pot to peek at dinner.
“Mmm, I’m hungry,” she said, then she chuckled. “I’malwayshungry these days.” I watched as she rubbed her belly. A warm feeling bloomed in my chest.
“Come with me.” I took her hand and covered the pot, letting it simmer.
