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Abby had been more careful with how she dealt with Seth too. He could only visit Hunter if it was scheduled in advance and if Hunter was okay with it.
“What’s the cake for?” Brody asked, seemingly unaffected by the fact his world was about to change.
“We thought it would be fun to find out whether the baby is a boy or girl,” Abby said.
“So, the cake is pink or blue?” Brody asked, taking a seat at the table when Abby grabbed the cake knife from the box.
“That’s the idea,” Abby said with a smile. “Now, who wants to do the honors?”
“I want to,” Brody said.
“Me too,” Hunter added.
“You can both cut the cake.” She handed them the knife, showing them how to cut it. They sliced it and began to lift it from the box. It felt like my heart was in my throat as I waited for the icing to give way to the cake inside.
My eyes pricked with tears to see the pink.
“A little girl,” Abby said, her tone filled with wonder.
“A girl,” Brody said, a little disgusted.
“I was hoping for a boy,” Hunter said quietly.
“I’m excited for a little girl. She’ll bring something different to the family.” To me, the baby represented our family coming together. She represented our future.
The boys grumbled some more as Abby helped them get the pieces of cake on the plates. Then she turned to me.
“I’m so happy,” Abby said as I kissed her.
“I am too.” We had the boys and now a little girl on the way. We owned the house we would live in together. There was nothing else I wanted in life but what was in the kitchen.
I pulled her into my body, watching as the boys demolished their pieces of cake and asked for another.
The boys would need reassurance that we were there to stay. That we had their backs. And that bringing a sister into the world wouldn’t change things for them. She would add more love and joy to our world. The boys would show her how to walk and run and ride a bike. She would be spoiled beyond belief. I couldn’t wait.
For the first time, I was living life on my terms, not someone else’s. I was doing what I wanted to do. Planting roots. Making plans for the future. And I was excited about it.
* * *
ABBY
During the second trimester, I wasn’t as tired. In fact, I got that nesting urge that everyone talked about. Instead of planning the nursery, I had a sudden and urgent need to create that coffee table book Nick had suggested. I’d started selling my prints online with a service that handled shipping and framing. It generated a lot of interest.
We spent weekends exploring Annapolis and the surrounding area, so I had a lot of pictures to choose from for the book. Brooke helped me research how to publish it, which pictures to choose, and what the captions should say. I spent hours deciding on the perfect images and placement.
I was adamant that it be completed before the baby was born. I knew I wouldn’t be able to do as much once she was there, and I wanted to see the book on my coffee table when I nursed her. I wanted the sense of accomplishment I knew I’d get doing it.
I wasn’t just a wedding or event photographer. I was a nature photographer with published work. I’d have multiple streams of income, and I’d feel more settled taking time off. Gia hired another photographer to cover a few months, so I could spend time with our baby. I planned to return to work after three months. I was flexible, only needing to go in for consultations and weddings.
I had Nick, Brooke and Ben, and my family to help me. Our love would expand to fit our little girl into our lives. I knew she’d bring us unmeasurable amounts of joy. The boys were apprehensive about having a girl and all the pink that might come with her, but I assured them that she’d probably be a tomboy with them as brothers. Or she’d be a princess, and they’d love her anyway.
I had faith in their ability to show her the love that they’d missed in their lives. The little girl would be so loved by us, our extended family, and our friends.
Nick came up behind me while I finished securing my dangling earrings. “Are you ready to go to your party?”
I smiled at him in the mirror. “I can’t wait to see the finished product.”
Brooke received the first shipment of books and insisted on a celebration at her new business, Market Tavern. She served wine and light fare and specialty items in her shop, including local history books. She would be the first store to carry my book.
