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“I don’t want to go anywhere, Lucan,” she had whined just this morning.
“But it’s your birthday, baby. I want to treat you to the best day ever.”
“Can’t I get it belated after the baby comes? I feel like a walking heavy-duty truck!”
“And you’re the most gorgeous truck ever! Now be a good girl and let me love on you. Okay? I want you to be pampered like the queen you are. And Lola’s going to take good care of you.”
“But it’s so hot and humid today.”
“You’re going to be traveling in air-conditioned comfort.”
“I don’t want to be around anyone right now. I’m so gassy!”
“Well, thank goodness it’s a weekday and the salon will be scanty.” I keep her in the dark about the fact that I have actually booked the salon for her exclusively because I know she is self-conscious right now.
“And—”
“And I don’t want to hear any more excuses. You and Lola will have one last shopping hurrah before the baby comes. And I won’t take no for an answer.”
And so, I had shooed her out of the house and into Lola’s car a mere five minutes before ‘Attila’ descended with her crew. As far as Summer knows, they are shopping for an outfit for me to take her out to a formal dinner this evening. And after the shopping, they are to relax at the spa. Then she is to come home to get ready for dinner. All of that she knows. But there are some surprises waiting for her. As a matter of fact, there are some surprises waiting for everyone. I turn away from the scene below as my phone rings.
“Hello?”
“Lucan!”
I laugh. “Yes, baby?”
“I love you. And I love my bouquet that has been growing throughout the day.”
“I love you too, sweetheart. And I can’t wait to see you in a few hours.”
“Okay.”
“See? Today was not so bad after all, was it?”
“No, it wasn’t. I’ve got to go. They want my hands.”
“Okay, love.”
I hang up and look up as Sylvia clears her throat.
“I’m very happy for you and Summer, Lucan. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this happy outside of when you open a new club. You’re an awesome man and you deserve this.”
“Thank you.”
“Let me go relieve Emily and see what Ryan is up to. He loves his little tuxedo, by the way, and is so excited about going to a fancy restaurant.”
“I can bet he is.”
“I can’t wait to get all dolled up myself,” She giggles and touches her hair.
I watch as she almost floats out of the room. I begin to ponder the evening ahead. It has been hard doing this alone. But I have gotten the plans to this point. In a few more hours, it will all be over.
At exactly six o’clock, I receive word that the first guests have started to arrive. They are confined to a huge tent at the bottom of the garden and their vehicles parked behind it and out of anyone’s sight. There is one particular guest who I have shown to my office after I am sure the coast is clear, and that person remains confined there with a maid serving refreshment.
Summer has been taking a nap since she got home around five. I watch her sleep, one hand on her stomach. Beneath the oversized shirt she wears, the baby is visibly moving. We have both decided that we want to be surprised by the gender at birth. So there has been no gender reveal party. At the shower a month ago, the gifts had been in gender neutral colors.
I lie beside her and place my hand on her stomach. A wave of emotion rushes through me as I feel our child move. I could stay here forever. But the plans for the evening now need to be executed. I stroke her arm gently.
