Pretty Hurts (Left 1.50)

“We’re just putting one white rose, surrounded by baby’s breath, right?” I say, remembering the post she’d pinned on her board online.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“That’s easy enough.” We begin to clip the white roses bundled on the table between her.

“So you and Edgar seem to be getting pretty serious.”

I glance toward the door to make sure our conversation can’t be overheard.

“We are. I didn’t know I could be so happy with a man. I always saw them as a restraint I didn’t want or need. Someone I needed to be accountable to held no appeal. But it’s not like that with Edgar.” I pause as I try to find the right words. “He’s there to support me, lend advice, and be brutally honest when I need it. It’s like what we have but not platonic in any sense of the word.”

“I’m happy to hear that. You two are a good match. Still can’t believe Houston is the one who gets to take credit for that,” Liv mumbles.

“Ha. If it helps, it don’t think the match-making was intentional.”

“It doesn’t matter to him. He’s so proud, I wouldn’t rob him off his joy.”

“That’s adorable.”

“Isn’t it?” Liv asks.

“How are you feeling?”

“Full. Think of your biggest pig out session, then times it by two and imagine you can’t digest it all.”

I cringe. “I’ll pass.”

“Yeah, and we’re not even talking about the alien effect when you feel the baby moving in your belly.”

The image gives me the heebie jeebies. “Stop, you’re creeping me out.”

She barks a laugh. “All right, I’ll stop.”

We spend the rest of the morning catching up. The guests begin to arrive just before noon. I play secondary hostess, running drinks to people, and making sure the finger foods stay stocked, so my best friend can enjoy her moment to shine. Motherhood has been a long time dream she’d begun to lose hope in. Seeing her dream come full circle fills my heart with joy.

“How you doing, darling?” Edgar asks, slipping up behind me.

“Good. Look at how happy she is.”

“If two people ever deserved it, it’s them,” he says.

“If we can have you all step outside, we’ll get down to the reason we’re all here,” Houston calls out to the group.

I rub my hands together.

We all walk outside. I lean back against Edgar as Liv and Houston light the smoke bomb. Leave it to these two to be creative. I hold my breath while the wick catches and burns down. Blue smoke billows out.

“It’s a boy,” Houston yells.

We all clap.

“Yes! I’m getting a brother,” Phoenix cheers as he runs around the yard. I laugh. Little man is getting more testosterone as requested. The cake with blue coloring inside is cut and passed around and we open the presents on our sugar highs. I can see Liv’s energy waning as she walks guests to the front door.

I stand from the couch. “I’m going to start cleaning up.”

“I’ll help,” Edgar says.

I admire his thoughtfulness once more. It’s a rare quality in these self-centered times. I kiss his cheek and force myself to concentrate on the task at hand. Our time will come later tonight. Little fairies dance in my belly as I think of the night that awaits us.