Fable takes Kenzie from me to get her a cupcake. Gigi falls into step beside Fable, and I’m sure she’ll con another cupcake out of the woman. That girl is going to be throwing up before the afternoon is through, I can guarantee it.
There are so many gift bags and open boxes surrounding Ava by the time she’s through; she looks around helplessly, a giant smile on her face. “Thank you so much, you guys,” she calls out to everyone. “This baby is so loved.”
Among the murmurs of approval and the ‘you’re welcomes,’ I notice the one little bag sitting by the side of Ava’s throne, right by her foot.
“You missed one,” I call out.
Frowning, she glances around, but doesn’t spot it.
“Right there, baby.” I point at it and she looks down, snagging the tiny white gift bag by the handle and settling it into her lap.
“There’s no card.” Her gaze meets mine. “I don’t know who it’s from.”
“Open it,” I tell her, my heart starting to race when she peeks inside.
She pulls out a small lump wrapped in pale blue tissue, and slowly unfurls it to reveal…
A red baby onesie with the number one on the front, ‘Bulldog Fan’ written in script beneath the number.
“Aw, this is so cute.” Her gaze scans the crowd and there are people nodding in agreement, but no one claims the gift, which makes her frown once more. Her gaze finds mine again.
I stare back at her, filled with so much love for this woman, I can feel my eyes start to grow damp.
Aw, fuck. I’m gonna cry.
Ava rises to her feet and waddles through the sea of open boxes and gift bags, gently kicking them aside. She squeezes through two chairs, walks right past her daughter, who’s currently sitting in Fable’s lap with her face covered in white frosting, and only stops when she’s standing directly in front of me.
“When did you get this?” she whispers, holding the onesie up in her hand.
My wife is so smart. Always on to me, I swear.
“A really long time ago,” I whisper back, one tear tracking its way down my face.
Her eyes fill with tears too and she reaches for my face, wiping the single tear away with her thumb. “Oh Eli. I love it.”
“I think we’re having a boy.”
“I do too,” she murmurs, dipping her head so she can gaze at the onesie, the number one on the front of it. The sun glints off of her blonde hair and she’s never looked more beautiful. She traces her finger over the number one before lifting her head to meet my gaze once more. “You bought this after I told you that first time, huh?”
“Yeah. Never got a chance to give it to you. And then I didn’t want to make you sad. Eventually it got packed away during one of our moves. I found it about a year ago, but Kenz was too big to wear it. So I stashed it away in my closet, ready to bring it back out when the time was right.”
Ava shifts closer, leaning her head against my chest. I wrap my arm around her shoulders, pulling her even closer. “This is my favorite present by far.”
“You’re my favorite,” I whisper against her temple, kissing her there. “Don’t ever forget it.”
“How could I?” She smiles up at me. “You’ll never let me.”
“You’re damn right,” I say firmly, glancing down when I feel a little someone wrapping her arms around my leg. Without hesitation, I scoop up a frosting-covered Kenzie and hold her to me. “I got both my girls. Another baby on the way. What more do I need?”
“Nothing,” Ava says, reaching out to swipe at some frosting in Kenzie’s hair with a laugh. She cradles our daughter’s cheek with her hand, her shining eyes meeting mine once more. “Absolutely nothing.”