Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

A few more weeks had passed.

Daisy continued working exactly as she always had.

Long shifts. Late nights. Too much coffee.

The pregnancy hadn't slowed her down at all.

Which, according to Harper, was becoming a problem.

"You need to take it easy."

Daisy rolled her eyes as they walked through Central Park together.

"I'm fine."

Harper looked horrified.

"You worked twelve hours yesterday."

"That's normal."

"You're pregnant."

"I know."

"You keep forgetting that."

Daisy smiled despite herself.

Her sister had become even more protective since the pregnancy.

Not that Daisy minded.

Much.

Ahead of them, Harper's children raced down the path.

Poppy skipped happily between piles of fallen leaves while Theo ran after her carrying a stick he'd declared was a sword.

"Aunt Daisy!" Poppy shouted.

Daisy laughed.

"What now?"

"Theo says babies come out with teeth."

Theo looked offended.

"They can."

"No they can't."

"They might."

Harper groaned dramatically.

"Please stop educating each other."

The children ignored her completely.

Daisy smiled as she watched them.

She'd always loved spending time with Poppy and Theo.

But lately it felt different.

Now she found herself wondering what her own child would be like.

Would they be loud like Theo?

Dramatic like Poppy?

Or completely different?

The thought made her hand drift unconsciously to her stomach.

Harper noticed immediately.

"You're doing it again."

"What?"

"Thinking."

"I'm always thinking."

"Exactly."

Daisy laughed softly.

The park buzzed around them.

Families picnicked on the grass. Dogs chased tennis balls. Runners passed by beneath trees beginning to change colour.

For once, Daisy wasn't rushing somewhere.

Wasn't checking emails.

Wasn't thinking about work.

She was simply enjoying the day.

Harper nudged her shoulder.

"So."

Daisy immediately became suspicious.

"No."

"I haven't even said anything."

"You have a look."

"What look?"

"The planning look."

Harper grinned.

"The nursery."

Daisy groaned.

"We have time."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

Apparently becoming pregnant had somehow given Harper permanent authority over all decisions.

"I'm helping," her sister announced.

"I didn't ask."

"Good thing I wasn't asking permission."

Daisy laughed despite herself.

Because honestly?

She was grateful.

Even if she'd never admit it.

The thought of preparing for the baby still felt overwhelming sometimes.

The crib. The furniture. The tiny clothes.

Everything was happening so quickly.

Harper looped her arm through Daisy's.

"We'll do it together."

Emotion caught unexpectedly in Daisy's chest.

Because her sister always showed up.

Always.

After their parents died, Harper became her family and support system all in one.

And now she was doing it again.

Making sure Daisy never felt alone.

Suddenly Harper brightened.

"Oh!"

That was never a good sign.

"What?"

"I'm throwing you a baby shower."

Daisy stopped walking.

"No."

"Yes."

"I hate baby showers."

"You hate attention."

"Exactly."

Harper ignored her completely.

"And after your twenty-week scan we're doing a gender reveal."

Daisy looked horrified.

"A gender reveal?"

"It'll be cute."

"It'll be embarrassing."

"It'll be adorable."

"It'll be terrible."

Harper laughed loudly.

Poppy immediately appeared beside them.

"Can there be cake?"

"Absolutely," Harper answered.

Theo looked interested.

"Can there be dinosaurs?"

"It's a baby shower."

"So?"

Honestly, fair point.

Daisy shook her head while laughing.

The conversation continued as they wandered through the park together.

For the first time in a long time, the future didn't feel quite so frightening.

There was still fear.

Of course there was.

But now there was excitement too.

And as she watched Poppy and Theo running ahead beneath the autumn sunshine, Daisy found herself smiling.

Because maybe—

just maybe—

she was starting to look forward to becoming a mother. ❤️