LOGINI open the front door and smile widely. “Let me take that!” I insist. Lily and Pedro come into the house carrying drinks and snacks. “No need to upset the baby!” “I’m barely pregnant, Esme,” my best friend taunts. “Two months is nothing.” “As someone who’s had two babies, I can promise you that yo
“Save the kissing for your personal time!” I hear Annie prodding at me. We look over at her and Guillermo. Annie, to her credit, wasn’t lying about trying to get pregnant. Four months ago, she called us to say she was six weeks pregnant. Now, her bridesmaid dress shows off her baby bump. "How are
It’s a little more than a year later that Derek and I walk down the aisle. With Bea as our flower girl, Tris as our ring-bearer, and all the people we love watching, Derek and I say our vows. “What can I say that I haven’t before? You’re stronger than any woman who’s gone through the trauma you hav
“Thank you.” I take my time to get out of the car, but Derek is fast. He unbuckles Orchid in one swift movement. He hands over the baby and grabs my bag from where he left it next to her. Then, after locking his car, he holds out one hand to me. I’m touched by his sweet gestures today. He must kn
Esme Derek picks us up from the hospital a couple of days after giving birth. Walking again has been very challenging, but nothing beats holding my daughter in my arms after all this waiting. Bea and Tris both got to hold Orchid. Annie and Lily came to visit their little “niece.” My mom cried her
I’m overthinking this. I don’t even have a ring yet. Hell, I don’t know what kind of ring Esme would even want. Guess Annie and Lily are going to be helping me more than I thought. Hmm. She’s going to be here for at least a day or two. Maybe I’ll wait until she gets home. I pull out my phone to t
My arms are positively full of groceries. I’m doing my best not to walk into any walls or drop anything as I go. But I’m trying to do this in one trip. I look around my pile so I can see where I am in relation to the front door, but that’s the one mistake I shouldn’t have made because severa
“My girls really do like you,” he’s saying as he finishes looking through the pictures. “Oh?” I ask, feeling like a complete utter idiot as I try to find words to say to him. God, have I never spoken to another human being before? I’m starting to wonder just how bad my mood swings wi
My jaw falls open and I swear it refuses to return to its position. Why on earth is Derek my screensaver?! I widen my eyes and stare at my boss, incredulous. “Did you look through my phone, Derek?” At work, I’d opt to call him Mr. Anderson. But something about this has me stating his
He really is such an attractive man. “My best advice? Start preparing for a long battle. Be ready with the time, the energy, and the money. I know anxiety isn’t something you can cure with a snap of your fingers, but it can be tamed.” I turn my head sideways as if to question him.







