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
I rub as much sleep out of my eyes as possible, staring at my reflection while I stagger another yawn. Sleep has evaded me again, and I groan with the realization I have a long day ahead of me. I’m not sure what exactly is causing this painful insomnia: the embarrassment of what happened wit
“Oh, of course!” He says, seemingly understanding that it’s time to go. “Sorry!” “No, don’t worry!” I reply back, feeling somewhat bad for making him think whatever it is he’s now feeling. “I actually have a lot of work to do, and I didn’t even realize the time.” Is that the
“Okay, do you have your receipts for those purchases?” Daniel asks, looking up from a pile of papers on my kitchen table to look at me. I look down, shuffling through the different stapled packets. “It should be here somewhere.” “Then we’ll put that with this information here and inc
Now, it’s my turn to be confused. “That would have been silly. I wasn’t feeling well, but I didn’t want to leave in the middle of a busy day.” “Yet the papers were never sent away, and we’re now behind on the project with Max?” What is he looking for here? “I’m sorry about th







