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
Guilt begins to engulf me as I watch Natalie approach me. I know I’ve done nothing wrong, yet here I am, with red cheeks and an alarm going off in my head. Why do I feel as if I’ve been caught red-handed, like a child’s hand in the cookie jar? “What?” I question her. “Oh, I k
I feel a streak of embarrassment flush my face. God—the things these kids know and notice these days are crazy. And coming from the mouth of a toddler! I never would have imagined Tris knows what breasts are, let alone that her father was looking at mine. “It’s just an adult versus child misunders
I blink a few times, looking around to make sure I didn’t dream it. But the noise comes again, and I identify it as the sound of my little neighbors. Tris and Bea. I rub the sleep from my eyes and head to the door to make sure everyone is okay. When I see the sight before me, I can’t help bu
“I am a divorce lawyer, yes,” Daniel says as he bites into his hamburger. We’re sitting in the middle of a restaurant during the dinner rush, having this conversation after I’ve been stressing all day. Daniel is enjoying his hamburger and fries, but I barely touch my own burger. Anxiety has been m







