I leaned over the table, as much as possible, whispering so only she and Viola could hear me, "that outfit had to cost, like, a hundred dollars and it’s probably going to be covered in puke and poop within thirty minutes of wear. I don’t quite understand that concept." I smirked and sat back.
"Oh, dear, just you wait." Viola nodded toward the gifts. "You haven’t seen anything yet."
"What do you mean?"
"Watch…" She pointed toward the large box Elora was currently opening. She pulled out a baby stroller, with the help of others. I turned to Viola and raised my eyebrow in confusion. "That cost a thousand dollars."
I choked on my own spit. "W-what?!"
"Shh!" Viola giggled. "I told you. You haven’t seen anything yet. It’s all about status; who buys the best gift and spends the most money."
"Jesus!" I groaned.
Viola snorted.
"What?" I asked. "What’s so funny?"
"Oh, Lilli…" She inhaled deeply. "If you think this is bad, just wait till your baby shower." She started laughing when my eyes widened. "That’s right, Lilli, my dear. Not only are you having two babies, which already raise the stakes, but you are also giving birth to Aidan Iverson’s babies. You will get gifts in the mail for weeks before and after the births."
"I didn’t even think about that. Ugh!" I groaned.
"Look at it this way, you won’t have to buy anything for the babies for the first year." Phoebe added, hoping to make me feel better.
"Make that the first five." Viola mumbled, a hint of amusement lingering.
I groaned again.
"Hey there, beautiful." The feel of Aidan’s lips against my ear and arm around my shoulder, caused me to jump.
"Damn it." I panted. "Are you trying to put me into early labor?" I snapped.
He laughed.
"Sorry. I just wanted to see you."
"You're supposed to be with the guys." Phoebe eyed him scornfully.
"You got to feel up my ass this morning." He shot back. "I get to see my Lilli for a minute and feel her up."
"Don’t you dare." I laughed, though my mind was still caught on the ‘my Lilli’ part of his statement.
"Okay, a kiss?" He leaned toward me. I quickly pressed my lips to his.
I was pulling back when his hand quickly found the back of my head, pulling my mouth back to him. He deepened the kiss then pulled back with a large smile.
"See? Now I feel better." After kissing my forehead, and Viola’s cheek, he returned to the male bonding session.
"I see that he gave you the necklace." Viola commented. My eyes immediately dropped to where the necklace lay.
"Mmhmm." I mumbled.
"He told you what it means, I hope?"
I nodded.
"Good, now maybe you can get the idea of this just being an arrangement out of your damn stubborn head."
I snapped my eyes from the necklace to Viola.
"What?" Viola raised an eyebrow. "You seriously still think you are going anywhere in four years?"
I opened my mouth, but closed it immediately. What the hell was I supposed to say? Yes, it felt different between us, but it’s not like we discussed anything about permanency. I sighed.
"Oh, Jesus Christ, Lilli." Viola slammed her drink on the table.
Oh lord, here we go, naughty Viola.
"He isn’t going to let you leave him, even if you wanted to. I’ve seen the way he looks at you and how he is with you. He is in love with you."
"He told me that already." I mumbled.
"And you don’t believe him?"
I shrugged.
"Fuck me." Viola exclaimed.
"Shhhh." Phoebe giggled. Some guests turned to look at Viola, clearly surprised by her outburst.
"Viola is right, Lilli. Aidan is so deeply in love, I don’t think he has ever considered coming to the surface ever again." She smiled warmly.
"Five minutes is up." Maggie giggled, placing her head back in my lap.
"I guess we will see." I said in a hushed tone.
By the end of the four hour long shower, Elora still hadn’t gotten through all the gifts. It was crazy. I started to consider hiring people to unwrap gifts at my shower if it was going to be the way Viola claimed.
As guests started to leave, Elora took a seat next to me.
"Hanging in there?" I asked, giving her a half-smile.
"I am so tired." She groaned, putting her feet up on a chair. "If I have to see one more Tiffany Blue box I may cut my wrist with it…and I never thought I would ever say that about Tiffany’s!"
Viola, Phoebe and I began to laugh.
"I wish Celia could have made it." Elora sighed.
"She had to work." Phoebe pouted, with a little shrug.
"She's always so funny and blunt. I could’ve used her up there with Anne a few times." Elora smirked.
"Was she giving you a hard time?" Viola asked.
Elora shrugged. "She was just being her snobby self, commenting on proper gifts and such." She groaned and grabbed her stomach.
"Are you okay?" Phoebe jumped to her feet.
Elora laughed.
"Yes. The baby is just stretching out and a foot has found a rib."
Phoebe’s face twisted and her body shuddered.
"I felt it! Did you feel it?" Maggie’s head shot up, looking at me excitedly. I nodded. "That was so great! Hey babies, its Auntie Maggie." She rubbed my stomach and there was another kick. "They know it’s me!" She smiled.