THE DAY OF THE shower arrived, and I’d wondered where the time had gone. I just stepped foot into the banquet hall where it was all taking place. Good Lord, this place was decorated to the nine’s. Donna decorated the room in blues, soft brown undertones, and gold. Round tables filled the large space as guests mingled. I tried to recognize every face in the crowd, but I couldn’t. For every five people I knew maybe one. Long rectangular tables covered in white cloths lined the walls. One table at the entrance had name cards with seating assignments. Opposite of the door, sat two high backed, cushioned chairs. They were placed front and center. Apparently that’s where Dodger and I were going to be sitting. As I looked around I may have been completely against having a baby shower, but it was all done so . . . not like it was a baby shower. It was classy, and more like a casual party for friends. Only understated decorations suggested this was a party for a new arrival. The cake that was in the far left corner, was different shades of baby blue. It was three tiers, and trimmed like torn cloth was around each layer. Bowls of candy were there for guests to help themselves before the cake was cut, and they could make their own bags as a treat to take home. Another long table by the chairs for the guests of honor was already filled with presents. And an over flow table was being brought in. It was all too much. Keegan and Donna really went all out.
I couldn’t see them in the mass of people. Honestly, I expected to be smothered the moment I walked in the door. I had to be dragged out of the house by Dodger just to come. Standing here watching everyone chatting and mingling, I started to convince myself that this may actually end up being a good time. Well, as long as my belly wasn’t rubbed by a bunch of strangers and I wasn’t given advice from all the old ladies.
Dodger was beside me, holding my hand, grinning from ear to ear. He seemed pleased that so many had come out to celebrate us and our son. You could see it in every detail that was hanging, made, or put in place.
“Wow, your mom wasn’t kidding when she said she had this was she?” I leaned into him.
He wrapped his arm around my waist and kissed my head. “Nope.”
“Happy baby shower, bro.” Camden came up beside Dodger, slapping him on the back.
Dodger turned to look at his brother. “Thanks.”
“That’s a lot of presents over there.” He motioned toward the gift table.
Dodger’s eyes grew wide. “Fuck. We may need to make two trips to bring all of that home.”
“Nah, I’ll help. Keegan had me bring the truck.”
“How you feeling?” he asked me, grinning from ear to ear.
I blinked twice at Camden as if he should be reading my mind. “My stomach is the size of a small globe, I can no longer see my feet, every time I stand up my vagina feels like it’s going to split in two, and I haven’t slept a full night in weeks because I am constantly peeing.”
Not realizing, or caring that several other people were within ear shot of my little rant, I heard chuckling around me. Camden on the other hand was speechless. I could tell I shocked him into silence. He glanced from me to Dodger.
“Sorry, you asked,” Dodger mumbled to his brother.
“Yeahhh, well, good luck with that vagina thing. Pretty sure mom said there were cookies over here so.” Camden ducked away, giving him a look of pity as he left.
Oops. Too much?
I looked at Dodger and smiled. “He’s gonna be a mess when Keegan gets knocked up.”
He rolled his eyes at me but smirked. “Damn, Macie, you couldn’t have gone a little easier on the guy? He’s already weirded out that guys are even expected to come to showers now.”
“Well, if I have to deal with this, then so do you.”
He pulled me into him, wrapping me up in his long arms. God, he smelled amazing. I’d roll around in a bucket of his scent if I knew I wouldn’t get stuck with this huge belly. This pregnancy was going to kill me. Better yet, the lack of sex was going to kill me. Dodger’s innocent kiss and scent was going to send me spiraling straight to Crabbyville if I didn’t move away from him and get this party started.
“When can we have cake? Where’s your mom so I can find out?”
He stepped back and looked around over my head. “Not sure, but I can go find her. Make your way to the front of the room, and I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thanks.” I mustered a grin.
My hormones were on the upswing. This close to the end of this pregnancy, I was thanking my lucky stars it wasn’t going to last too much longer. Everything I told Camden was unfortunately true. And little things set me off. Catch me on the bad side of it all, and I couldn’t promise you’d walk away unscathed.
“Well, my goodness, aren’t you just a sight.”
I heard a sweet southern voice coming up beside me that I recognized. It was my grandmother. She was the epitome of southern class. Being that she was born and bred to be a Georgia peach, and refined, she is the person that taught me which silverware to use and when, and she’s the woman that taught me how to put someone in their place. A lady used her words, and her quick wit. She was a viper with a sharp tongue even at her older age. I loved her, and she was my favorite person.
I turned to look at her, plastering on a fake smile. “Grandmother, so good to see you.”
“You look stunning.” Her eyes traveled down the length of me. I wanted her approval.
“Thank you. I feel amazing.”
She approached me and brought me in for a gentle hug. The scent of her perfume she hasn’t changed since I was a little girl washed over me.
“Cut the crap, Macie Rae. I’m neither stupid, nor was I born yesterday.”
As she stepped back, that familiar knowing grin slid into place. This time I smiled genuinely at her.
“Oh, you mean I can tell you that being pregnant sucks worse than sweaty balls in the middle of one-hundred-degree weather?”
“Now, Macie.”
I brushed an errant hair out of my eyes. “Yeah, yeah. I know.”
She clucked her tongue. “You may think so behind closed doors, my dear, but while you are here, you will be kind and thankful for what you’re given.”
I knew what she was getting at. She told me once when I was young that you should never air your dirty laundry for all to see. Hold your emotions close, and don’t let others read you. Your stature in life was everything.
“Give me a little bit, Grandma. Did you feel this awful while you carried Daddy?”
She was holding a clear plastic up full of iced tea. She brought it to her lips and sipped before answering me. “Probably worse. Your daddy was over ten pounds when he was born, and I thought he was going to be the death of me.”
My eyes grew wide. “I’m sorry, did you say ten pounds? Since when did doctors let you get that far?”