Forever, Plus One

“I think you can let Amy know about your secret,” she said, grinning.

Daniel touched Emily’s hand over the table. “You sure?” he queried.

Emily nodded. Amy looked from one to the other, her eyes squinting suspiciously.

“Tell me right now,” she demanded. “The anticipation is killing me!”

Chantelle looked like a balloon about to pop with excitement. She gave Daniel and Emily each one last glance for confirmation that she was really allowed to spill the news. When they both nodded, she looked back at Amy, bounced up and down in her seat and squeezed her hands together.

“Mommy’s pregnant!” she cried.

Then she instantly clapped her hands over her mouth and looked around to make sure no one else had overheard her exclamation.

Amy’s face transformed into an expression of euphoria. “You are? Oh my God! Em!” Then she burst out crying.

Emily was surprised. Amy wasn’t one to cry readily. The sight of her so emotional like that made Emily well up as well.

“Don’t! You’re setting off my hormones again,” she exclaimed.

Amy leapt up from her seat and ran around to Emily, grabbing her in an embrace.

“I’m so happy for you!” she cried.

The two friends hugged tightly. In her peripheral vision, Emily noticed Harry congratulating Daniel with a handshake.

Amy let go and finally composed herself, wiping her tears away. Then she hugged Daniel too.

“Congratulations,” she said. Finally, she sat back down and squeezed Chantelle around the shoulders. “You’re going to be a big sister, huh?”

Chantelle nodded vigorously. “Not until December though, which is forever to wait.”

Amy quickly counted back on her fingers. “December? When did you conceive?”

Emily flushed red. “Not a topic for the dinner table, Ames,” she said.

Amy’s eyes widened and she mouthed, “Honeymoon?”

Emily nodded and turned her gaze down.

“What are you saying?” Chantelle asked, looking between the two women. She looked at Daniel. “Daddy, what are they whispering about?”

Daniel laughed. “Nothing, sweetie. We’ll tell you another time. When you’re a little older.”

Chantelle folded her arms and pouted. Everyone laughed.

“Oh, Em,” Amy gushed. “My cheeks hurt from smiling so much. Will you let me take you shopping to get a gift for the baby?”

“Now?” Emily asked.

“Yes!” Amy exclaimed. “I’m too excited to wait. I’ll drive us up to Bangor. There is a gorgeous bespoke baby store there. What do you say?”

Emily looked at Daniel and Chantelle. “Do you guys mind?”

“Not at all,” Daniel said. “I’ll take Chantelle home for singing practice.”

He stood then and everyone followed suit.

“Harry, it was great to meet you,” Daniel said, shaking Harry’s hand again. “Let’s stay in touch about the restaurant stuff, okay? Maybe hang out with George sometime. I’ve sworn off alcohol for the duration of Emily’s pregnancy but we could do something else. Do you fish?”

“I love to fish,” Harry said, grinning.

“Great, we’ll go out on my boat sometime,” Daniel told him.

They exchanged numbers, and Emily felt like the two of them in particular had hit it off. It made her so happy to see. Fraser and Daniel were never going to be friends, they were from such different worlds. But with Harry she could easily see the four of them hanging out on the porch, drinking together, enjoying local events with each other. She could suddenly picture the future, with Harry and Amy married, settled in the neighborhood, their kids at the same school as Emily and Daniel’s. It was an awesome thought!

Emily said farewell to Harry and Chantelle, then Amy looped her arm around Emily’s and dragged her off to the car, bouncing with every step, exclaiming in every way possible just how happy she was for her friend.

“Can I be godmother?” she asked.

“Maybe, but that wouldn’t be fair to Jayne.”

“Jayne wouldn’t want to be a godmother.”

“No, but she’d still kick up a fuss and you know it.”

“Fine. In which case, if it’s a girl can it be named Amy?”

Emily laughed and shrugged. “We haven’t discussed names yet. You do know Daniel gets an equal say. And, again, I must stress that Jayne would be livid if I called the baby Amy!”

Amy moved on quickly to her next excited exclamation. “When he or she grows up they can come and intern with me! I’ll be cool Aunt Amy with the apartment in New York.”

Emily just nodded along to all of her exclamations, overjoyed that Amy was so openly happy for her. They had come so far since that time when Amy had been furious with her for running away from New York City. Now it felt like they were closer than ever, like their bond was unbreakable. Emily just hoped that things went so well with Harry that Amy moved closer. Then, everything truly would be perfect.

CHAPTER FIVE

Typically of Amy, Emily found herself being dragged into the most high-end, luxurious children’s store imaginable. It was all beech wood shelving and pastel-colored walls, hundred-dollar quilts and thousand-dollar christening gifts. It stocked everything from clothes and gadgets to baby furniture and ornaments.

“Amy, you can’t get me a gift from here,” Emily protested, glancing about her at all the beautiful items.

“Why not?” Amy retorted. “My best friend is having a baby. I can spoil you as much as I want. Now do you want something practical like a stroller or something lavish like this organic eco-friendly pacifier? Ooh look!” Amy cried, becoming instantly distracted and hurrying over to another shelf. “Biodegradable diapers.” She grabbed a packet and began reading off the back. “Hypo-allergenic materials. Rainforest alliance certified. Low toxins. No dyes.”

Emily felt a little overwhelmed by the choices available to her. She hadn’t even begun to think about toxins or allergens. She’d hardly even thought about diapers and pacifiers! She’d only just begun to wrap her head around the fact a baby the size of a raspberry was currently growing inside of her.

“How much stuff is this baby going to need?” Emily said, suddenly feeling anxious.

Amy looked at her friend, concerned. “Don’t start freaking out.”

“But I haven’t even begun to work it all out,” Emily replied, hearing her own voice rising with panic.