Chapter Eight

 

I tiptoed up the stairs of Eric’s place an hour after dinner, when the sun was dipping into the ocean behind his house. Someday, I was going to own a house like this. It was a dream. A retirement dream with the salary I took home, but you never know. I could win the lottery first. Although, that possibility may be more likely than anyone on the strip moving out of here. Most of these homes had been in families forever.

Regardless of the dream, I shifted all the bags to one hand and rapped my knuckles on the screen door. Beyond it, a baby wailed. Poor little guy.

Eric came and let me in. “She’s just finishing feeding him.”

“Oh, I can wait out here. Let me know when she’s done.” I stepped back to indicate I was just going to sit in my car a while. I had apps to catch up on.

Eric glanced around. “No Mitch?”

“Not unless he’s here.” I shrugged. “I haven’t been home yet.”

Eric stepped out onto the deck and closed the door. “I try not interfere, but when my two best friends are having a squabble, it’s upsetting. What’s going on between you two?”

“Nothing.” And it would probably stay that way for a while too. The anger deep down was rage intense and I knew if I got within range of Mitch, it was all going to come hurling out at full speed.

“Not buying it, because it’s definitely something.”

“Whatever. I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Talk to Lily about it?” Oh Eric - the kind of guy that had always hated seeing someone upset. The true fix it man.

“I already talked to Amber.”

“And she hasn’t killed anyone yet, so I’ll take that as a plus.”

Amber’s beef with men was legendary around this town to the point where no one even tried to ask her out on a date as they’d just get shot down.

Lily’s voice called down the hall. “We’re finished.”

“Come on in.” Eric held open the door, and I stepped under his arm, bags in tow.

I had to do a double take at Lily when I stepped into the living room. She didn’t even look like she’d had a baby less than a week ago. “Damn. You look great.”

“Thanks.” She blushed and fluffed her shirt. “I still feel huge.”

“Nah. You’re gorgeous. Motherhood suits you.”

Although I’d only known her a couple of months, it wasn’t lip service. Lily had a glow about her, and it radiated into the air. If I were at all skilled in aura readings, I’d say hers was a soft pink, but it had been so long since I’d tried. Mitch thought the whole practice was a form of witchcraft and wasn’t natural, so I stopped. Regardless, Lily was giving off a shade of pink that was hard to ignore.

“You want to meet him?”

“Of course, but first, these are for you.” I passed her three bags.

“You went overboard. Way overboard.”

I shrugged but smiled. “Really hard not too. The store just had these amazing sleepers and well, you’ll see.” Giddiness blossomed inside me, thrilled for my friend.

In eight short months I’d be able to buy these same things for my little one and had itemized an internal list a mile long.

Bag by bag, Lily and Eric opened the gifts, holding them up to admire. They were in love with the cute little frame ready to hold a snapshot of him every month until he turned a year old, and the soft blankets for the upcoming winter and really loved the pack of washcloths in the softest fabric ever. According to the lady at Belles et Garcons you could just never have enough of them.

“Thank you.” She stood and gave me a hug, setting down a few adorable outfits I just had to get. “He’s going to be the best dressed baby ever. Want to hold him now?”

“Yes, I do. But let me wash up first.”

Seriously got an education at that store and the older lady was so sweet and gentle, and followed up my purchase with a stern warning to always wash your hands before handling any newborn.

I returned with open arms.

Lily put the baby in to them, positioning his head. “Meet your quasi-nephew, Henry Baker.”

“Henry,” I repeated softly, gazing into his sleepy eyes and upturned nose. His hair was as blond as the morning sun and thin as Grandpa Ed’s, a regular passenger to Vancouver. “He’s breathtaking.”

And right in that exact moment, I knew I couldn’t wait to hold my own. Would my child look like me, the way Henry looked like Lily, or would mine have Mitch’s dark wavy hair? And those perfectly plump little lips, poised in a newborn’s tiny pout. Henry stretched and the cutest little grunt squeaked out.

“Oh my god,” I cooed. “I’m in love.”

Lily gazed up at Eric, who had his hand on her shoulder. “You know, I knew before I had him that there wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for him, but having him here? I finally get it. I would die for Henry. He is perfect, and I couldn’t be happier.”

There was no way her smile could stretch any larger either, and I was over the moon happy for her. Her past was coloured, and she did a few questionable things, but she had clearly grown from it.

“I can’t wait to have one of my own.” I ran my finger lightly over Henry’s soft cheek. Damn, babies were a little gift from heaven. “Tell me about the birth, if you don’t mind. Was it easy, hard? How was Willow?”

Eric laughed. “Willow barely made it, but it wasn’t her fault.”

“I should’ve called earlier but it was pretty steady, nothing like the books all say. Then things changed and before we knew it, he was making an entrance.”

“On the beach,” Eric added, shaking his head.

“The beach?” I couldn’t even imagine that scene unfolding.

“Yeah. Not ideal, but you know what, it wasn’t the worse place to have a baby.”

“I’ll never look at an ocean sunset the same way.” Eric rose. “Can I grab you a drink?”

“Nah, I’m not staying long. Just wanted to see you all and meet this cute little guy.” My voice changed into some weird version of baby talk, shocking me, and causing Lily to chuckle.

“Everyone does that.” She reached for a glass of juice. “I even find myself doing it from time to time.”

I snuggled the little guy closer and gave his head a sniff. The lady in the store was right – baby heads smelled like sunshine and fresh air. It was intoxicating, and I would’ve continued to fragrant my memory with the scent, but it was time to go. I wasn’t going to overstay my welcome. With a grand sigh, I rose and placed baby Henry back into his mother’s arms.

“You’re leaving already?”

“I must. Need to check on Mitch.” I winced as I said it but hoped no one saw. “He had a huge hangover this morning.” My eyes connected with Eric.

How I’d wished he’d been out with him, but he hadn’t been. A part of me worried he’d been out with her, with Jasmine, and it rotted my insides.

I air kissed Lily’s cheeks, and gave a hug to Eric. “Let me know when I can come back and get more of those baby snuggles.”

“Anytime you want.” Lily made to get up, but Eric kept his hand on her.

“Just stay.” He gave her a quick kiss and my heart damn near exploded. It was like the most natural thing between the two of them, and it wasn’t forced or used as a distraction. The love between Eric and Lily was pure and wholesome.

Mitch and I had been like that before. Had been a couple of crazies when we first got together and after a while, things settled into a nice familiar pattern. Until recently. And now, I worried there was no way we’d ever be able to go back.