Page 22

Micah

Months later, our dancing had ended as I approached the end of my pregnancy. My center of gravity was just too off for me to manage it, but we could dance again as soon as our baby was born. For now, I was trying to embrace my hugeness as the blessing it was. Quinn said I had gained just the perfect amount of weight, even though to me it felt like a lot.

I was still working, although I had arranged for a friend from my training years to come in for a few months after the baby was born. Rocco was a good dipper and had learned a bit more, but he wasn’t strong enough as a chocolatier to do the complicated work. In fact, he had signed up for a course that he would begin soon in techniques that would really make him a stronger employee in the shop. We could always get more counter help. In fact, I had a few people lined up to interview for that this afternoon. Between my old classmate and Rocco, they could manage the kitchen on my paternity leave.

“Mate, are you ready to go?” I asked. Edwin was going to drive me to the shop. It was too far for me to waddle, and my bump made driving uncomfortable. All of which made me grumpy. “I need to get there for those interviews.”

“On my way.” He appeared in the kitchen doorway, keys in hand. “Can’t Rocco handle those?”

“No way. He’s not ready for that kind of responsibility yet. But it’s not like it’s strenuous or anything.”

“Whatever you say.” He took my arm, but I shrugged him off and headed for the car on my own.

“I can still walk, more or less.” Sometimes less. And if it got icy, I wasn’t allowed to attempt it. “But thanks for driving me.”

“I need to run by the studio anyway and see if the new barres got installed. But I’m very glad to take you anywhere you need to go. You’re doing all the hard work growing our baby. I wish you’d let me help you more.”

I plopped into the seat and finagled the belt into place. “Another inch and I’ll need an extender. Can you get those for car seat belts?”

He shrugged. “I’m not sure. But I think you’ve got more room than that. You’re not nearly as big as you think. Just perfect.”

I growled and turned to look out the window. “Why don’t you drop me off and then go to the studio?”

“Oh, well I already made the turn, and I won’t be a minute. Is that okay?”

What could I say? Turn immediately back? I was being unreasonable enough without adding that. “It’s fine.”

He parked in front and got out. “Come with me.”

“Nah. I’ll just stay in the car.” I settled back and pulled out my phone. “You go ahead.”

“But I want you to see the new barres.”

“You do?”

“You’ve been here with me every step of the way. I love getting your input.” He came around and opened my door. “Come and see my barres.”

I rolled my eyes. “Okay, but I won’t know if they are right or wrong.”

“That’s all right. I just like having you with me.”

What omega could resist that kind of talk? Especially when they’d been grumpy all day and their alpha still wanted their company.

He took my hand and we walked up to the door. “We’re here.”

I glanced at him. “Of course we are. Isn’t that the whole point?”

Suddenly the door opened and a chorus of voices cried out, “Surprise!”

We were swept inside on a tide of friends who were all chatting excitedly and wanted to show me everything they had set up for our baby shower. Streamers everywhere, flowers and a huge table groaning with food. Cakes and pies and sandwiches from PB&J and smoked food from Dragon’s Breath. So much, I didn’t know what to look at first. And a mountain of presents.

I couldn’t help it and burst into tears. Where else could I find friends like this? All the other merchants had contributed their very best dishes for a party to celebrate our little baby’s upcoming arrival. I buried my face in Edwin’s shirt until the tears stopped and I could properly thank them all for their kindness and reassure them that I was truly surprised.

They seated me at the front of the studio in a big chair with an ottoman for my swollen feet. We played every silly party game ever devised for a baby shower while people brought me more and more food. And I had to at least taste it all so I didn’t hurt anyone’s feelings.

Then we had to open the gifts. “I was thinking we needed to buy a lot,” I told Edwin as I unwrapped the very car seat we’d been admiring. “But now, I don’t think we’ll need anything but the crib.”

“Don’t speak so fast.” He pointed to where someone was wheeling in a suspiciously crib-shaped package. “They really love you here.”

“And you. Even if you knew about it, this party is for all three of us.” I placed his hand on my belly where our child was kicking madly away. “Oh no. I had those interviews this afternoon.”

He chuckled. “We rescheduled them for tomorrow. Today is about cake and gifts and friends.”

“And love,” I told him, accepting another package from Quinn who was there as a friend more than a healer. “It’s really all about love.”