Page 10 of Peach Cobbler Confessions

“Kidding,” she says as a knock erupts at the door.

“It’s about time,” I say, getting up to answer the door, but Noah beats me to it.

“I’ll get it, Lot,” he says as he opens it up and in waddles my blonde bestie with that beach ball made of flesh prominently pointing straight ahead. She’s due in just a couple of weeks, and pregnancy has agreed with Keelie for the most part. And even though she doesn’t believe it when I tell her, she has never looked more beautiful. She’s donned a pale yellow dress and has a pair of flip-flops on as she makes her way over with a laugh caught in her throat. “There’s the little mama.”

“Oh, you.” I wave her off just as her new husband, OtisBearFisher, strides in after her.

Bear is a burly contractor with dirty blond hair and a devious gleam in his eyes. Bear was my high school boyfriend, who spent the duration of our relationship cheating on me with everything that moved. Oddly enough, that didn’t include Keelie. But Bear has since changed his philandering ways, and now he’s expecting a baby bear with my bestie. They just tied the knot in June.

Keelie whips out a pink box from her purse, and I quickly snag it from her and make a run for my bedroom.

“Not without me!” Keelie calls out.

No sooner do we hit the threshold than Carlotta calls out, “Who wants to take bets?”

I groan as Keelie follows me straight into the bathroom.

“I can’t believe this,” I hiss, tearing the plastic stick out of the box. “This is all Carlotta’s fault, you know,” I say before motioning for her to spin around and she’s quick to comply.

“I don’t know, Lottie. I blame my mother for a lot of things, but the baby in my belly isn’t one of them.”

“Very funny,” I say, getting down to urinary business.

“So who do you think the daddy is? I mean, it could be either of them, right?”

“I suppose. But I’ve got news for you,” I say, putting myself back together. “It’s neither of them. This is nothing but a Carlotta-inspired false alarm.”

“I heard you puked.”

“What?” I squawk as she turns around and I hand her the stick. “News travels fast. Did you also hear I felt better after sitting on the toilet for a good twenty minutes?”

“Who wouldn’t?” She waves the stick around like a wand before bending over to pick up her purse.

“How are you feeling?” I ask as she turns back my way. Her face is piqued from the simple act of rearranging her purse.

“I feel great. In fact, I got your invite for Noah’s party down at the lake and you can bet both Bear and I will be there.”

“Oh good. I’m so glad to hear it. It’ll be a lot of fun.”

I didn’t send out formal invites for Noah’s birthday party—more like a group text to everyone I know. Even though Noah and I aren’t dating the way we used to doesn’t mean I’m against throwing him a party every now and again.

Keelie glances down at the stick in her hand and makes a face at it.

“All right,” she says with marked disappointment. “You got your results. Let’s get out there and put this baby to rest once and for all.”

“Hear, hear.” I follow Keelie back to the living room, where Noah and Everett rise quickly to their feet as they head this way.

Everett wraps an arm around me. “Well, Lemon? What is it?”

Noah steps in close. “Are we about to have a baby?” His chest bows in and out with his heavy breathing.

“Well?” Carlotta hops over as do Evie and Bear.

“Don’t keep us in suspense.” Evie tries to swipe the test from Keelie, but my bestie raises it high out of reach.

“Keelie.” I nudge her and she holds out the stick.

A silent pause takes place before the room explodes with cheers.