Page 35 of Peach Cobbler Confessions

“You know me well,” I say as I quickly steal a few bites as if I’ve never seen a donut before.

“Lottie?” Noah dips in and catches my gaze. “I hope you don’t mind, but I’d like to be a part of this. The doctor’s appointments—I want to go to each one. I want to hear the baby’s heartbeat, see the sonogram live and in person at the same time you do.”

Everett nods. “Same here, Lemon. It doesn’t make a difference if the baby is mine or not. I want in. I’m in love with you and our child. I want you to tell me all about your cravings, how you feel, what makes you happy, what makes you sick.”

I take a moment to glower over at Carlotta.

Something’s making me sick, all right, and it just so happens to be the dubious rumor she started that I can’t seem to squish like a bug.

She frowns my way. “Come on, Lot. Don’t look so glum. I was downright angry every day that I had you holing up in my tummy, and look at what a grump you turned out to be? What they say is true. How you feel determines the little monster you create.”

“I’ve never heard that,” I grouse her way.

Evie sighs while scratching Toby on the back. “I cannot wait to hold a real live baby. I’ve never even been close to one. All I know is that they pee, poop, and scream nonstop. And you know what? I don’t even care. Because it’s going to be as good as my baby. And I’m with you, Dad. I don’t care if this baby is Uncle Noah’s because,duh—Uncle Noah is family. This is my kid brother or sister, no matter what.” She holds out her fist and Noah bumps it with his.

I’ll admit, it warms my heart to see them bonding.

Noah really is family.

I’m about to say something when Evie raises a hand.

“Oh, and I almost totally forgot,” she adds with marked excitement. “I’m babysitting all the time. You never even need to ask.”

“Me too!” Carlotta harps, and I shoot her a look for even egging on the effort. “What? I’ve been known to take a newborn on a field trip to the Honey Hollow Fire Department before.”

“Field trip?” I’m almost amused at how she’s qualifying my abandonment.

Evie waves her off. “I’m already reading books on it. And before the baby is born, I’m going to get certified in CPR. So don’t worry about missing out on any of your investigations, Mom. I’ve got your baby’s back.” She gives a hearty wink before slipping on a pair of rose gold sunglasses shaped like cat’s eyes.

Everett looks my way. “It sounds as if we’re well taken care of in the babysitting department.”

“I’m babysitting, too,” Noah says. “But I’m pretty sure it’s not considered babysitting if it’s your own child. Is that right, Carlotta?”

I grunt his way, “She’s hardly an authority, Noah.”

Carlotta grunts right back, “I haven’t lost a kid yet, Lot.” She makes a face. “So which baby daddy are you letting into the delivery room?”

I give her a hard look for even propagating this maternity madness.

“I’d love to be there.” Everett picks up my hand, giving the back of it a kiss, and I feed him a bite of my cruller as a reward.

“I’d love to be there, too, Lottie.” Noah grabs a donut for himself, jelly filled with just the right amount of powdered sugar on it.

“Of course.” I cringe at the thought of going along with this farce. “I would love to have you both present.” I think. And why is that indecisive phrase suddenly the theme of the day?

Evie balks, “Mom isn’t doing some lame hospital delivery. She’ll have the baby in the hot tub out back at the house. She’s having a home birth. Dash’s mother did it, and Dash got to be the net girl.”

I lean in. “What’s a net girl?”

Evie nods. “When your body decides to treat the hot tub like a toilet, I’ll scoop up all the cra—”

“I get it,” I say it sharp with a look that says that’s the end of that poopy conversation.

Carlotta howls out a laugh. “Oh, have it on the yacht. I’ll have a silver spoon ready for its little mouth once you push it out of your loins and we’ll call it a billionaire day.”

I openly glower at the woman who pushed me through her dicey loins.

“I’m not having a home birth,” I say defiantly. “When the time comes, I’m having a hospital birth with lots and lots of drugs—and no nets.” The words stream from me like a threat. “And perhaps a steady stream of crullers just to be safe.” I take a rather angry bite of the one in my hand, but quickly succumb to the sweet, soft deliciousness that I can’t seem to get enough of.