First Kiss Last by Sara Miller (read e book .TXT) 📗

that should have warned her that dreams and reality were not as far apart as she thought. Her pajamas disappearing, the scrape on her hand, the crayon in her pocket. They all spoke to something much bigger than a shared dream.

Leah marveled at the magic of it all.

She carried a piece of Cade she could keep forever.

It made her so happy and yet there was a depth of sadness to it. Each new stage brought her both joy and grief. Leah kept the grief to herself as best she could.

Lily continued to ask about the baby’s father and Leah continued to deflect. What good would it do to name him? Cade hated her. There was no overcoming this. She was sure because she no longer dreamed. Or more accurately, she only had one dream and it kept repeating. It was just her and a locked door. She could not get through.

So Leah worked during the week. She went to her doctor’s appointments and she shopped for the baby. She spent weekends with her family. Sometimes she would babysit the girls so Robert and Lily could go out. Other times she tried to make herself scarce so Robert and Lily would have time alone with their daughters.

All in all, things were good. She was surrounded by people who loved and supported her. Even more importantly, her baby was strong and healthy. Leah put her hands to her baby belly and rubbed absentmindedly.

“Is the baby kicking, Aunt Leah?” Emmie was fascinated by Leah’s growing belly.

“Not right now.”

“Oh,” Emmie looked disappointed.

“I’ll let you feel it next time though, how’s that?”

Emmie smiled and nodded eagerly.

“I think it’s a girl,” she said confidently. “Because boys are always kicking things!”

Leah couldn’t help but laugh.

“At school my friend’s mom had a baby and they knew what it was. They had a big party and busted a giant balloon and pink exploded out of it. That’s how she knew she was getting a sister. How come we don’t know?”

“Because I told the doctor I wanted to be surprised.”

“But why? We could have a party! And buy all the things you’ll need in the right color! And pick a name!” Emmie was clearly a planner. Either that or she’d been listening to her mother.

Lily entered the room looking guilty. Yup, she was busted.

“Right Mom? Aunt Leah should find out. You said so!”

Leah eyed her sister and waited patiently to see how Lily would try to dig herself out of this hole. She laughed as Lily floundered.

“Well,” Lily tried and failed then began again. “I did say that, Em but it’s Aunt Leah’s baby and she gets to decide even though we really, really, really want to know.” Lily fake pouted and Emmie joined her.

“You two are pathetic!” Leah laughed and they joined her.

“It was worth a try!” Lily shrugged, still chuckling. “Anywho, I was gonna run out for groceries. I hate going on Saturdays but I have time, so I might as well get it done. Do we need anything?”

Leah considered for a moment. She had been doing most of the cooking for the last couple months.

“Just what’s on the list.”

“Really? No pickles or ice cream or any pregnancy cravings? Come on!” Lily teased.

“I’m good. Oof!” She rubbed her belly.

“Is it kicking?!” Emmie squealed.

“No, but feel this.” Leah took the little girl’s hand and put it on her belly. “Can you feel that?”

“It’s like . . . tap . . . tap . . . tap!” Emmie’s eyes were round.

“Hiccups,” Lily supplied. “You did that in my belly too, Emmie.” The little girl’s mouth opened, forming an O. She looked back and forth in wonder between her mother and aunt.

“I did?” she whispered. Her mom nodded. “Did Allison?”

“Nope. Allison did more kicking. I was also sick a lot more with her.”

“Whoa.”

Leah and Lily watched silently as Emmie processed all this new information. After several long moments, Lily spoke.

“Okay, Emmie, go get your sister and your jacket. Time to go.”

“Aw, Mom . . .” Emmie whined.

“Allison!” Lily called and her oldest daughter came running. “Get your jacket, we’re going to the grocery store.”

“Aw, Mom . . .” Allison whined exactly the same way as her sister. “But we wanted to go to the park!” Emmie stood by her sister in solidarity. Her head bobbed in agreement.

“I can take them to the park,” Leah offered.

Lily frowned. “Leah, you don’t have to. We don’t want to take advantage of you, do we girls?”

Leah thought that’s exactly what the girls wanted to do. Their angelic faces were pleading. So she insisted, “But I want to.”

Lily did not look convinced.

“I need some fresh air.“ Leah tried a new approach.

“Go use the bathroom and then get your jackets,” Lily told the girls.They left the room, uncertain if they’d won.

Leah got to her feet. She could still get up unassisted but she knew it was no longer a graceful movement. She laughed at herself as she stretched.

“Dang, Leah! You are like a fertility goddess. Boobs, belly, hips . . . seriously. How do you look so good? I’m so jealous. I never looked that good,” Lily sighed.

“I feel fat and awkward, if that helps.” She didn’t like discussing her body, so she returned to their previous discussion. “I really would like to take the girls to the park. I need to get out and move, stretch my legs.”

“Okay, fine. But they’ll want to go to the new one. At the Civic Center that opened last fall. Where we had that picnic.”

“Oh sure. I remember where that is.” Leah looked forward to the change of scenery.

“Going there won’t bother you?”

“No. Why would it?” Leah was puzzled.

“You know . . . ’cause last time we were there, um . . .”

“Eric was there too?” Leah offered and Lily nodded. “Lily, you can say his name.” But her sister only shrugged.

Leah remembered the picnic. It didn’t bother her too much to think of past events with Eric. It was what it was and now it wasn’t. She truthfully didn’t