“Denny,” he groans.
“What did he do?” Hope asks, grinning in her dad’s direction.
Denny leans forward, amusement written all over her. “Well…”
CHAPTER TEN
DENNY
Blue.
The tranquil and calm colour is everywhere. Blue bunting lines the room, blue balloons with a few silver mixed in, and blue treats, which include blue chocolate covered strawberries, sweets, a cake, and other bits they somehow managed to get made blue. There are blue tablecloths, blue napkins, blue baby bottle drinking glasses and blue paper straws to match the decor. It looks fabulous.
A boy.
After two girls, and a lot of pink, I’ll finally be adding a little boy to our family, one who I hope looks like his father, will be protective of his older sisters, and has a true heart of a Carter.
Coming back to the present, I take in a breath, glance at the camera, smile, then pull away from Harlow to take another look at the photo booth they had made. The balloons make an arch around a silver ring, and in the middle, it says, ‘It’s a boy’. It’s gorgeous, especially the blue floral backdrop.
My eyes close as a stabbing sensation runs from my lower stomach to my ribcage. I suck in my lips and bite down, not uttering a sound. Once it passes, I glance back to Harlow.
The smile she’s aiming at me is filled with mischief. “When are you going to tell Mason you’re in labour?”
I make sure no one else is listening before leaning in and replying, “I was in labour with Ciara for four excruciating days. I’ve got plenty of time. The contractions are far apart so there’s no need to worry just yet. And you know how Mason gets.”
Her expression drops and she leans in closer. “Are you sure? We can finish this party another day. No one will mind.”
I smile and pull my best friend in for a hug. “No. This baby shower is everything. I don’t want it to end,” I tell her, pulling back to glance around the room. “Thank you for all the hard work you’ve put in to make it perfect.”
My two girls are in bed at Malik and Harlow’s with a few of the kids, whilst the rest of the kids stayed over at their nan and granddad’s. Joan and Mark love them, and it’s the kids’ favourite place to be. I’m gutted Joan or my nan couldn’t be here for what is essentially my last baby shower, but they both wanted to help look after the kids, not trusting the men to do it. It wouldn’t be the first time one of the kids got one up on their dads.
Mason is over at Malik’s with the rest of his brothers, probably up to no good. So, this evening is just for us girls.
She places her hand on my arm. “You’re more than welcome. It’s been an amazing day. I’m glad we got to do this for you.”
“Me too, especially since this will be my last one.”
Mason and I decided the day we found out we were having a little boy that this pregnancy is going to be our last one. It had come as a surprise as I hadn’t long given birth to Ciara, our beautiful baby girl. Three is enough for us, enough for our family, and for our home. And once this little guy is born, we are going to spend the rest of our lives making sure all three are nothing but loved and cared for.
She links her arm through mine as we both stare off into the living room, watching the others laugh and eat their snacks.
I glance to Ciara’s baby toys in the corner, then to the school bag in the corner near Hope’s reading nook. All of it really hits me. Everything I have lived through, everything I survived, and everything I’ve ever gained stares back at me in this house. All of it. And it makes me realise just how lucky I am to be where I am, to have who I have.
Harlow rests her head on my shoulder. “Yeah, I bet.”
My mind is still on the room, the house, my family. Staring at all that I have, all of who I have, and what I’ve been blessed with, has got me thinking.
I squeeze her side. “You changed my life,” I declare, needing her to know as emotion clogs my throat.
“What?”
I clear my throat and pull back. “You changed my life the day you walked into that classroom. You sat down next to me and suddenly, everything changed. My world changed,” I explain. “You saved me. Without you, I’d never have the best friend I do.” I give her a pointed look. “Without you, I’d never have gotten Mason’s attention. He would never have looked twice at me. If you hadn’t come to town, I wouldn’t be here right now, pregnant with my third baby, married, and blissfully happy. You gave me the courage to stand up for what I believe in, and you’ve been there for me every day since. Thank you.”
Harlow gives me a small smile as she tilts her head. “Denny, I can’t believe that. I can’t believe there is a world without you and Mason together. It might not have happened the way it did, but I truly do believe you two were always going to end up together. I mean, who else would put up with him?”
I splutter out a laugh, wiping under my eyes. “True.”
“I’m happy for you,” she crowed, before her gaze becomes unfocused for a moment. “And there’s something I need to tell you.”
Before I can question her, Kim, a friend from work, speaks up. “Um, why is a guy standing near the other house, staring at this house?”
I glance through the nettings and let out a breath. “Don’t worry. It’s only Max.”
At the back door of Harlow and Malik’s, Max is standing there, arms crossed, glaring holes in our direction. It’s started to drizzle, but he doesn’t even blink.
“Are you not gonna go to him?” Kayla asks Lake, who looks dead on her feet—which I’m not surprised about. Their triplets are only a few months old and they’re already little hellions like their father.
“Fuck no. He made his bed; he can lie in it. I gave him one rule: Don’t touch.”
“Wow, what did he do?” Kim asks, wide eyed.
All eyes turn to me, Kim’s being the last. I grimace, shrugging. “He ate a tray of party sausages.”
She lets out a breath. “I thought you were going to tell me he cheated on her or something.”
Lake snorts. “One, he loves me too much to cheat, and two, he likes his dick where it is and not shoved up his arse.”
“Then I don’t understand. He looks so pitiful out there,” Kim murmurs, glancing back out of the window. “I think he’s actually crying.”
Lake replies. “That’s what he wants you to think. Trust me, it’s best for everyone if he’s left alone.”
“I don’t get it,” Kim murmurs, her gaze flicking from one person to the next. “I feel like I’m missing something.”
Harlow takes pity on her. “He’s hoping someone takes pity on him and gives him some food.”
Poor Kim still doesn’t get it. “Why don’t you invite him in for some? It’s starting to rain.”
All eyes once again swing my way. “Because he ate my party sausages.”
“Um, okay.”
“All of them,” I tell her.
“I’m still not following.”
“I was getting the sausage rolls out of the oven, and as I turned, I saw him shove the last sausage in his mouth and I kind of, um, reacted.”