Page 8 of Coming Innocent
“Get in here, would you? I’m so hungry I could eat a cow,” she cries out as she wraps an arm around Avery’s shoulder. “Logan, would you be a dear and see if Joseph needs any help setting up the lunch outside? It’s so beautiful out, Amy thought we could have it out on the porch.”
Logan nods his head and leaves a kiss on Avery’s cheek.
“Eating outside sounds nice. I hope Amy didn’t go through too much trouble just for us. Everything she cooks is amazing.”
Nikki turns around and grabs a halo of flowers and begins pinning them into her hair.
“What are you doing?”
“Amy had some new blooms in her garden and I was bored,” she claims as she places a bobby pin into Avery’s dark wavy hair before standing back and clapping her hands joyfully. “Now, can you do mine?”
“Sure,” Avery responds as she grabs the second halo and places it atop Nikki’s blonde strands.
After a few pins in place, Avery stands back and gestures for Nikki to glance in the mirror.
“Perfect. Aw, and look, we even dressed alike. We’re, like, cute pregnant hippie mommas.”
Avery giggles and shakes her head in exasperation.
“Whatever you say, Nikki. Now let’s go find something to snack on. These little ones are making it known that they’re hungry,” she adds with a small sneer of pain as her lower abdomen contracts once more.
“Are you, alright?”
“Yes, Dr. Burnett says I have Braxton Hicks and they have been acting up like crazy this last trimester. I think I’m going to have to take his advice and go on bed rest. He says it may help.”
Avery steps behind Nikki as she opens the French doors leading to the backyard and gasps loud enough to grab the attention of everyone in the yard and tent.
“Oh!”
Nikki spins on her heels and beams at her best friend.
“Welcome to our baby shower, Avery.”
“Oh, Nikki. I didn’t…how did you….I…”
“You’re welcome. Everyone helped. We wanted it to be a surprise.”
Avery’s eyes start to well up from the love pouring out by everyone in attendance.
“I can’t believe you were able to pull this together. I want to hug you, but I don’t think we could reach,” she says with a pout.
Nikki and Avery figure out a way to give an awkward side hug after their bellies indeed keep them from wrapping their arms around each other.
“Come on, Amy helped me set up and get everything together. It is beautiful.”
Logan and Austin step up to them with Amy trailing from behind, camera in hand.
“Pictures please,” she shouts.
Logan wraps his strong arm around her waist while she leans into Nikki whose head rests gently on her shoulder. Amy takes a few shots and then separates them to get some individual couple shots.
“Come on, let’s go walk around a bit to say hello. The entire town is here.”
“Wow really?”
“Yes, Cassidy and her man are here even after all of the drama from last week.”
“I can’t wait to see her. I wonder if Ryker will show up. I don’t see him with Jameson,” Avery exclaims as she glances around the tent, her eyes zeroing in on Jameson and his friend Nora as they sit at a table together.
