Page 10 of Coming Innocent

Amy steps up to their table, breaking their secretive conversation and announces that it was time to play games and eat cake, Nikki’s favorite part.

Sydney, Dylan, and Jessica scurry out of the tent and come back a few minutes later carrying a three-tier cake with white etched icing, lilac ribbon, flowers, and a small gum paste teddy bear sitting on the top. It’s beautiful and perfect and now Nikki understands why they wouldn’t let her see the masterpiece before this moment.

“Oh, Sydney, it’s beautiful,” she and Avery cry as they rush from around the table and wrap their baker sister in their arms.

“You’re very welcome. Now cut the cake and let’s get these games started. I am ready to play some baby bingo.”

Everleigh finally returns once Nikki and Avery start cutting the cake and apologizes for storming off then moves her way over to Sydney’s table to play the games as the boys head out of the tent to play horseshoes; all of the men except Brooks, who keeps a not so subtle gaze in Eveleigh’s direction. Luckily, Tiffany seems oblivious.

The games keep the group laughing, especially when Brooks guesses the dirty diaper candies correctly.

“What? I like chocolate,” he says with a shrug, erupting the room in more cackles until Tiffany adds loudly that he can put chocolate anywhere on her.

The tent quiets noticeably enough that Austin and Logan rush into the tent to make sure everyone is alright. Nikki coughs and lets Austin know that they’re about to open gifts if he wanted to bring the crowd back into the tent.

Soon, Amy has piled a mountain of gifts around Nikki and Avery, the stacks tower over their heads. Nikki turns her gaze towards Avery who stares in wonderment at the boxes before her.

“Are you ready?” she asks.

With gleeful determination, Avery declares, “Let’s do this.”

Chapter Four

AVERY RESTS BACK AGAINST her chair as she tosses the last ball of wrapping paper from the large box containing a super-sized pack-n-play.

“You guys, this is too much. You’ve bought everything we could possibly need and then some.”

“Well, sweetheart, that’s what baby showers are for,” Amy responds tearfully.

She takes a handkerchief up to her eyes and wipes delicately before turning back to her husband, asking him to help Logan load the presents into her SUV out front.

Austin speaks up as he and Brooks shoulder a few large boxes and packages of diapers, “Dad, we’ll help then we can tackle Nikki’s load.”

Avery and Nikki watch as the family quickly make work of the mound before them while Amy hands each of the mothers-to-be another piece of cake and a glass of water.

“I’m sorry Melanie, Max, and your aunt Andrea couldn’t make it,” Avery mentions to Nikki as she takes another bite of the strawberry flavored cake.

“I know; poor Andrea has a stomach bug and both Melanie and Max couldn’t get out of work. But it was sweet of them to send us gifts.”

Avery nods in agreement and looks back out to the crowd in the tent.

“I owe Melanie for every bit of happiness in my life. She’s the one that convinced me to come on this journey. I can’t imagine what my life would look like or how lonely I would be without listening to her.”

Placing her plate back on the table, Nikki reaches out a hand and Avery follows suit, placing her fingers within Nikki’s.

“You’ll never have to find out. We all love you so much, Avery. That one especially,” she winks as she looks out towards where Logan and Austin jokingly shove each other out of the door.

“He is my everything. I can’t believe how lucky I am to have him love me.”

Squeezing her hand tightly Nikki replies, “You’re very easy to love.”

Soon Avery and Nikki find themselves surrounded by their sisters and other women living in Carson while they fill their glasses of Sangria. This moment right here is everything Avery imagined, a life of love and family.

Another Braxton Hicks contraction ravages through her body and her hand begins to shake whilst holding her glass of water, spilling the liquid on her dress. Only Sydney seems to notice and she eyes Avery suspiciously as Avery shakes her head subtly.

Remembering the tips Dr. Burnett gave her, Avery takes a few small breathes and a few small sips of water. The contractions immediately lessen and Avery breathes a sigh of relief and joins back into the conversation.

“So Avery, do you have any hopes of what the genders may be?” Shirley asks from her perch beside her sister Temple.