Page 126 of Until I Find You

However, now that some of my guests are here, it’s time for me to take a bit of a break.

In the back half of the coffee shop, we have a Hawaiian band playing all the standards from the Big Island, a spread of Polynesian delicacies, and handmade leis onsite. Conversation, laughter, and music tangle together in a beautiful braid that puts me at peace.

It’s been a tough road to get here, but we made it happen.

“There’s the man of the hour!” Seth announces as I walk over.

I hold up my hands. “Please, no autographs.”

Bridget smiles next to him. “This is amazing, Jack.”

“Thanks for coming.” I hug both of them. “I’m glad you could make it.”

“Wouldn’t miss it,” Seth says, even though he’s still wearing clothes from the office. He had a big pitch to investors today. I told him not to bother with the grand opening so he could focus entirely on CipherBit, but this is the new and improved Seth we’ve had for a year now thanks to Bridget. He’s not a workhorse like he used to be.

I get it now. How life slows down and other things become important.

When I conceived of the coffee business, I foresaw myself pouring myself into it for the next several years and one day waking up wondering where life went.

And then Camilla walked into my life. Or I should say Seth put her there.

“Where’s your baby mama?” Bridget asks.

Seth snorts. “Seriously, Bridge?”

“What?! I think it’s cute!” she says defensively.

The way Seth looks at her is most certainly the way I look at Camilla. Those adoring, dopey eyes. Somewhere along the way, we all went from boys into men. It happened to Mason and Nate too. Love changes everything.

“Let’s see…” I trail off, scanning the crowd. Camilla’s been playing hostess since we opened, directing guests to enjoy the festivities, answering the questions of our new customers, placating to our investors. Working the room as she always does. “She shouldn’t be hard to find, she’s in a bright pink – ah!”

I spot her in the crowd, harder than expected thanks to the bounty of flowers and the sea of spring colors. It’s not the bright pink dress that catches my eye, but the white plumeria flower tucked into her wild curls, right behind her left ear. According to the florist, there is a language of where the flower is placed. Behind the right ear for single, left ear for taken.

Her fuchsia dress cuts across her chest, exposing her shoulders and collarbone, and drapes over her rounded middle. It would be obvious she’s pregnant without her hands pressed to her belly, but she’s proud. Wants to show off.

Camilla’s over halfway through her pregnancy. Twenty-four weeks. And it shows. Happened seemingly overnight. She was steadily growing and then one morning we woke up and there was absolutely no denying anymore.

She’s flanked by our mothers who we flew in for the occasion. Surprisingly, when Camilla brought up the idea, I was not as resistant as I thought to see my mother.

Maybe I’ve turned a new leaf thanks to my father. Or maybe I’m getting softer thinking about my imminent future.

“There she is.” I nod in her direction.

Bridget gasps. “She’s stunning.”

Her glow is undeniable. Yes, there are all the side effects pregnancy brings. There are tears and there are midnight cravings and things swelling that didn’t before.

But the smile hardly ever fades from her face. Including this very moment as I watch her run her hand over her bump and grin down at it as she says something. Both our mothers leap to attention excitedly.

She’s probably just felt the baby move. It’s been almost a month of me being jealous, waiting for the moment I can feel it too. Should be soon. Still, I’m antsy.

“I’m going to say hi.” Bridget says, grabbing Seth’s arm.

“Yeah, of course, go ahead.”

We watch Bridget wade through the crowd for a few moments. Seth taps me with his elbow. “So, how are you feeling?”

I glance around the coffee shop. “It’s going well.”

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