Page 37 of Strip for Me

ELLIE

“So, what are we having?”the guys ask like excited children when Andre and I walk into the waiting area. They all wanted to come into the scan, but the hospital wouldn’t let more than two people go in. Eventually, the guys decided to just let Andre go in with me, to save any arguments. I was kind of shocked how well they agreed to the plan, it took only two minutes for them to decide.

“A girl,” I say, and Kaiden comes over with a big grin as he hugs me. When he lets go, Todd wraps me in his arms as Dominic pats Andre’s shoulder.

“Congrats, a girl, hey? Funny how we started with letting one girl in the house and now there are going to be two,” Kaiden says with a big grin as Todd wraps his arm around my waist.

“Miss Fetcher, you forgot your paperwork,” the midwife says as she rushes over to us, her eyes widen at the sight of all the guys standing around me.

“Thank you,” I say and take the paperwork.

“O-okay,” she mumbles out and runs off. I’ve gotten used to seeing the guys in the last month, I forget how nervous they used to make me. They don’t any more, but I understand her reaction.

“How about we go and see Wendy? We haven’t taken Ellie yet,” Todd suggests. I wonder who Wendy is, I’ve heard her name a few times.

“Good idea,” Kaiden says, and they all nod.

“Who is Wendy?”

“Come on, you trust us, right?” Dominic says with a little wink. The memories of the night at the club come back to me and make me blush.

“Let’s go,” I roll my eyes and a few of them laugh. We get into the cars and drive back towards home. It’s weird to think of the house as home, but I do. My home seems to be with them all, I think as I look over at Andre who is driving. Todd’s is in the backseat and smiles at me when I look back at him. The others are in Dominic’s car.

Andre pulls up in the main village, next to an old café with a multicoloured awning and little tables with red chairs outside. I get out of the car just as Dominic parks his car next to us, and the other guys get out. Todd takes my hand as we follow the guys inside the small door of the café. They all have to duck, and I’m surprised that I have to a little as the door is really small. The café is cute, with a counter at the top and little booths to sit in. A little woman is standing in front of the counter, with a multicoloured bandana in her hair that matches the red and orange gypsy style dress she’s wearing. The woman must be in her eighties with long, grey hair and big, blue eyes, but she moves quickly around the counter when she sees the guys. I watch as she hugs each of them and then surprisingly hugs me before pulling Todd into a hug.

“You finally found a girl to bring to me?” she asks Todd.

“Yes, this is Ellie,” Todd introduces me, and I smile.

“Hi,” I say, and she looks at me.

“You are far too pretty for any of these lads,” she says, making me laugh with her, and then she looks at my bump.

“I can’t wait to see this lovely baby, may I?” she asks, hovering her hands around my bump, which is getting bigger by the day.

“Yes,” I nod, and she places her hands on my bump. I have only felt little wriggles here and there from the baby, and the midwife says that’s normal. I can’t wait to feel the baby kick and move around.

“Do you know what you’re having?” she asks me.

“We just found out, a girl,” I tell her, and she removes her hands with a big smile.

“What lovely news. I’m really good at knitting and would love to knit some baby things for you, if you would accept them,” she offers, and my eyes widen.

“That would be so lovely,” I say.

“Are your parents excited about the baby?” she asks me.

“They don’t know yet,” I say, and I see Andre look down at me in confusion.

“Anyway, why don’t I get you all some drinks?” Wendy says, clearly picking up on the questioning stares I’m getting from the guys.

“I’ll help you. Do you want ginger ale, Ellie?” Todd asks me, and I nod. We all take a booth by the window, with me sitting in-between Andre and Kaiden as the seats are large. Dominic sits opposite us.

“Why haven’t you told your parents?” Andre asks straight away.

“We aren’t talking since the divorce. They wouldn’t care. I might tell them soon or when the baby is here,” I tell them honestly, and Kaiden takes my hand under the table, squeezing it gently.

“Then, they are idiots,” Andre says, shaking his head and making me feel better with just those four words.

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