Page 113 of Nave
Maybe she would have been suspicious. If Gracie’s plan for me hadn’t included several surprise trips to do fun, unexpected things. Which, of course, made it so Lolly wouldn’t immediately guess what this trip was about.
So she was completely in the dark until I slid open the barn door.
And everyone yelledSurprise!
It was worth every single careful plot point Gracie had planned to see the shock turn to genuine joy on Lolly’s face.
Excited by the noise, Edith and Blanche rushed forward toward their mom, both wearing matchingBig Sisshirts.
“You were in on it too, huh?” she asked, petting their heads as they jumped on her, knowing she could no longer lean over to do so with her belly.
It was mostly the girls gathered. The men hadn’t been excluded, but most had decided to let the women have their day.
Dezi, of course, appeared, lured by the promise of several courses of food.
Otherwise, it was the princesses, their moms, and other local friends. Including two women Lolly had befriended at her computer classes.
The place was packed.
And I could see the wonder on Lolly’s face as she looked around, as she was met and embraced by everyone.
She’d had no one. For her whole life.
She’d been born into a family who barely gave a shit that she existed. Then she’d lived alone temporarily. Before, finally, being taken away from the world, locked up, and controlled.
Now, now there was a whole community who loved her, who were glad to know her, who were happy to celebrate this giant milestone with her.
She was swept away into the crowd.
It was Gracie who moved in at my side.
“We did good,” she decided, nodding.
She’d been working on setting the place up for days. Tables were draped in pastel pink tablecloths with big floral arrangements on each, along with a set of crocheted booties—courtesy of all the women who’d gotten together to learn to crochet just for the occasion.
Flowers were strung in rows to make curtains all down the walls, working as a perfect backdrop for pictures.
There were tables lining the sides, some with food warmers, others where gifts were piled high.
On a smaller table was a book and several leftover instant cameras for everyone to snap candid pictures.
A Sweet Little Wildflower is on the Waythe front of the picture book said.
On another table was a signBooks for Baby. Luna’s idea, clearly. And it was towering with stories for us to read to our baby when she came.
“We?” I asked, looking at Gracie. “This was all you.”
She fought the smile for a second before letting it break free. It lit her up from the inside out.
“It really was. And it was such a labor of love. It’s so great to see so many months of preparation come together like this. She’s glowing.”
“She really is.”
“Are you getting excited? She’s so close?”
“Excited. Nervous. Happy. Terrified. You name it, I’m feeling it.”
“Oh, stop. You’re going to be a great dad.”
