Page 69 of Best Laid Plans
She reaches over the counter to grab another set of silverware, then hands it to me.
“There’s no one else in this world that I would want to share pie with.”
Epilogue
Three Months Later
I place the framed picture on the bookcase, then give it a small shift to the left before standing back to examine it again. Better. I move the lamp on the other end of the bookcase three inches to the right, fluff the pillow and place it in the glider, and refold the cream blanket before hanging it over the side of the crib. I look around the room one last time. It’s perfect.
Anticipating my finish, Ellie was folding laundry, little white onesies, in her and Josh’s bedroom down the hall. When I appear in the doorway, she’s already dropping the laundry and moving to follow me down the hallway. Ellie’s white sweater is snug against her small baby bump. I look down at my black sweater dress to see nearly the same sized bump extending from my mid-section. Ellie and I are both due in April, her one week before me. Ever the planners, Ellie and Josh found out they are having a girl. They are over the moon. I’m excited for them, too, and finishing the nursery that Ellie and I started years ago has been the most satisfying project. We decided to go all out girly, pink and cream with gold accents. From the crystal chandelier with a gold chain hanging over the cream glider with a dusty rose cable knit poof to the large pink floral print wallpaper on the accent wall behind the crib. A large script style letter ‘A’ I painted gold hangs in the middle of the gallery wall of art and photos I assembled above the bookcase. Ellie and Josh are naming their little girl Ava Diane. Her middle name for our mom. She assured me that if Cole and I have a girl we can use the name, too.
When Ellie steps in the room, I immediately know she loves it.
“Brooke. This is…” Her voice catches in her throat. “It’s perfect. I love it so much.”
I wrap an arm around her back and squeeze her into my side. Ellie does the same to me. We’re not even that big yet and front hugs are starting to get awkward.
Ellie’s on Thanksgiving break from school and I have the week off from work. I’m still staging homes with Sue, but I’ve started a side business decorating children’s rooms and nurseries and blogging about my projects. One of the kid’s rooms I recently designed was for a set of boy/girl twins and it was featured in the design issue of5280 Magazine, Denver’s local magazine. While I still enjoy picking out furniture and staging entire homes, I have found my passion in creating fun, playful spaces for children.
I’m so happy to be going through this journey with Ellie, talking about our changing bodies, discussing baby names and registering for baby stuff. However, Cole convinced me to be surprised and not find out the sex of our baby. It’s driving Ellie nuts, but I’m enjoying imagining both scenarios.
“I’ve got to run. Cole was supposed to be picking up the pies and I want to make sure everything is perfect for dinner tomorrow.”
Cole and I are hosting Thanksgiving dinner in our new house tomorrow. We moved into our modern farmhouse style home three weeks ago and I’ve been busting my ass to get it decorated and feeling homey for the occasion. It’s been a challenging deadline to say the least. Turns out it’s a lot easier to stage a home knowing the furniture is temporary and just to give the buyer’s an idea of how the space could be used than picking out furniture and art thatIwill be looking at every day.
I’m excited to host Thanksgiving dinner, but It’s a lot of people and I’m not really the cooking type, so Ellie promised to come over early to cook the turkey and help with some of the side dishes. Everyone is bringing something, too, so it won’t be all on us, but it’s still a big undertaking.
Ellie walks me upstairs.
“You’re still planning on coming early tomorrow, right?” I ask.
“Of course. I’ll see you at ten.”
“Sounds great.”
* * *
Later, I pounce on Cole as soon as he walks through our front door. I’m so quick even Murphy, our excitable Bernese Mountain puppy and usually first door greeter, is trailing behind me. With Cole and me it’s been a whirlwind. Baby on the way, a new house and then just to make things interesting, we got a puppy, too.
Even though tomorrow is Thanksgiving, I feel like a kid on Christmas as I eye the plastic bag he’s carrying.
“Did you get them all?” I say by way of greeting. A month ago, I placed my pie order with Carla and Cole offered to pick them up on his way home from work today.
“It’s great to see you, too.” Cole smirks as he wraps his free arm around my waist to pull me in for a kiss.
What starts as a gentle press of our lips soon turns into a hot make-out session in the foyer. When Cole kisses me, I completely lose myself in him. His clean, manly scent, the way his strong arm holds me close, making me feel protected, and how even now that I’m pregnant, just being near him makes me wet. I’m about to suggest he toss the bag he’s holding so he can lift my leg around his hip so I can get some friction until I remember the precious pies. Also, Murphy is trying his best to wedge his body between our legs.
I break our kiss and seductively whisper in Cole’s ear, “Are those pies in your bag or are you just happy to see me?”
Cole laughs into my neck, then places a tender kiss right below my ear.
“Both.”
With a chaste peck to my lips, Cole releases me and I follow him into the kitchen. Murphy, sensing that something exciting is happening, is right on our heels. As soon as Cole places the bag on the counter, he moves to the side, knowing I will want to unpack them.
I open the first box to discover a flawless pumpkin pie.
“Yum.” I’m actually regretting not ordering two of these. I’m going to be really disappointed if everyone eats it up and there are no leftovers.
