But, I’m pretty happy about the one I chose. According to the profile on the database, he’s an engineering student at a local college. His medical history is about as good as anyone can hope to find.
Like me, he has brown hair, but instead of having green eyes, he has brown. He’s on the taller side, which I hope will be an advantage to my future child. I’m on the shorter side, and maybe with those genes, they’ll land somewhere in the middle.
With all of that in order, all that’s left is for me to go in to be inseminated next week. I wanted to wait until after Winter’s wedding. She’s been such a good friend to me through the years, practically treating me like the sister I never had.
I didn’t want to risk having morning sickness if everything went well or being down in the dumps if the first round doesn’t take.
On impulse, I drop the shoes in the cart. They’ll work for a boy or a girl. Maybe I’m getting a little ahead of myself, or maybe I’m manifesting what I hope will happen. Besides, a pair of shoes is hardly the same as buying a bassinet or painting the walls of my second bedroom a gender-neutral yellow.
I’m turning my attention to a display of bibs when my phone starts buzzing. Sheepishly turning away from more baby supplies, I fish my phone out of my pocket and smile at Winter’s name on the display.
“Hey there, beautiful bride. Only two more days to go.”
The groan Winter lets out on the other end of the line has me wincing.
“Uh oh.” I clench my teeth. “Is everything okay?”
“Everything is a disaster.”
I nod, even though she can’t see me, but make a few sympathetic noises. “What’s going on?”
She takes a deep, audible breath. “The caterer says they’re out of salmon—I know. How do you run out of salmon when you’re based in Seattle? My dress needed one more alteration, and I had to rush it back last night. The lodge just called to say they had a huge snowfall last night, and the roads won’t be passable until after check-in. Maria keeps texting to ask if the lodge has AA batteries in their gift shop. It’s something to do with the gift bags she’s put together for the bachelorette party tonight. I broke one of my nails, but I’m not sure if I can get into the salon in time to fix it before driving up.
“And…” She sighs heavily. “On top of all that, my brother’s flight is landing in an hour, and I’m still sitting in line to pick up my dress.”
“Your brother?” I perk up unintentionally. “He decided to come?”
“I know! After taking forever to even acknowledge whether or not his invitation had found its way to the Middle-of-Nowhere, Alaska, he sure took his sweet time telling me if he’d actually be here.”
I chew the inside of my cheek. “I’m at the store right now. I can pick up batteries for Maria’s swag bags.”
“Oh my God, you’re the best. Thank you. That’s one thing off my list.”
“It’s no problem.” I trace my fingers over the little shoes that are now sitting in my cart. “I could also pick your brother up from the airport.”
She gasps so loudly—and in an octave well above her usual range—I have to pull the phone away from my ear for a second.
“Sophie, seriously. You are the best.” She releases another sigh, but this one is relieved.
“It’s my pleasure.” I smile at the shoes. “Now, just pick up your dress and get yourself to the nail salon. Everything else will work out. And, if you think of any other last-minute errands, text them to me. I can take care of them before I head up to the lodge.”
“What would I do without you?”
“Probably breathe into a lot more paper bags.”
She’s laughing and in a much better mood when we end the call.
By the time I’ve picked up the batteries, as well as a few other odds and ends that couldn’t hurt to have for the long weekend ahead, and checked out, Winter has already sent me two more requests.
My phone is still buzzing with new notifications when I pull up to the arrivals terminal at SeaTac. I tap my fingers on the steering wheel, pretending not to notice how jittery I’ve become. It has nothing to do with the long to-do list I’ve just acquired and everything to do with the man who is about to sit in my passenger seat.
Cliff Madden. I haven’t seen him in almost five years. That was when he surprised everyone and announced that he was quitting his high-level job at an investment firm and moving to Alaska. Winter—and all of us—were stunned.
This move came about a year after their dad had died. Cliff had said it made him realize that life was too short. While that explanation made sense to most of us, Winter always suspected there was something else.
My belly does a tiny flip. Five years. I wonder if he’s changed much in that time. I bet he’s still every bit as handsome as he was back then.
But, hopefully, in that time I’ve matured enough to be in better control of my emotions. I’m about to become a mother,for crying out loud. I can’t let myself get all flustered by a guy who barely gave me a second glance.