From all directions guests jumped out from their hiding places. “Surprise!” they called and Emmie jumped.
“Oh my Gods!” She whispered and I was dismayed to see her eyes fill with tears.
“You don’t like it?” I asked.
Emmie shook her head, sobbing now. I glanced at Jesse for guidance, but he didn’t look like he understood either, so I pulled her close, holding her as much as I could with her stomach between us. “Emmie, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry.” Tears burned my eyes, and I tried to blink them away. One of us crying was enough.
When she had shown me the nursery last week, and I had seen that she only had the bare necessities I had wanted to throw her a baby shower. I wanted my friend to have this special occasion that all mothers should get to have when they were carrying new life inside of them, and I had wanted to be the one to give it to her. I never intended to upset her like this.
“I’m sorry, Emmie. I can ask them all to leave…”
She shook her head again, her arms holding on tight to me while her tears soaked through my top. “No. I’m not mad. I’m…I’m touched. No one has ever…ever…” She broke off, sobbing once again. “I’ve read all about baby showers, and heard the other mothers at the doctor’s office gushing over theirs, but I never thought that I would get to have one.”
“Oh, Emmie.” I kissed her hair, holding her closer.
After a few minutes, she finally pulled away, her face blotch from crying. Nik, Drake, and Shane—all having been in on my secret as of the day before--stood behind her, but none of them said a word. Emmie gave me a watery smile. “Thank you, Layla. Thank you for this.”
Jesse’s hand caught mine. “Well, let’s get this party started.”
For the next two hours, I got to know the people in Emmie’s life outside of the guys. I met Alexis Moreitti who was six months pregnant and her husband Jared. Alexis walked with a cane, and I learned that she had been in a car accident. It was a miracle that she was even able to walk, even more so that she was able to carry her child to term. Her husband was nice, and when he looked at her, I could see his love and devotion shining through.
I discovered that Alexis was Gabriella Moreitti’s cousin. It wasn’t a great discovery either. Gabriella had been invited as well and had come with Axton Cage. But it wasn’t until half way through the shower that I learned Gabriella and Emmie were anything but friends.
“Why did you tell me to invite her?” I asked Jesse when I realized that Emmie was uncomfortable with the other woman around.
He sighed. “Because I didn’t think she would actually show up.” He was eating one of the sandwiches that Lana and I had made that morning. From the looks of it, it was one of the chicken salad croissants that Lana had made from scratch. “Look, Gabriella told Emmie that she hooked up with Nik a while back. It was before Em got pregnant. It was all lies, but Em didn’t know that until recently.”
I glared up at him. “And yet you still told me to invite her.” I had liked talking to the woman, but now I instantly disliked her. No way was I going to like someone that hurt my friend on purpose.
He hung his head and his lower lip pouted out. “I’m sorry, baby.”
“Damnit.” I couldn’t stay upset with him when he did things like that. With another glare, I stood on tiptoe to kiss him. “Next time tell me things like this, okay?”
Jesse grinned. “You aren’t mad at me?”
“How can I stay mad at you when you give me those big puppy dog eyes and that pouty lip?” But I pushed him away when he started to pull me closer. “Go. I have things to do.”
He gave me another pouty look, but I was ready for it this time and pushed him off toward his band brothers where they were standing talking to Jared Moreitti and Axton Cage. Turning, I started gathering some items for a baby game. There were people spread around the patio and by the pool, and I went around handing out little pencils and paper to everyone who wanted to play.
I glanced Emmie’s way and found her laughing with Melissa Shepard and Rich Branson’s assistant who had come in his place. I had lucked out there, because Jesse had said I had to invite their manager, but that Emmie and Rich didn’t get along. I was glad to see that Emmie was happy and that I was able to give her something that she had wanted but hadn’t been able to ask for.
As I finished passing out the game I stopped by Lana who was sitting at a table talking to Vince Shepard and Drake. I touched her shoulder to get her attention, and she grinned up at me. “Ready?” she asked.
I nodded and gave her the piece of paper. My sister spent the next thirty minutes being the master of games. Everyone was laughing and Emmie was having so much fun. I watched from the corner as everyone played game after game. Everyone won something, and even Drake was laughing when the games were over.
After the games came the presents, and Emmie struggled through, trying not to cry as she unwrapped each gift. There were clothes, bottles, diapers, blankets, bibs, toys, and a list of other items that brought tears to Emmie’s eyes. Lana had even helped the guys pick out a present earlier that morning for them to give to her: a portable swing that played classic lullabies. I waited until she had unwrapped the last gift before I brought out my own present for her.
Jesse had to carry it out for me, and Emmie gave up the struggle and burst into tears when she saw the cradle that I had bought her. It was hand crafted with butterflies, bees, and flowers in the carvings. I had known as soon as I saw it that it was perfect for Emmie.
By the time everyone had had a piece of cake, I was exhausted. Emmie seemed like she couldn’t take anymore. She thanked everyone for coming, and Nik took her up to their room so that she could take a nap. Before she went into the house, she hugged me tight and thanked me for making today so special.
“Emmie, you deserved today. I’m glad I was able to give it to you.”
Her chin trembled but she turned away before she burst into tears again.
When everyone was gone, the guys helped me clean up. I was thankful for their help because I was dragging by then, although there wasn’t all that much to do. The food had all been eaten, everyone loved Lana’s sandwiches and the homemade dips. One of which was specifically for Emmie’s cravings made with sour-cream, chopped up bacon, and some ranch seasoning. The cake was nearly all gone, and I was glad that I had taken pictures for Emmie of it before it had been destroyed. She had loved the little pink dress cake with the tiny foot print on the pregnant belly. I had specifically requested that the dress have a girly skull on the dress at the top. It had been perfect.