Page 180 of Need You To Choose Me

“I’ll get that tea you like going,” Becky offers, and my mouth waters immediately at the suggestion.

“Fine.” I let out a sigh. “I’ll come. But just for a fe?—”

“Perfect!” Becky chimes happily. “I’ll see you soon.”

Putting Blake’s truck in park, I unbuckle my seat belt. He insisted that if I wanted to drive on my own, I better take his truck because it was safer. And since it was higher and easier for me to get in and out of, who was I to fight him on it?

Locking the door, I go toward the café, the warm air and scent of coffee hitting me in the face when I open the door.

“I really hope my te?—”

“Surprise!”

My heart flips inside my chest. I come to a stop, my mouth falling open as I take in the space. “Wha?—“

The room has been completely transformed. There are silvery-white balloons filling the space, and an “Oh, baby!” sign is hanging from the wall. Somebody moved around the furniture. A few tables were pushed together on one side of the room, and there was food, desserts, and drinks next to a bunch of gift bags sitting on another table.

I look at the expectant faces of the women in the room, all smiling widely at me. “Wh-what’s going on here?”

“We threw you a surprise baby shower, of course!” Mrs. Miller chimes excitedly.

“I’d say she’s surprised, all right, Trish.” Mrs. Tyson nudges her friend.

I shake my head, still unable to wrap my mind around it. “But Becky said…”

“I had to get you out of the house somehow.” A smug grin flashes on Becky’s lips. “What do you think? Do you like it?”

Like it?

“It’s…” I shake my head, my throat feeling tight from all the emotions swelling inside my chest.

They did this. Forme.

As I try to compose myself, I notice more details.

An elephant pattern on the napkins, just like the wallpaper I chose for Munchkin’s nursery.

And flowers.

And not just any flowers.

The bouquets of wildflowers had poppies scattered in between whites, yellows, and greens.

“It’s stunning.” Tears fill my eyes, blurring my vision, but I blink them away. “You didn’t have to go through all the trouble to do this. It’s way too much. We have every?—”

“Nonsense!” Mrs. Miller answers immediately. “Every upcoming mother deserves to be pampered a little bit.”

“Mrs. Miller is right, honey.” Mrs. Santiago smiles at me.

“We’ve already organized the party, so you might as well just enjoy it.” Becky grins at me.

“She’s right.” Mrs. Fernandez nods. “Besides, you deserve every bit of it.”

Mrs. Tyson lifts one of the cupcakes. “You should try some of the desserts Becky made. They’re divine.”

I clear my throat, but before I can say anything, Becky sneaks an arm around my waist and pushes me to the chair. “Don’t worry; they’re all low sugar and gluten-free.”

“Try the peanut butter cookies.” Jessica winks. “I don’t know what she put in them, but they’re addicting.”

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