Page 15 of Omen's Bombshell

“What are you guys doing here? I wasn’t expecting visitors today,” I ask them, looking around my space even though I know it’s clean.

“We were sitting at the clubhouse and decided enough is enough. So, we’re taking you shopping so you can get stuff for the baby. Yes, we’ll be having a gender reveal and baby shower for you, but you need to go shopping too,” Marie answers me, her voice full of authority because she knows I’m about to argue with her.

I can’t honestly tell you why I don’t want to go shopping for the baby. It’s something I need to do, but I haven’t been able to bring myself to go. I’ve window shopped every single time I go out, but that’s as far as I let it go.

“I don’t feel like going out today,” I tell my best friend even though I know she’s not going to let me get away with that.

“Don’t care, Oaklynn. You’re getting out of the house and shopping for the baby. Let’s go,” Melissa demands as she moves over to me and grabs my cell phone and wallet from the table where I set it yesterday. “I’ve got your shit and you’re coming with us. We’ll have lunch while we’re out so you can get whatever you're craving too. Rooster is on standby for when we’re done. He’ll have Jace and a few other guys ready to come put the furniture together too. The nursery will be set up by this weekend. Oaklynn, I love you and you know this. You’ve been in a funk and we’re gonna get you the hell out of it one way or another. Today is the first step.”

Knowing I have no choice but to go with the two women, I slide on a pair of flip flops when I get over to the door and throw my hair up in a messy bun. Today I’m wearing a maxi dress that stretches over my belly while covering me from head to toe. I feel like a beached whale every single day and it feels as if my stomach gets bigger and bigger. By the time I give birth, I won’t be able to fit through any doorways if this continues.

The three of us walk out to Marie’s SUV. They help me in the passenger seat before Melissa climbs in back. We leave my driveway and Marie drives us into town where several stores line multiple blocks. There’s even one of those baby chain stores I’ve stood outside of several times since moving to Frostford. That’s where Marie goes first. Excitement fills me as we park close to the doors and Melissa chatters on a million miles an hour about nonsense.

Stepping through the door for the first time, I take everything in. There are racks and racks of baby clothes, tables filled with blankets, aisles of bottles and pacifiers, and a ton of furniture set up around the store. I’m immediately drawn to a furniture set in a soft golden wood. There’s a matching crib, rocking chair, changing table, and dresser. I gently run my hands over everything and imagine my son or daughter resting in the crib or me holding the baby as I gently rock them in the chair. Tears fill my eyes as I realize I haven’t shopped for the baby because I didn’t want to do it alone. I feel completely alone and want Omen at my side as we pick out everything for our baby. Instead, I’m with my best friend and Omen’s mom.

“Sweetheart, what’s wrong? Do you really not want to shop?” Marie asks me, pulling me into her arms and rubbing her hand up and down my back as Melissa places her hand on my shoulder.

“I’m doing this all alone and I don’t want to. I want him here with me doing everything I always imagined the father of my baby doing. Like going to doctor’s appointments and picking out the furniture our son or daughter will use. Why did I get it so wrong?” I cry out, my voice breaking every other word as I finally put my feelings about the situation out there.

“Sweetheart, my heart is breaking for you. I want to go find my son and beat his ass for hurting you. I have a feeling he’ll come around before you know it. If you want to leave, we can,” Marie says as Melissa remains quiet giving me her silent support.

“He won’t. He was messaging me before you got to the cottage. Asked me why I didn’t tell him sooner about the baby and said he didn’t know what he wanted anymore. I haven’t responded to his last message and don’t know if he sent any after that. I don’t want to look. I’m not about to force this on him and that’s exactly what I told him. The decision is his to make and no one can make it for him. So, I’m on my own in this and it scares the fuck out of me,” I inform the women with me as I pull back and step out of Marie’s arms while trying to wipe the tears from my face.

“We’re both here for you, Oaklynn. You’ve got Jace, my husband, Rooster, and Kimber. Omen will either decide to be part of your baby’s life or he won’t. Either way, you have support and people who will be there to help you no matter what time of the day or night it is,” Melissa says as we move away from the furniture at Marie’s urging and head for the clothing section.

The three of us spend hours walking through the store. We each have a cart and fill them without hesitation. Everything piled in our carts is gender neutral since I don’t know what I’m having yet. I have taken the time to look at clothes for boys and girls and made mental notes of what I’d love to come back and get once I know what I’m having.

“So, thinking of the gender reveal and nursery, I’m not sure I want to have it at the clubhouse. I’ve been staying away so Omen doesn’t have to see me. I’m sure he wants nothing to do with a party that throws it in his face he’s going to be a dad when it’s the last thing he wants,” I state as the cashier is ringing up everything we’ve loaded in our overstuffed carts.

“Nonsense. Who do you think is paying for this shopping trip? Kellan found out we were coming to get you and handed over his card to pay for everything. I wasn’t supposed to let you know because he knows you’ll fight and throw a fit about it. I don’t care what he wants or says. My son is stubborn as fuck and hewillcome around. Right now he’s confused and has been stuck on never having an ol’ lady or kids for so long that he doesn’t realize the amazing life he could have with you at his side and his son or daughter in his life daily. If he doesn’t, Rooster will kick his ass and then Homicide will follow,” Marie assures me as I try to wrap my mind around Omen paying for all of this when he’s so confused about what he wants now.

I have no words as I watch Omen’s mom hand over his card to the cashier when she’s finally done ringing everything up. We grab all the bags and start loading them back in our cart. Melissa is on her phone as we walk out to the SUV and start to fill the back with our purchases. I think we have everything from bedding and clothes to receiving blankets and everything else a little one could need. Honestly, I didn’t realize there was so much a baby needs to be taken care of on a daily basis. Just one more reason I don’t want to do this alone.

We stop at the diner on our way home to get something to eat. Today, all I can think about digging into is a greasy cheeseburger with fries dipped in gravy and a chocolate milkshake. My best friend and Marie cater to me and ensure I have everything I want. They even order a ton of food for me to take to the cottage with me for the rest of the day in case I want something else. We walk out with another cheeseburger, pizza, cheesecake, fries, gravy, and a ton of other food. There’s enough to feed ten people here and I’ll be set for the next few days depending on what my mood is when I’m hungry. I’ve been spoiled today and I know this is only the beginning if these two women get their way.

Chapter Nine

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