Page 71 of Pieces of Us
We cheers and Gigi picks up a gift bag from the floor beside her chair.
“Time for presents!”
“G, you didn’t need to get me a gift.”
“You say that every year.”
I open the bag and pull out a small box. I open it and see a gold bracelet with five different stones along the links.
“Those stones all help with pregnancy. Carnelian for stamina, rose quartz to bond with the baby. There’s a card inside with all the explanations.”
The gift is so Gigi. “Thank you, G, this is so thoughtful.” Linc helps me put it on.
Audrey and Jax got me a certificate for a spa day, including a prenatal massage. I seriously look forward to cashing that in. Marcus got me a gift card to a local juice bar that will certainly go to good use.
Lastly, Linc hands me a square box. “You didn’t have to get me anything. You organized dinner.”
“It’s sort of for both of us and the baby.”
“Okay.” I grin as I open the box. Inside, I find a baby scrapbook.
“It’s a baby scrapbook. I didn’t know it was a thing, but I think it’s cool.”
“It’s great!” I open the cover and see Linc has already written in it, filling out our information and little tidbits about us. As I turn the pages, I find he’s already filled out the first couple of months, and he’s included pictures of me for each month of the pregnancy so far.
“There are pictures of me?”
“I wanted to document how you’re changing. I hope it doesn’t creep you out, but I try to take a picture of you around the fifteenth of each month.”
I look at the pictures, and I see the changes. I see how he views me through the lens of a camera. There’s one of me making coffee, one of me as I’m about to walk out the door for work. And I remember the moment each one was taken. He always says or does something to make me laugh. I just thought he was preparing his routine of dad jokes, but he was making me smile for these pictures. I didn’t even think of documenting the pregnancy, but he did. I try my best to not let tears collect in my eyes.
“I hadn’t even noticed you were taking them.”
“I’m good at sneaking pictures. I’m in media.” He laughs.
“Linc, that’s so sweet.” Audrey reaches for the book, and I hand it to her.
I turn to him. “It really is. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Mel.” He squeezes my thigh under the table. My heart flips in my chest because he put work into my gift. It isn’t something mundane, it’s something he put planning into. For me, for us.
“Although, now I’m concerned your phone is full of pictures of me.”
He shakes his head, looking down at his glass. “If you only knew.”
Chapter Forty-Nine
Linc
Ifeel like the days are passing by so quickly. Next week, Mel will be six months pregnant. I feel like we aren’t physically ready for the baby. My mom has bought Millie a couple of outfits, and Gigi brought over our first box of diapers, but the spare bedroom is still bare. We need a crib; we need clothes; we need that bathtub thing—so much stuff that we still need.
I walk down the hall and open the door of the baby’s room and stand in the doorway. Mel comes out of her room, carrying her Kindle.
“What are you looking at?” She stands beside me.
“We aren’t ready.”
“We have at least another three months. We haven’t even had the baby shower yet.”
