Page 53 of Accidentally Falling
“So eloquently put.”
“Amen, sister.” She blows me a kiss, and I shake my head. “Guess that just leaves your mom and our dad to talk about.”
“Do we have to?” I whine because I think I’d rather deal with morning sickness again.
“Yep, let me whip up the meanest virgin mimosa you’ve ever had and we can talk.”
“You’re not selling this.”
“I’m really not because we’re out of anything with carbonation,” she says, poking around the pantry.
“Can you at least put the rest of my orange juice in a fancy glass? Then I can pretend this isn’t going to be the most painful conversation ever.”
“Oh, and the girls want to talk about picking a date for our baby shower.”
“I stand corrected,” I sigh as she hands me a new glass. “Nowit’s the most painful conversation ever.”
“Buckle up, Buttercup, and just trust the process.”
“I don’t think that’s how the saying goes.”
“Careful or I’ll tell them you want to do all the awkward shower games.” She looks at me pointedly until I fall back against the chair.
“Fine, let’s get this over with.”
“That’s my girl.”
28
JUDE
“Hey, Jude. How are you?” Karina asks as I stare at the bakery case at the Kettle and Kiln. “Can I help you with something?”
“Hey, I’m good,” I tell her. I’d been sure about what I wanted to do when I walked in here but now it feels a little ridiculous. “We found out we’re having a girl.”
“Congratulations.” She beams and I return her smile.
Blackstone Falls had welcomed Karina and her wife, Nicolette, with open arms, the two originally from North Carolina with dreams of opening a place of their own. They combined their passions—Karina’s for coffee and Nicolette’s for all things pottery. I’d never been tempted to make anything but maybe Arden would want to. That could be a date, right?
“Thanks, we’re not making a big deal out of it but… I kind of wanted to do something for my brother. It’s just the two of us,” I tell her awkwardly, but her eyes are kind as she slides over toward the case.
“How about you pick a few cupcakes and I’ll whip up some pink frosting to put inside.”
“Thanks, that sounds great.” I fumble over the response and pull out my phone for something to distract me from thinking this was a mistake.
JUDE: I got Deacon a cupcake
ARDEN: Okay…
JUDE: Karina is putting pink frosting in it
ARDEN: YOU’RE DOING A GENDER REVEAL CUPCAKE?
JUDE: A what?
ARDEN: You’re doing a gender reveal for your brother…
JUDE: I guess—I mean—is that stupid?
