Out On a Limb(98)

“Very good to meet you, Ms. McNulty,” Bo says, extending his hand.

“Anyone ever told you that you’re stupidly tall?” my mother asks, laughing as she shakes his hand with both of hers.

“Your daughter, a few times a day.”

“And, please, you can call me June. We’re family now.” My mother curls her lips in, smiling as she admires Bo a little too intently. I notice she’s yet to let go of his hand and smirk at my feet. “You know, Win didn’t mention how gorgeous—”

“It’s really good to see you, Mom.” I say, pulling her arm away and wrapping it around mine. “I’ve missed you,” I sigh out, meaning every word more than I thought I would.

My mom stops, her eyes tracing my face with a soft smile I haven’t seen much of before. Pride, I think. “You look so well, sweet girl. So… glowy.” She boops my nose with her finger.

“Thank you for coming,” I say, twitching my nose as I fight back tears. “Sorry, this happens now,” I say, fanning my face and blowing out a long breath. “I’ve been crying a lot more these days.”

“Don’t cry, baby. You’ll ruin your makeup.”

I laugh, a touch sad but mostly amused. Same old Mom.

“How are you feeling?” she asks, her eyes held on my belly.

“Very, very pregnant,” I answer truthfully, getting a chuckle from Bo. He’s been amazing, but the third trimester has been no joke. I’m tender and sore all over. Cranky and swollen and constantly hungry and irritable. Still, he takes it all in stride. Every mood change and craving.

She nods knowingly. “Let’s get you in a chair.”

“Wait,” I say abruptly, making my mom and Bo freeze on the spot. “How intense is it in there?”

My mom’s smile twitches. “Sarah did what Sarah does, but you’re still early. I think she wanted you here before everyone else so you could settle in before they arrive. And we’re set up in the backyard. She thought you’d like that.”

I choke back tears again. Because Sarah’s a whore for spectacle. The surprise moment of a surprise party. Yet she let me have a subtle entrance with my mom at the door and time to settle in.

I nod, standing straighter. “I’m ready.”





CHAPTER 34





Stunned, I look around Sarah’s backyard.

“Win!” Sarah says, bounding over in her bright pink dress. “Surprise!”

I don’t respond. Can’t respond just yet. Bo’s got his hand on the small of my back, but other than that, I feel completely untethered to the earth as I take in the view. It’s so beautiful.

There’s one long table for no more than twenty people that’s covered with wildflowers and light green tablecloths. There’s a clothing line of linen baby onesies and a pale green balloon arch over a table of food and drinks. A mostly empty table with one wrapped gift placed on top.

“Sarah, I—”

“Before you say anything, you should know I wanted to go way bigger than this and dialled it back. So if you say it’s too much, I will pounce on you.”

“I love it,” I say, admiring my best friend with tear-filled eyes. “I was going to say that I love it. Thank you. It’s perfect.”

“Really?” Her smile is proud, if a little uncertain. “That easy?”

I nod, smiling wide. “It’s beautiful, Sar,” I say, pulling her into a hug. “Thank you,” I whisper over her shoulder.

“It wasn’t just me, you know,” Sarah says before we step away. She looks at Bo with one raised brow, then back to me.

I play along, looking up at him with narrowed eyes. “Did you know about this?” I ask, trying not to break a smile.

“Guilty,” Bo says, raising his hands up in the air, looking sheepishly at Sarah.

“He did the party favours,” Sarah says, picking one up and handing it to me.

Fred’s Flowers, Bo’s handwriting reads on a small white box. I turn it over in my hand. “You made these?” I ask him, actually surprised.

He shrugs, smiling coyly. “I wanted a pirate theme, but Sarah said no.”

“I didn’t think you’d want to explain that particular inside joke over and over,” she says, smirking. “Plus, I gave him one pirate thing,” Sarah says, pointing toward the gift table with letter blocks that spell out “ahoy there, baby.”

“It’s amazing.” I say, smiling between them. “Seriously, it is exactly what I would have chosen. Thank you.”

“We make a good team,” Sarah says, pushing Bo’s shoulder.

“It’s because I do as I’m told,” Bo whispers into my ear.

“Yeah, you’re a very good boy,” I whisper back, patting his cheek.

The afternoon passed in a sweet, bustling, tender blur.

The guests arrived slowly a little after twelve. My mother took charge of greeting them and guiding them toward the backyard, proudly introducing herself as Grandma June time and time again. All of Bo’s friends, who I hope have also become mine, mingled nicely with a few friends of mine from Westcliff and my ex-coworkers from the café that Sarah and Bo managed to track down. Henry and his parents, Tonya and James, came too—and Henry got a big kick out of being the only kid at the party. Sarah made beautiful cupcakes, each decorated to look like a different flower. And Caleb did what Caleb does best, helping wherever needed most. Which was conveniently near the food table, alongside Bo, most of the afternoon.