Chapter 10

Sunday

"I kinda thought baby showers were only for the first baby," Daphne whispered.

I laughed. "Me too. But I guess our friends thought it would be fun to honor us all over again."

"You mean torture us?" She pushed the diaper with the Snickers bar away from her. "I'm about to change enough diapers as it is. Soph only just started using the toilet. I have a few months of freedom."

Jen sat down across from us and pulled the Snickers bar out of the diaper. "If only baby poop was this delicious." She took a bite of the candy.

"You do realize that makes it sound like you've tasted baby poop," I said.

"Don't be ridiculous. Are you guys ready for the next game?"

"That depends on what it is."

Jen sighed. "You're acting like you're not having fun."

"It's not that we're not having fun," Daphne said. "Just imagine doing all this crap with a huge stomach and feeling like you have to pee every five minutes. I'm so tired all the time. I thought I was walking into a brunch with Rob, not all this."

"You're acting completely ungrateful. I went out of my way to plan all this..."

"I knew you were behind this," I said cutting her off. "Jen, you didn't have to throw us a joint baby shower. We've both already had one of these."

"But I needed an excuse to come visit my sisters." She reached out and grabbed one of each of our hands. "I miss you guys. Skype sessions filled with snotty little kids aren't the same as girl time."

"I'm sure your nieces would very much appreciate your description of them," Daphne said.

She squeezed our hands and let go. "I'm sorry, but you know what I mean. It's hard living across the country and missing out on everything."

"You and Ian could just move back to New York," I said. "You both grew up here. Isn't this home?"

Jen pushed her lips to the side as she thought over what I said. "You know what? I think you're right. Done!"

Daphne and I looked at each other. "What's done?" I asked.

"God, your pregnancy brains are making you slow. Ian and I are moving back to NYC! I was just looking for the right time to tell you!"

"Can you please get over here and hug us so we don't have to get up?"

She laughed and came over to our side of the table.

"I'm so glad you're staying. I was just telling James how much I missed you."

"Me too, Penny. It's time to come home."

"So, what is Ian going to be doing when he comes back to New York?"

"Penny, you can't hire Ian back. It would be so weird now. He'd be working for family."

"I know, but I miss him," I said.

"And now you'll get to hang out with him all the time. Without him driving you around."

"I guess." I pretended to look sad.

"Stop it! You can't hire my fiancé as your driver."

"Wait, fiancé?" Daphne shrieked. She grabbed Jen's left hand.

"It took you bitches long enough to notice this rock."

"Congratulations!" Daphne and I said at the same time.

"Jennifer Hunter, you manipulation artist," Bee said as she walked up to us. "Jen called me a week ago with this crazy idea for a last minute baby shower. When she had zero interest in helping plan the last one. And she told me I had to coordinate everything because I'm on the right side of the country. Right before my wedding. When I've literally never been busier. And it was all because she wanted to tell everyone she was engaged. It was always all about you."

"Psh. That's not at all true," Jen said.

Bee shook her head. "Yes it is. But I am happy for you." She gave Jen a hug.

"Fine, you caught me, it is true. Not that I'm not excited about new nieces or nephews. But I'm engaged! And I'm moving back to New York!" She jumped up and down. "I am sorry for stealing the show, though." Jen put her hand on my shoulder.

She wasn't really sorry. But I was totally fine with that. I was just happy she was staying for good. Now we'd all be here. I smiled to myself.

Oh, shit. Except for Melissa. How did I forget about Melissa? "Hey guys, where is Melissa?" I asked.

"It was so last minute, she couldn't make it either."

"Oh, yeah. Of course." I had already asked about why my Mom wasn't there earlier. Bee said it was just a small thing thrown by friends. No grown-ups allowed. Which made me laugh because we were all grown-ups now, despite what we all thought. Besides, I knew what she really meant. Whenever anyone's mother was invited to something, Jen insisted that her mother be invited too.

Jen was quicker to forgive than the rest of us. Scarlett and Sophie hadn't met their grandmother on the Hunter side. I wasn't sure they ever would. I truly did believe in second chances. I drew the line at millions of chances, though. James, Rob, Daphne, and I were a unified front on this. Bee, Mason, and Matt were too. Maybe Jen had a bigger heart than us. No, James' mother hadn't been holding the gun. But she had helped enable a lunatic. She had taken Isabella's side over her son's side. I couldn't forgive any of that.

My son kicked me hard in the ribs. Ow. I wasn't sure if he was kicking me because I was unforgiving or because I hadn't once thought about Melissa. All of my friends were here. How had I completely missed the fact that she wasn't?

"Now, Bee, I think you'll forgive me for forcing you to plan this soiree. Because I have a huge surprise for you. The lame portion of the day has officially come to a close."

"Hey," Daphne said defensively, even though we had both been making fun of the party earlier.

I nudged her with my shoulder and we both laughed.

"And now it's time for your bachelorette party!" Jen screamed and threw her hands into the air.

"Um..." Bee looked at me and then back at Jen. "No, actually, it's not."

"We're doing a joint thing with the guys on Thursday," I said. "We already planned everything. Everyone already took off from work."

"I know," Jen said. "I heard all about your lame plan. But my girl wants something a little crazier. Am I right?" She pointed at Bee.

Bee looked confused. "Me? You never even asked me about it. I already signed off on Penny's idea."

"No," Jen pouted. "I missed out on Penny and Daphne's bachelorette parties because I was in stupid California. Now that I'm finally here for one we're not going on a day trip with the guys to a beach in the middle of nowhere. That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard."

"It's not the stupidest," I mumbled, slightly offended that she was shitting all over my idea.

"It's the beach that Penny and I both grew up going to," Bee said. "I'm actually really looking forward to it."

"Fine." Jen waved her hand through the air. "We can do that too. But we're also doing my thing. Because bachelorette parties aren't about nostalgia and playing stupid games in the sand. They're about making terrible choices that you regret for the rest of your life. Let's do shots!"

"I agree with Jen," Kendra said. Kendra was one of the first friends Bee made after moving to New York. To me, she embodied everything that the city had to offer. She was fun, classy, and usually up all night doing God knows what. Probably with a stranger she just met. "Besides, I remember Penny saying she was going to get us all back once we got married. After we tortured her at her bachelorette party."

I laughed. "I did actually say that." I shook my head, remembering that night. They had made me do this ridiculous list of activities which involved too many penis cookies.

Bee pleaded at me with her eyes.

"But I'm pregnant. And I don't exactly feel like walking all over the city torturing someone on a Sunday afternoon."

"Thank you," Bee mouthed silently.

"Afternoons turn to evenings pretty quickly in this city," Jen said. "And there's a bar right down the street."

"Damn it," Bee said under her breath.

"Everyone who wants to keep this party going, come with me," Jen said as she looped her arm through Bee's and practically dragged her out of the restaurant.

"So that was a weird baby shower," Daphne said.

"Actually I think I liked that one better than my first one."

Daphne laughed. "I'm glad Jen is moving back to the city. But you think she could have saved this crazy bachelorette party idea for her own bachelorette party."

"Well, that doesn't sound like Jen at all."

"Fair enough."

We both slowly stood up from our chairs.

"But what Jen doesn't know is that Rob and James are at that same bar they're heading to down the street," I said. "Which probably means Mason is with them. This little party will be broken up in no time. Bee and Mason already agreed that they didn't want traditional bachelor and bachelorette parties. And James and Rob are good at shutting down Jen's crazy ideas."

"And here I thought you were excited for a night on the town."

"God no. I'm exhausted."

"Me too," Daphne said with a laugh. "I'll probably join Sophie in her afternoon nap."

"Now that's something that sounds much more exciting than a night on the town."

We both waddled after our energetic friends who didn't know what it was like to carry a human inside of them.