The Risks We Take Duet Box Set

96. The Baby shower

THE BABY SHOWER

Nattie

“ I think we need more balloons.” My brothers turn to look at me with matching scowls on their faces as they secure the giant baby-blue, white, and soft-brown balloons around the oversized blue and white blocks that spell out BABY positioned on the floor in front of the gift table.

“Nat, we’ve already got more balloons than I can count,” Cooper counters.

“That’s not something I’d be proud of, Coop,” I snark back and rub the spot where one of the babies just shoved his knee.

Declan shakes his head. “Never argue with a pregnant woman. Especially one pregnant with your twins.”

Belles moves next to me and hands me a glass of water. “Drink something, Nat. We’ve still got a few hours before the party starts, and you look tired.”

Both my brothers take a measured step back with fear in their eyes as I take the glass from Annabelle’s hand. “Thank you.”

We giggle as Declan and Cooper immediately refocus on dealing with the decorations, and Belle helps me waddle to a chair. “How are you feeling, Nat? And be honest. From one woman who’s carried twins to another.”

God, I love my sister-in-law. “This is my fourth pregnancy,” I whine. “My second with twins. My body is tired. My back is aching. My ankles no longer exist. And if my husband even thinks about coming near me with his penis, I may actually cry.” I look at her and don’t bother attempting to hide my exhaustion. “I thank God every day Brady is in his off-season because with three toddlers at home, some days thinking about just getting out of bed is more than I can handle.”

Belles tucks a lock of hair behind my ear and smiles. “Oh, Nattie... no tears. You’re in the homestretch now. You’ve only got a few weeks left, and you’re doing such an amazing thing for Cooper and Carys.”

“Hey, sweetheart.” Brady crosses the room and drops a kiss on my forehead. The look in his eyes tells me he knows exactly how tired I am. Damn, I love my husband. “How are you feeling?”

My smile slowly stretches as I lean back and look up at him. “Better now, handsome.”

“I just got off the phone with Chloe. She said Carys doesn’t suspect a thing.”

Carys didn’t want a baby shower. She’s insistent that the babies are all she needs. But we wanted to spoil her the same way the rest of us have each been spoiled with our first kids. As I look around Nonna’s, the restaurant Sam Beneventi generously closed for the afternoon, I wonder if we may have gone a little overboard. Blue, white, and soft-brown balloons are artfully placed throughout the dining room. Matching brown teddy bears with blue sweaters sit among them. Gorgeous pale blue and white hydrangeas decorate the tabletops, and tiny onesies hang from oversized clothespins on clotheslines crisscrossing the room. No detail has been missed, and no expense has been spared for the last of us to finally get their babies, and I can’t wait to see her face when she walks in.

Carys

I try to hide my yawn as Chloe, Daphne, Maddie, and I walk into Nonna’s for a late lunch. Maddie was so excited to get out of the house today for her first girl’s afternoon since giving birth to Aurora that I didn’t want to tell them all I’m exhausted and ready for bed. I usually do a better job of reading my body and knowing when I’m drained, but I didn’t want to ruin it for her. Besides, a low-key dinner with the girls sounds perfect.

I pull out my phone and shoot a text to Cooper.

Carys

Babe, we just got to Nonna’s. Do you want me to bring you home anything for dinner?

Cooper

Sure. Can you order me the chicken parm?

Carys

Sounds good. Love you.

I follow the girls into the dining room, then drop my phone back in my purse and almost scream when I look up.

“Surprise!”

My eyes immediately flood with tears as I look around the room full of the people I love most in this world. Before the girls can even say a word, Cooper has me wrapped in his arms. His chest vibrates with silent laughter as I cry, overwhelmed and exhausted. “Shh... Don’t cry, baby.”

I peek up over his shoulder and see Nattie, front and center, standing between Declan and Aiden. Her beachball belly testing the limits of her cute pink maternity dress. The tears in her eyes match mine. She holds out her arms for me, and I walk into them and rest my hand on her belly.

“All you ever need to do is love my brother, Carys.” We stand there quietly for a moment, while the chaos of my nieces and nephews running around drowns out most of the voices, until suddenly someone spills a glass of water on my feet.

Only, when I look down, I realize the water is still running down Nattie’s legs.

When I lift my eyes to hers, a shocked expression has replaced the warmth that was there a moment ago. “Umm, guys...” She grabs Brady’s hand. “My water just broke.”