“Maybe she can fake some kind of labor pains!” Mrs. Rooney says.

Mrs. Townsend’s head falls in her hand. “She’s not even that far along! How would she have labor pains?”

“Right,” Mrs. Rooney agrees. “Moving on.”

All I’ve been doing is sitting quietly and eating cupcakes. I think I’ve figured out their process, though. One of them throws out an idea, two of them talk about it back and forth, the fourth explains why it’s dumb, and then they all move on. It’s hilarious and exhausting. All in all, it’s not a bad gig.

Of course, I would much rather be spending the day with Wyatt. Yesterday we went back out on that stupid Gator thing as he showed me more of the property. We walked along the creek that’s between his and the Townsend’s property where we had a picnic, and then he showed me why living in the country is great for fooling around.

We definitely couldn’t have had sex like that outside in the city. Well, not without an audience.

I’m enjoying our newfound sex life. According to the book of horrors, I’m only going to get hornier, which is the silver lining to all this. Wyatt doesn’t seem to mind, and I’ve told him to enjoy it while he can.

The only thing I have to do is address the elephant in the room—my leaving. He hasn’t brought it up, but then neither have I. I know we need to talk about everything, yet I haven’t found a good time. I’m not sure if I should go to Erin first or Wyatt. The last thing I want is to sever my ties to the bakery, only to find out that he doesn’t want more with me.

So, I let it linger.

But today is our twenty-week ultrasound. We’ll get to see the nugget and hopefully find out what the sex is.

I’m hoping after we get through that and Presley’s bridal shower next week, we can iron out our future, because the idea of leaving him . . . cripples me.

I glance at the ladies sitting around and decide to interject. “Why don’t I tell her I need her to run an errand with me?” I offer up, and they all laugh.

Another idea gets thrown out and dismissed right away.

Back to the cupcakes it is.

“I know!” Mrs. Hennington grows excited. “Why don’t we have Angie call Presley, tell her she has to go across town to do something, and that she needs her help?”

I swear I said that.

They all look at each other as if she just spoke gospel. “Oh! That’s a great idea, Macie!”

Really? I glance over at Mrs. Kannan. “Yes! So smart, and Presley will never expect it.”

“Umm,” I say with bewilderment. “I just said that, and you shot me down.”

“Not the point,” Mrs. Townsend says. “Can you go over there and take care of this? It’s important that she has no idea what’s going on. We’ve been plannin’ this event for a long time.”

I’ve learned that Wyatt wasn’t exaggerating when he said it was best to humor them. Presley isn’t a fool. She asked me last weekend to make sure she has her hair done and is dressed nice when she gets ambushed.

Still, I know I can’t tell them that. “It’ll be no problem. I’ll make sure Presley is completely in the dark.”

“Wonderful!” Macie yells. “Now, let’s talk about the balloons . . .”

Being the maid of honor in a wedding typically means you have to plan stuff, not here. Not with these ladies. It means I sit back, eat glorious food, and pretend my opinion is at all wanted. It’s cute they invite me, but really, I’m just here for the food.

Another half hour passes, and we’re all set.

I say goodbye to everyone, but Macie hangs back.

“How are you feelin’, sugar?” she asks as she loops her arm in mine. “Any sickness or cramping?”

“Nope.” I smile. “This has really been a wonderful pregnancy. I’m so glad I didn’t have morning sickness at all. The only thing I’m having now is heartburn whenever I eat sweets. But no cramping like the book said, and I feel really good.”

“That’s wonderful. I had great pregnancies with the first two boys. Wyatt, though . . .” She gives me a serious look. “He about killed me.” Who says something like that to a pregnant girl? “Today is the ultrasound?” she asks, completely missing the look of shock on my face.

“Yeah, I’m meeting him back home in an hour and then we head over.”

She pulls her shoulders up with excitement radiating off her. “So exciting!”

“I can’t wait.”

The last time that I got to see the baby was so early that I wasn’t even sure it was human. It looked like E.T.’s little brother holding a balloon.

“Have you thought at all about staying a little longer?” She tries her best to look innocent, but it’s not an offhanded question.

“I have,” I say and leave it there.

“You’re going to leave me in the dark, huh?”

I smile and nod. “I think Wyatt and I need to talk first. I hope you understand.”

Macie pats my arm. “Of course I do, honey. You don’t have to explain yourself to me. I want you to know that if you need anything . . .” she pauses. “I mean anything at all, you call me. And maybe after you find out whether my grandbaby is a girl or a boy you’ll let me go shoppin’?”

Shopping. Umm, yeah. “I would love that!”

We stop in front of the car, and she pulls me into her arms. “You have no idea how special you are, baby girl. No idea.” Her hands hold my shoulders as her green eyes study mine. “You’re a wonderful woman for comin’ here. I know it wasn’t easy. I know you struggled, but I see how that boy looks at you. I see how you look at him, too. Lovin’ someone isn’t a choice when you find someone worth lovin’. I believe that there are some things outside of our control that force us into situations.”

“Like having a baby?” I ask with a smile.

“Exactly,” Macie confirms. “But you and Wyatt are real. You were faced with an impossible situation, darlin’. I want you to know that I love you as if you were my own daughter. I know you already have a Mama,” she presses her hand to my cheek, “but you’ve got me if you ever need a fill-in.”

My heart swells, and I can’t stop the flurry of emotion that floods forward. Everything inside me cracks wide open. I burst out in a sob and wrap my arms around her.

My mother has never said anything remotely like that. She’s never told me how special I am, not that I can remember at least. She left me when she no longer could care. Not physically, but in every way that mattered. I haven’t spoken to her in two months. This should be one of those times a girl has her mother.

I weep for the mother I don’t have.

I weep for the broken girl inside me who so desperately needs this.

And I cry tears of happiness that I have someone like Macie Hennington in my life.

This is another thing Wyatt unknowingly gave me.

“Don’t cry, honey. I didn’t mean to make you cry.” She rubs my back, and I release her.

“I’m sorry.” I step back and rub my eyes. “It’s these damn hormones. I swear, they make me a freaking lunatic.”

She half smiles and rubs my arm. “Wyatt’s told me a little and then Presley told me a whole lot more about your mama. I’m real sorry. I love my boys more than anything, even when they drive me nuts. You’re not without people who love you, Angie. You’ve got a whole town full of Mama’s who will come to your side. Especially if we get to love on that baby, okay?”