Thrive - Side 2

Today’s the day of Abby's baby shower and I couldn’t be happier to be here for it. It was enough that Jack couldn’t be here for Miranda’s shower; it would be even more unfair to not have me here.

“How excited are you?” I asked as we got into my car to head to her shower.

"Extremely. Sure, Miranda's was fun, but this is different. I don't really have to do anything and still have fun."

I laughed and shook my head.

“How are you?”

“Happy and excited for you.”

We got there in maybe fifteen minutes and Abby couldn’t wait to get out of the car. She got out of the car and held onto my hand as we walked inside the building.

“Abby!” Miranda asked rushing toward her.

“Hi, hun.”

“Hey. How are you?”

“Really good, but I’m bound to be sitting on my ass a lot.”

She laughed.

“I remember feeling the same way.”

“Can I see my adorable nephew?”

“Of course you can. Let me go get him.” she said in a sing-song voice.

“Someone’s happy.” Abby said, sitting down.

She came back with a smiling and clearly awake baby.

“Hi, Luca. How are you, sweetie?”

She touched his cheek causing him to giggle and smiled back at him. I knelt beside her and kissed her cheek.

“Can I hold him for a while?”

“Of course. I’ll be back in a bit.” she said smiling.

Abby nodded.

“You are gonna be such an amazing mother.” I whispered.

She touched the hand that was on her shoulder and kissed me.

“I love you.” she said.

“I love you, too.”

She must’ve held him for five minutes when he fell asleep.

“I’m gonna get something to drink. Want something?”

“Water, please. Thank you.”

A minute later, I came back with her drink and mine and sat down beside her.

“He still sleeping?” I whispered.

“Yeah. Little guy is conked out.”

She then saw her mom walk toward us.

“Hi, honey.”

“Hi, Mom.”

“You look especially beautiful today.”

“Thank you.”

Her mom smiled.

"Let me take a pic of you three."

We posed for a quick pic.

"You guys are so adorable."

"So, I look good?" she asked.

Was she serious?

"Abby. Of course you do. Why would you ask something like that?" her mom asked.

She shrugged.

"You are the most beautiful woman in existence, let alone in this room. You remember me telling you something along those lines before. Right?" I said, kneeling in front of her.

She nodded.

"It's just one of those days, I guess."

"He's right. You know? You always have been beautiful.” her mom added.

“You guys are the best. You know that?”

“Can I have a smile?” I asked.

She smiled and I kissed her.

“I love you.” I said.

“I love you, too.”

“I love you, sweetie.” her mom said.

“Love you, too, Mom.”

She kissed Abby’s forehead and left.

“Are you feeling better?” I asked.

“Much. Thank you.”

Ten minutes and many greetings later, Miranda came back to see how Luca was doing.

“How’s he been?”

“Perfect. He’s been sleeping the entire time you’ve been gone.”

“That’s wonderful. Come here baby boy. Mommy missed you.” she said reaching for him.

“Just a month to go.” I said, wrapping my arms around her.

“Seems like everyone has arrived. Wanna eat?”

“Always.”

She was starving and therefore, so was Scarlett. She overloaded her plate which amused me.

“I’m eating for two. Have you forgotten?”

“It still amuses me.”

“Can I tell you something? Don’t know why I haven’t yet.”

“Of course.”

“The day of Miranda’s baby shower, I had a flashback to when I was depressed and back home. It was actually one of my better memories. It was when I first started listening to you guys. I had gone to the record store and picked up Put Up or Shut Up and I was hooked.”

I smiled as she continued to tell me what brought that on.

“That is a great memory.”

“All it took was your voice.” she said, blushing.

“You’re adorable.” I said, putting my hand over hers.

“I try.” she said, laughing.

I laughed.

“I plan on singing to her tonight before bedtime.”

“I’m looking forward to that.”

“How is everything?” Miranda asked, coming up from behind Abby.

“Delicious. Thank you, hun.”

She came around and hugged Abby.

Minutes later, we started played games like the ever so popular how much toilet paper would it take to wrap around my belly, also guessing Abby’s measurements in the meantime and the one with putting chocolate in fake diapers and seeing what kind is in each, among others. When it finally came to the unwrapping of gifts, I could see how excited she was, but also, how tired she was.

“Oh, wow. What do I open first?”

It was overwhelming but amazing, seeing how all these people were happy and excited for us. We got a multitude of diapers, clothes and other necessities of course, but when we got to the last two sets of gifts who were from Miranda and Jack and Abby’s mom and Tyler, I knew that there was going to be more than necessities in them. Perhaps the most heartwarming gift was something that was incredibly adorable.

“It’s a bunny.”

Abby has had such a love when it came to bunnies, and it has lasted her entire life, so naturally, it wasn’t surprising that there was a bunny themed basket from her Mom and stepdad.

“Thank you, Mom.”

“Don’t mention it, Abby. You are gonna have the most adorable kid ever.”

Abby looked back at me and I was smiling and holding the bunny. Since the color of Scarlett’s nursery is yellow, that was the basis of Miranda and Jack’s basket which had some of the cutest and useful items one could have.

“Thank you guys.” she said to the both of them.

They each hugged her.

“And there’s one more thing...” Miranda said.

She walked over to a small basket which had a bunch of paper in it.

“These are wishes for Baby Scarlett that everybody wrote after they came in the door.” she handed me the basket.

“You’re the best friend a girl could ask for.” Abby said, tearing up again.

“Right back at ya, girl.”

Abby laughed.

Ten minutes later, people began to leave and she was ready to go home.

“I want to sleep.” she said to me.

“I know you do. How does fifteen minutes sound?”

She nodded and I kissed her forehead.

“Thanks for the shower, Miranda. It was more than I could’ve dreamed of.”

“It was a pleasure to plan it, Abby.”

When she got into the car a handful of minutes later, her eyes shut and she was asleep.

“We’re home, baby.”

“No. Goodnight.”

I laughed at her.

“Shut up, Alex.”

It took her a second to wake up and move, but I knew that as soon as she would head to the bedroom, she’d conk out again; I was right.

“Hey, sleepyhead.” I said, walking out of the bathroom.

“Hey. Come kiss me.”

I smiled and walked over to kiss her

“You have a great time today?”

She adjusted herself, so she was slightly sitting up beside me.

“Wonderful. I couldn’t have asked for a better shower.”

“That’s good to hear.”

She leaned my head onto my shoulder and smiled as my hand ran through her hair. When it was time for bed, I knew that Abby was ready for sleep, but also ready for me to sing to Scarlett as was I.

A dream is a wish your heart makes
When you're fast asleep
In dreams you will lose your heartaches
Whatever you wish for, you keep

Have faith in your dreams and someday
Your rainbow will come smiling through
No matter how your heart is grieving
If you keep on believing
The dream that you wish will come true

A dream is a wish your heart makes
When you're fast asleep
In dreams you will lose your heartaches
Whatever you wish for, you keep

Have faith in your dreams and someday
Your rainbow will come smiling through
No matter how your heart is grieving
If you keep on believing
The dream that you wish will come true

As I sung one of her favorite Disney songs, she smiled and ran her hand through my hair as I sung directly to Scarlett. This moment was beyond perfect and one I knew I’d never forget.

Notes