In this point in the story, I don't have Lemon the owner of Fancies yet. More time has been skipped and I'm sorry for that, but this is what finally came out after struggling with this chapter, I've tired countless times to write and it really felt like the cursor was mocking me. I'm sorry for the wait and I hope you can enjoy this one.
Once they got back from Summer camp, Braxton and Ariel were still acting funny around their parents. They had been questioned about it more than once and the answer was the same, they had no idea what their parents were going on about. The surprise they had for them while at camp had came home with them and in a way changed and they were waiting for their little brother or sister to be born, the final touch still needed to be added.
With their parents occupied as the months went by, they had talked to Jesse into helping them change the nursery around. Wade and Zoe had stayed away from the room as much as possible but they knew they'd have to go in there and get things switched around, every time they tried, one of the kids had been there to intercept them. Finally they had enough of trying to keep their parents from the room that they caved just a little and told them with Uncle Jesse's help it was a surprise for the both of them.
They'd let it go, seeing just how much it meant to their kids. Wade had found a way to get Jesse to talk and keep him updated with what was going on and not to keep Zoe stressed out, he'd fill her in on what he knew. Neither one of them knowing that Jesse wasn't letting anything that was actually happening in the room slip instead telling them what they wanted to hear.
With school in session Wade figured he'd be able to get at least a peek of what they had done in the room, but to his surprise the door was locked, when the kids weren't there. As easy as it would have been to break into the room, he let it be not wanting to ruin the surprise his kids were working so hard on.
"It shouldn't be this hard," Wade announced, tossing his pen down, watching it roll off the coffee table and land on the floor.
"Just because we've been through this before doesn't make things any easier," Zoe replied, gently closing the baby name book. "We've already decided to give the baby a normal name and not some weird name," she replied.
"I know, baby, but finding the right name in the middle of a ton of names that are just stupid, is annoying," he sighed.
"Is there a name you like?" Zoe asked. They had spent the last few weeks looking over baby names. Each of them skipping over the boy names and looking strictly at the girl names. They were okay with everything until they had took a look at boy names, that's when a few things would come up for them so instead of dealing with it, they looked at girl names. They were trying to wait until the baby was born to find out if they would have a daughter or a son. But with each visit they were finding it harder and harder to wait. The temptation of finding out the sex of their baby was starting to get the best of them.
"I always thought Elizabeth was a pretty name," he told her.
"Elizabeth Joyce Kinsella," Zoe smiled. "I like it."
Wade smiled, pulling his wife to him, his hands resting against her stomach as they kissed. Wade broke the kiss, resting his forehead against hers. "Now that we have that figured out, we can talk about what we're going to do for your birthday next week," he smirked.
"I told you and the kids, I don't want to do anything. Staying in with all of you sounds like heaven to me right now, especially one this one is due in a little over a month."
When they had hit the seventh month period of the pregnancy they had tried so hard to stay positive about everything and focus on the good things that were going to come. But they both had the worry in the back of their minds that something was going to happen. Wade had gotten so worried that he had talked to Brick and Harley and together they talked to Zoe telling her that they had everything covered at the practice. It took a bit of persuasion but in the end Zoe gave in, they were only thinking of her and what was best for her and even though she didn't like it, she knew it was for the best.
"Got it, no parties," Wade replied, hiding his smirk. He wouldn't throw a party and they wouldn't leave their house, but he had already planned out a low key evening with family and a few close friends.
"I mean it," she told him, resting her head against his chest. Her birthday would be special enough with just her family there.
The day of Zoe's birthday, Wade let her have the day she wanted. They had the food that Zoe wanted and they spent the night in watching movies, no matter the type of movie they found Zoe would cry. By this point they were use to it and whoever was the closet to the tissues would hand the box to Zoe. Wade would gently rub her arm or her stomach as she had curled into him.
After they had some cake and ice cream, they handed Zoe a little something so she wouldn't get suspicious that they had a little get together planned for the weekend. Braxton and Ariel had put there money together getting her a card and a gift basket filled with things for the tub so can relax after their sibling was born or even before if she wanted to use them. She really liked it hugging them both as more tears sprang to her eyes.
"Thank you," she told them through her tears. She really didn't like her emotions getting the best of her, but there wasn't a thing she could do about it.
Pulling away from the hug, Brax and Ariel took the dishes to the kitchen. She smiled looking over at Wade.
"I know you said that you didn't want anything but I couldn't find it in me to just go on and not get you anything for your birthday," he told her, pulling a little box out from it's hiding spot next to him. "It's not finished yet, as you'll see," he quickly told her.
Zoe gave him a look and slowly opened it. More tears and a small gasp was the only noise she made seeing the necklace with a heart pendant filled with the birthstones for Ariel, Braxton, and their new baby. Seeing the forth one she cried even more. "You put Boyd's on there," she replied.
"Even though he's not here, he's still our son," Wade replied, taking the necklace and placing it around her neck, Zoe holding her hair out of his way. "If this little one happens to be born later than what the doctor's say, I'll change the birthstone and there's always room for another one if we end up with another baby," he filled her in.
She had no words for him and let her emotions into the kiss she gave him, speak for her. She loved the necklace and that he didn't exclude their little boy they had lost, it was fitting for him to be included. Pulling away from him she did manage to chock a 'thank you' barely above a whisper, but Wade heard her and kissed her temple as they got settled to watch another movie.
The day of Zoe's little surprise get together, Harley came over and took her out to Fancies, convincing the owner to open just for them for an hour or two. Having a birthday breakfast with his daughter, had been something he had wished he'd been able to do when she was a little girl. But now it was going to be something he did every year that he could, last year they had went to Mobile but with his daughter being 8 months pregnant he was going to play it safe.
"We haven't talked much about this baby," Harley commented. "You guys still don't know what the baby is?"
"No," Zoe shook her head. "That's why we told everyone to plan a baby shower until after the baby was born," she told him. "We did come up with names, the boy was a little harder considering," she sighed, moving food around on her plate. "You'll find out the name when the baby is born, we want to keep the other name just in case," she told him with a smile.
"I can respect that," Harley laughed.
Zoe settled into an easy conversation with her dad, filling the hole Ethan created with completeness of caring and love. Her life had been shattered when Ethan had left but now that she had her father in her life it was great, though she told herself that if Ethan wanted to be a part of her life she had room and love for him as well.
Finishing their breakfast, they took a slow walk back to Zoe's house. The sun was shining brightly, the birds singing sweet melodies all with a light breeze.
"I thought I said no party," she told her husband with just a hint of anger, amusement in most of her voice. With as long as she known her husband, just because she didn't wasn't a part didn't mean that would stop him.
"It's just family and some close friends, nothing too big," he said with a kiss.
It was sweet that he had went through all the trouble to do this for her. Having a good time with friends and family as long as she could sit and rest, it made the day that much better.