Baby Shower

A celebration for Hope Valley's newest resident

Allie sat in the kitchen of the cafe, Angela across from her, but their homework was being ignored in favor of Allie's latest scheme. She looked over the paper she had been writing notes on. "So what else do you think a baby shower would need?"

"Why are you planning the baby shower though? Don't you think Mrs. Coulter will take care of everything?" Angela asked.

"Mom told Mrs. Coulter and everyone else that she didn't need a baby shower. They're only supposed to be for a first baby. But she gave away almost everything Jack had as a baby, and it's almost like she's having a first baby again. We don't even have a crib," Allie explained.

"No crib?" Minnie asked, overhearing the conversation as she came in from the dining room.

Allie looked up at her unexpected ally. "I know, right? The baby is supposed to be here in three weeks! So, could you help me Mrs. Canfield?"

Minnie tapped her chin. "Normally, I would say we should respect your mom's wishes, but I agree we should be celebrating the new arrival."

"Thank you! I have a list of things to do, but I don't know anything about baby showers. Am I missing anything?" Allie lifted her paper so Minnie could look it over.

"Games, food, decorations, gifts…" Minnie read aloud.

Angela interjected. "Should we have invitations?"

"Yes! Invitations! I knew I was missing something!" Allie took back the paper to add invitations.

Minnie spoke up in her soft manner. "You have a good start. You'll also need a place and time for the shower."

Allie looked up to eye Minnie pleadingly. "Could we have it here on Saturday?" she asked.

Minnie nodded. "If we do it at lunchtime, that shouldn't be a problem."

"Thank you!" Allie turned back to her paper. "And could you help us make the food? I'll do as much as I can, but… I've never made food for a party before."

"I would love to help," Minnie said.

Mrs. Coulter came into the kitchen like she owned it and huffed at Minnie. "We need to do something about Elizabeth. She still refuses to have a baby shower, and I just found out she had next to no clothes for the baby!"

"I'm working on it," Allie mentioned. She showed Mrs. Coulter her updated list.

"Oh, aren't you a dear? I would be happy to take over anything you need me to. How about invitations and games? I could take on food and decorations as well," Mrs. Coulter offered.

Allie paused. She knew her neighbor well enough to know Mrs. Coulter would take over everything if Allie let her. Although she knew next to nothing about this baby shower thing, she wanted to try it out, so she decided to limit Mrs. Coulter's involvement. "Thanks so much for your offer. Mrs. Canfield is already working on the food, and Angela and I were going to do decorations and games, but I would love it if you could help with invitations."

"Oh, okay," Mrs. Coulter said, a little deflated.

Allie tried to think if there was anything else Mrs. Coulter could do for her. "Then again, Angela and I don't really know what games to play at a baby shower. Do you think you could help us with that?"

Mrs. Coulter got lighter again. "I would love to help. As long as we don't play 'Don't say Baby.'"

"What's 'Don't say Baby'?" Angela asked.

"Just the worst baby shower game ever. Now, what do you think of this?" Mrs. Coulter sketched out a quick draft of an invitation for Allie, and she beamed. It was perfect.

"That's fantastic Mrs. Coulter!" She began to relax, more hope flooding through her. This was going to be the best baby shower ever, she just knew it.

—-

Saturday morning was a perfect example of an April day, the sun burning through the clouds of last night's shower, promising some higher temperatures and the emergence of new growth. Elizabeth couldn't resist the quiet of the morning to journal, reflecting most upon the upcoming addition to their family. She couldn't believe how quickly it had happened; they were going to be quite crowded until the new house they were building across the street was finished. As long as they kept on schedule, they could move in by the end of summer, long before the baby was ready to need his or her own room.

"Good morning, beautiful." Nathan greeted her with a kiss on the forehead. He was attempting to do up the tight hook at the top of his uniform, but Elizabeth stepped in as usual to help him with it.

"Good morning. Sorry, I haven't made breakfast yet. Do you need to go into town? I could whip up some pancakes quickly."

"No need. I can work on breakfast. You just take care of this one." Nathan cradled her stomach, earning a good morning kick.

"He's already a daddy's boy," Elizabeth said, placing her hand over Nathan's.

"Don't start with that," Nathan replied. They were fiercely divided on a boy versus a girl, and only time would tell who was right, and who was happy despite being wrong.

Jack raced down the stairs, jumping over the last step in his excitement. "Dad, are we going riding today?" Jack asked. He was already attired in his riding pants and hat, clearly not wasting any time.

"We're going closer to lunchtime, remember? We're taking a picnic, just you and me."

"Yay! I love picnics!" Jack said. He bounded over to Elizabeth, before sourly eyeing the large stomach that had taken over his favorite seat.

Jack looked into Elizabeth's face, putting on his biggest pout. "Momma, maybe you can leave the baby and come too!"

Elizabeth chuckled and pulled Jack as close as her protruding belly would allow. "Unfortunately, Baby and I stuck together a little while longer. But you and Dad will have fun."

"What about Allie?"

Allie approached just in time to hear her name. "What's that Jack?" she asked.

"You can come on a picnic with me and Dad!" he announced.

"Sorry, not this time. I thought maybe Mom and I could have our own special lunch," she said in a rush. She hoped she didn't sound too suspicious. She had told her Dad why he needed to take Jack out for the afternoon, but she had successfully hidden everything from Elizabeth so far.

"I love the idea of a special girl's lunch," Elizabeth said with no hint of subtext. Allie hoped that meant she wasn't thinking anything more than that she wasn't keen to spend time with the boys.

Breakfast passed without a hitch, and Allie excused herself after cleaning up the dishes. "Angela and I are working on a new song. See you at lunch!" she fibbed. Grabbing her shawl, she set out for the cafe to help with last minute preparations.

At the cafe, Allie helped Minnie decorate the chocolate cake she had made last night. Then they cut up fruit and vegetables to go alongside the sandwiches they were going to serve.

"Mom will love this!" Allie gushed, awed by the beautiful decorations and the amazing food Minnie had pulled together.

"When you said you wanted to surprise her, I knew we had to do something really special," Minnie assured her.

Allie took a moment to admire it all before she glanced at the clock. "I should go get our woman of the hour," Allie said.

She rushed home, hoping she could persuade her mother into town with limited cajoling. She practiced her speech as she walked. "Since Dad and Jack went for a picnic, why don't we go to the cafe for lunch? Mrs. Canfield made a new lasagna recipe, and Angela said it's delicious!"

Satisfied with the fib, she walked quickly to her house, eyeing longingly the building that would soon become her new home. Sharing a room with Jack was getting really old, and she didn't want to have to cram the new baby in with them as well. Dad and Mom said the baby would stay in their room even after they moved, but Allie worried that something would change those plans unexpectedly.

She made it in time to say a quick goodbye to Dad and Jack before they took off for their ride. Elizabeth also stood at the door, a shawl wrapped around her shoulders.

"Hey Allie. How do you feel about heading back into town? I thought we should make this girl's day even more special by going to the cafe, then maybe ice cream?" Elizabeth said.

Allie hoped her face showed only mild surprise, rather than the joy she felt at not having to lie to her mother about the upcoming surprise. "That sounds great. I'd love to."

Elizabeth pulled the door closed behind her. "Then let's go."

As they walked into town, Allie focused their conversation on the latest Anne of Green Gables book that they were both reading. She figured the topic was a safe one to avoid giving away her nervousness. They were thoroughly engrossed enough that they made it to the cafe without a hitch.

Allie pulled open the cafe door. "After you," she gestured to Elizabeth.

"Surprise!' the gathered women chorused. The cafe was decked out with balloons, streamers, and a giant hand painted sign declaring "Welcome Baby!" Allie spied the cake she had decorated that morning with pink and blue roses.

"What is all this?" Elizabeth asked, giving hugs all around as she marveled at the surprise.

Rosemary held her tight when it was her turn for a hug. "This is your baby shower. And before you protest, this was all Allie's idea, not mine."

"This was you?" Elizabeth turned to her daughter. She took her into a fierce hug, squeezing all her love into the teen.

"Yes. I just thought, my little brother or sister deserves more than five sets of clothes and some broken toys," Allie said. She gestured to the gifts, and then to a comfortable wingback chair Minnie had brought in just for Elizabeth.

"Well, then, I guess, we should shower the baby with love." Elizabeth sat, a large smile on her face.

Allie matched her smile, and looked at the amazing women that had gathered to celebrate her family. Then she realized they looked to her to begin the party. "Well, let's party then!"

The women of Hope Valley did what they did best. There was a mountain of gifts for Elizabeth to open, including plenty of clothes and new supplies to help with the baby. The gifts had dwindled down to nothing when Rosemary said she had one more hidden in the kitchen. "Close your eyes," she said before sneaking back there.

"Rosemary, you didn't have to! This is all too much as it is!" Elizabeth protested.

"Just enjoy this!" Allie contributed by covering Elizabeth's eyes herself, wanting her to get the full effect of this surprise.

"What are you doing?" Elizabeth asked.

"Just one minute," Rosemary said as she made a few adjustments. Then she began a countdown. "3, 2, 1!"

Allie removed her hands, and Elizabeth blinked a few times. Then she spied her gift, and tears glistened in her eyes.

"Rosemary, is that…"

"It's Jack's crib. I think it should go back to you now. Goldie's ready for a new bed anyway."

Elizabeth lovingly ran her hand along the top rail of her son's first resting place, and Allie couldn't prevent a few tears of her own falling. She knew nothing would be more perfect for her little brother or sister.

Elizabeth pulled Allie close to her and looked out to her gathered friends. "Thank you all for this wonderful day! This baby and I are so blessed to have such great friends, and amazing family."

Allie couldn't stop smiling. She could confidently say her first baby shower was a success.