Josh and Gemma Make a Baby(96)

“I need to use the bathroom,” I say.

She shakes her head and drops the bathroom key into my hand.

My phone buzzes again.

Josh: Inspiration?

I step into the bathroom and lock the door behind me.

Gemma: How about an ankle pic?

Josh: …

Gemma: I could send you a pic of my stomach.

Josh: Gemma…they’re knocking on the door. Little help here?

I grin at myself in the mirror. Then I prop my phone on the sink and hit the video call button.

Josh answers on the first ring.

“Gemma?”

His voice echoes in the tile bathroom. I put my finger to my lip and smile.

Then I whisper, “How’s this?” I pull my T-shirt over my head. My hair comes out of my ponytail and falls around my shoulders. I stand in front of the camera in my bra and shorts.

Josh’s eyes go wide, and he gets that look I recognize. The one where I have about five seconds to choose between the bedroom or the floor.

“Not a breast man,” he says with a low growl.

I smile at him, then turn my back to the camera. I unhook my bra and let it fall away.

I hear his sharp intake of breath. But I don’t stop. I unbutton my shorts and then slowly side them down my legs.

“Gemma…”

I push my panties down my legs, until I’m standing in front of the camera completely naked. Josh sucks in a harsh breath. I look over my shoulder and smile at him.

His eyes aren’t focused on my bare skin, but on my face.

“I love you. Have I told you lately how much I love you?”

I shake my head no. “Not since this morning.”

He gives me a surprised look. “Let me remind you then. I love you. I love that you’re mine. I love you.”

“I love you,” I say back.

And that’s when I know, everything is going to work out. Everything is going to be okay. Everything is going to be perfect.

Because when you believe the universe is going to give you good things, sooner or later, it will.





It’s January first and all our friends and family are gathered at the annual Wieners and Wine New Year’s Resolution Party. My parents’ house is full to the brim with guests, even more than usual. There has to be at least a hundred people here. The plastic wrap is out in full force protecting all carpeting and furnishings from barbecue sauce and red wine spills.

I breathe in the happy, familiar smell of barbecue wieners, mini gherkins, and lime Jell-O. My mom bustles out of the kitchen with a tray of pimento olives on toothpicks. She lifts it up high as Sasha, the twins and Colin race under it after their new puppy, a little cocker spaniel named Chase.

“Kids, no running in the house,” Leah calls after them. But she’s distracted when Oliver grabs her hand, spins her around and dips her. Leah smiles up at Oliver, then he plants a kiss on her lips.

“Leah made her resolution come true,” I say.

Josh looks at my sister and her husband. “Dance lessons?”

I nod. “And Sasha got her resolution.” I point at the puppy that the kids got for Christmas. The girls are now huddled under the dining room table trying to pry Chase away from chewing up the table leg.

“What are we talking about?” Brook walks over with her husband in tow. He’s a bulky, rough-looking New York City police officer with a tiny little newborn in his arms.

“You’re Daddy’s girl, aren’t you?” he coos to her.

Josh looks over at me and smirks. Then he turns to Brook. “We’re pointing out whose New Year’s Resolution came true.”

“Mine did,” Brook says. Then she nods at Carly and Theo. “Carly’s too. Did I tell you? He got her a Learjet.”

I shake my head. “I don’t think that was her resolution.”

Brook nods sagely. “But it should have been.”

Hannah comes over. She’s in a long red velvet dress with a crown braid on top of her head. She looks like a fairy princess. She has the tiniest little baby bump, and I expect she’ll have an announcement for everybody soon.

“Mini gherkins, I love mini gherkins,” she says. She scoops a dozen of them onto her plate.

Brook looks over at me and gives me a wide-eyed stare. I wink at her. She turns to Hannah. “Pickles aren’t on the raw fertility diet.”

Hannah scowls at Brook. “I’m having pickles. Okay? And do not tell me a crazy story about some random pickle crime boss or I will stab you with a toothpick. ’Kay?”

Brook gives a huge smile. “Sure, Hannah. Don’t worry about it. Have as many pickles as you want.”

I cover a laugh. Josh leans into me. “What’s with the pickles?” he murmurs. “You never want pickles.”

I wrap my arms around him and lean my head against his shoulder. “Yeah, it’s all cantaloupe and steak for me.”

He chuckles and then he gently rests his hand over my rounded belly. His hand moves in a slow, loving circle and I feel the baby give a kick.

“He’s awake,” I say.

“She,” Josh says. He gives me a teasing smile and spreads his fingers across my belly. The protective warmth of him spreads through me.

We decided to wait to find out whether our baby’s a girl or a boy. I think he’s a boy, but Josh swears she’s a girl. In four short months, we’ll find out.