In a Book Club Far Away(76)

“Fine.”

They followed the path around the game tents, and Adelaide waved at every baby in a stroller. With Matt almost home, the excitement of trying for a baby threatened to bubble over. To be part of a family like Sophie, to have a child to love, was all Adelaide could think about. “Thank you for including me in your people, and for asking me to come out with your people.”

“Of course.” Sophie tugged on her elbow. “Hey, you okay?”

“I’m fine. No, let me take that back.” Adelaide was learning a little more about herself every day, and telling the truth about her emotions was something she had to work on. “I’m feeling out of sorts, I guess. It’s another transition, with you and Regina actually having other lives than our threesome. It’s great, of course, and I’ll get my reunion, too. But it’s a sign that things change, whether or not we’re ready.”

“I’m always here, though,” Sophie said.

“How are you and Jasper? I haven’t even asked.”

They took a few steps without Sophie answering. They stopped at the low metal barrier of the Octopus, a ride with tentacle-like arms that spun cars of passengers. “Do you think Jasper and the girls are in there? He loves this ride.”

The roller coaster’s music began, and the cars began to move and spin.

“Soph?” Adelaide didn’t like this attempt at distraction.

Sophie sighed. “We are fine in every sense of the word. It’s been intense, is all. You know how it is. Even the joy is a lot. It still feels fragile.”

“Oh, uh-huh,” Adelaide answered casually, though she saw through Sophie’s flippant answer. There was more on her friend’s mind. But she didn’t push it; marriage and relationships like theirs had too many layers for other people to judge outright, especially a marriage that had just endured separation. She smiled to lighten the moment. “I understand. Intimately. We’re so excited for them to be back—”

“And then, the toilet paper roll doesn’t get replaced, and then I start crying for no reason. I go from feeling so grateful, to wondering why his socks are all over the floor.”

Adelaide threw her head back and laughed. “It’s such a mess.”

“Right? Oh! There they are!” Sophie reached high in air and waved.

Adelaide followed her gaze, to the Ferris wheel, a ride over from the Octopus. Jasper was in between his girls, an arm wrapped around each, as their carriage was carried upward, slowly. Their faces were lit up by the carriage lights, and the twins’ expressions were either of terror or sheer delight.

Adelaide wondered what Matt would be like as a dad of twins. When she became a mom…

If she became a mom…

She shook away the thought. She shouldn’t do that to herself.

“Hey, where’d you go right there?” Sophie asked softly.

Adelaide bit her cheek and debated on how much to say, then tried for another stab at vulnerability. “I’m afraid. I’m afraid I won’t ever be a mom. All I’ve ever wanted was two kids and a dog and a picket fence. What if I don’t get the thing I want the most?”

Sophie slung an arm around her shoulder. “It’s normal to be afraid. And though I can’t predict the future, I’ll be here for you, and Regina will, too. For anything. And I guess Matt will be there for you, too, right?”

Adelaide laughed. “I guess I do need him.”

Sophie scrunched a cheek. “Well, technically, you don’t necessarily need him.”

“True. But I want him.” Adelaide grinned. Feeling better, she popped a doughnut in her mouth, savoring it as it melted on her tongue. Her mind whipped back to their biggest dessert aficionado. “I think we should have a baby shower.”

“I’m down,” Sophie said. “It’s about that time.”

“Yes, and before it gets too busy. Once the rest of the unit returns, we might get less of a turnout.” Adelaide gave her the side-eye. “And in case things get… complicated?”

Sophie’s eyebrow rose. “Are we still talking about this?”

“Regina deserves a shower despite… what we might be hearing. I want her to know that we support her, no matter what. Maybe at our next book club?”

“It’s my month. We can make it a surprise. I was thinking of another YA book.”

“You’re really liking YA.”

“YA and romance. You really corrupted me.” She side-bumped her. “Actually, the right word is enlightened.”

“You’re welcome!” Adelaide yelled. The people in front of them turned around, confused.

Sophie laughed, sinking her teeth into the hunk of meat.

“By the way, you are the first person I’ve ever known to buy a turkey leg.”

“It’s damn good.” Sophie took another a bite, chewed, and swallowed. She looked over her shoulder. “Look, Ad. Ultimately, whatever’s going on with them is their issue. Not our monkeys.”

“But we have such a small unit. And we’re friends. We should be there for one another in spite of it all.”

“The line is thin and very fuzzy.”

In front of them, Jasper and the girls appeared. The twins were chatting nonstop about their Ferris wheel ride. Jasper was out of breath, laughing.