Against the Odds (Fighting to Survive #2)(21)
I walk over to where Molly and Leah are and Molly stands up and hugs me. I hug her back and look at Leah over Molly’s shoulder. Leah smiles at me. I say to Molly, “Doll, you look incredible.”
“Thank you, Bobby. You do, too. Leah was just filling me in on everything. What a week, huh?”
I know that Leah didn’t hold anything back from Molly. She also considers Molly, a close friend. “Yeah, it’s been a crazy week.” I look at Molly who is now sitting down and she is wearing a pink tee shirt that says Team Pink across it. “I hear that you’re responsible for turning the gender reveal party into a baby shower/ gender reveal combo.”
“Responsible? No, but I did think it was a good idea.”
Leah smiles and says, “It was a great idea. I’m so happy to have everyone here tonight. I’ve missed them terribly.”
“Bobby, this is a very nice party,” Molly says, looking around the crowded room. “You should go into party planning.” Molly pinches her tee shirt at the shoulders and lifts it slightly. “This was a great idea.”
At that time, Mom claps her hand and gather everyone near her. The girls play a few baby shower games and the guys have a beer or two. I sit at the bar behind Leah and watch her. She smiles and laughs and it makes me happy. Leah doesn’t show any signs of depression and I release my girl is a fighter. When she stands up from the couch, I rush over to her. “Going somewhere, Sweets?”
“I thought I would go to the restroom, if that’s all right with you?”
“Let me help you.” I offer her my elbow and she takes it.
“You do know, I can walk by myself, don’t you?”
“I do. I just wanna walk with you.”
Leah
Robert walks me back to the party and helps me to sit down. I sit upright but prop my feet up on the coffee table. I look up at him and smile. It’s my way of asking if this is all right without actually verbalizing it. He smiles, nods, and walks away. Although the room is full of people, I know that Robert is watching me.
Dove asks about the nursery, and Angel and Emma proudly give a grand tour of the baby’s room. I have to smile when I remember coming home and our friends had painted the walls, hung curtains, and set up the nursery with everything needed to care for a baby.
Robert sits with me when it’s time to open the gifts. I’m excited to see all of the receiving blankets, sleepers, and even an infant car seat and a swing.
After we all eat, Mom and Margie walk around with a platter of foil-covered cupcakes. Everyone takes one and I can hear squealing coming from Molly. Mom says, “This is the moment when we reveal the gender of Robert and Leah’s baby. Although it was supposed to be a surprise for everyone, the doctor kind of ruined that for them.”
“He didn’t ruin it for us, he enhanced it for us. We were able to refer to our baby as a he… or a she, this week, because of him,” I interrupt.
“Can we have all of the Team Blue members to the right of the room? And the Team Pink members to the left.”
Robert holds my hand as we watch everyone join their designated group. I laugh when I see how many couples picked differently. Molly and Dove walks around taking pictures as they have done throughout most of the party. I’m excited to see that professional pictures are being taken of the event.
Margie smiles, and says, “Now it’s your turn to know what they already know. Please, remove the cupcake wrapper and hold up your cupcake.”
I hear the rustling sounds of the foil wrappers being removed and the laughter, hoots, boos, and squeals coming from everyone in the room. “I knew it,” I hear Emma say. She and Angel are standing next to each other on the Team Pink side, laughing. Within seconds, everyone is holding up their pink cupcakes into the air. I see the flash from several cameras as Robert and I laugh.
Everyone helps with the cleanup before they leave. I remain seated, although I would rather be up helping and visiting. I get kisses and hugs from everyone before they leave. Robert stays with me on the couch as we say our goodbyes together. We thank them for coming and for the gifts and they congratulate us.
Drake Sinclair
I sit in my black Mercedes outside of the Grether residents. I had my attorney, Mr. Reed, find out everything he could about Bobby and Leah Grether, including their address. According to DNA results, they are Madison’s biological parents. I waited by the gate for a car to enter their passcode into the keypad, then I followed them into the gated community. I wanted to see where they lived and how they lived.
I sit patiently in my car as I watch people enter and exit their home. Looks like they’re having a party, a celebration. Must be nice. My world has been turned upside down and they are out celebrating. I snap a few pictures and wait.
The longer I sit here the angrier I become. I move my car and park it down the road, still within viewing distance of their home. I watch their house and make note of the window and door placements. I can’t see the rear or the other side of the house, so I walk around the neighborhood, keeping their home within my view.
Leah
When the last person leaves, I am exhausted. Robert locks up and I wait for him in bed. It felt good to be among friends today in celebration of our baby. The fears that this baby could be switched at birth haunt me. And not knowing what will happen with the Drakes, Madison, and us tears at my heartstrings. When I think back to the anger that Drake Sinclair showed during the meeting, I shiver. I still silently fight the black cloud, and Robert tries so hard to keep my mind on the good things that our life has to offer. For him and for this baby, I will try my best to fight the depression.