Breathe Out (Just Breathe, #2)(127)

The next several hours after our meal, the four of them try on a variety of dresses between two different designer stores. I happily sit and watch with Sadie by my side, oohing and ahhing over each garment. They insist that I try on a few as well, so I oblige. Throughout their dress search, they all ask a variety of questions about Nathan and Nathaniel’s. Charlotte comments that she’s dying to see the dress I wore at the premier and commends me on feeling comfortable to wear such a revealing dress. I joke that wearing that dress is the most skin I’ve shown in public next to a bikini at the beach.

“If you don’t mind me asking, what do you ladies do? Emily? Charlotte? Isabella?” I inquire politely.

“I’m an editor for a fashion magazine,” Emily answers sweetly.

“How long have you been doing that?” I continue.

“Since college,” she returns. “I’ve been at the one I’m with now for about ten years.”

“Wow,” I reply. “Is it pretty flexible with regards to your work hours?”

“With the power of the internet and computers,” she comments. “It’s easier to work from home.”

“You work from home too, don’t you, Emma?” Isabella searches.

“Yes,” I confirm. “Both of my businesses are internet based.”

“I was a television executive,” Isabella offers.

“Was?” I seek.

“My career’s on hold while this one is coming,” Isabella expands, patting her belly. “There’s too much stress with the industry.”

“I can understand,” I reply.

“I help David and Daniel with the charter business,” Charlotte shares. “A little less with this one on the way.” She pats her rather large belly.

“How far along are you ladies?” I ask.

“We’re due only a few weeks apart,” Charlotte eagerly shares. “I’m expecting in late March, and Isabella is in early April.”

“How’s Maggie doing?” Mrs. Covelli chimes in.

“Good. Really good, thanks,” I reply.

“We heard about your friend,” Isabella shares.

“I can’t imagine going through that,” Charlotte comments. “That must have been really hard for her.”

“It was,” I offer, staring at the floor. “But, she’s doing really well now. They’re excited to try again.”

“What about this one, ladies?” Mrs. Covelli asks, stepping out from the dressing room.

We all turn to look at her and smile our approval.

“I think that’s the one, Mom,” Emily declares.

“Definitely,” Charlotte adds.

“Anything you try on looks good on you,” Isabella comments with a hint of playful complaining. “Everything I put on makes me look like an elephant.”

“Well, we are elephants,” Charlotte giggles, rubbing her belly.

“Not funny,” Isabella elegantly whines. “I still can’t understand how you don’t have swollen feet like me.”


“It’ll pass,” Charlotte soothes lovingly.

“Come now, ladies,” Mrs. Covelli directs. “You both are lovely. You’re carrying my grand babies and there’s nothing more glamours than that.”

My heart melts at her words.

“Do you want children, Emma?” Charlotte inquires.

I choke on my saliva. “What?”

“Children? Do you want them?” she repeats.

“Uh . . . no,” I answer nervously.

“Why not?” Isabella searches. “You’d be a great mom. Look at how you are with Sadie and Lily loves you. She’s already been calling you Aunt Emma.”

“What?” I gasp.

“She has,” Emily validates. “Lily keeps asking if you and Sadie can sleep over like Uncle Joe does.”

My eyebrows furrow, and I’m left speechless.

“Joe is her favorite uncle,” Charlotte adds. “Everyone in the family knows that.”

“He’ll make a great father too,” Isabella adds.

“Mom raised good men,” Emily praises Mrs. Covelli.

I get the distinct feeling that they’re baiting me to elicit a specific response — what response I’m not quite sure or for what reason.

“She definitely did,” Isabella agrees.

“Yep,” says Charlotte.

I stare at them, not sure what to say.

“You’ve got plenty of time to change your mind, Emma,” Isabella informs.

“For what?” I check, snapping back to the conversation.

“To want to have children,” Charlotte giggles.

“Emily didn’t have Lily until . . . you were what . . . thirty-two?” Isabella says, looking to Emily.

“That’s correct,” Emily says.

“Isabella and I are thirty-one and pregnant now,” Charlotte adds. “How old are you, Emma?”

“Twenty-four,” I cough out, uncomfortable that we’re still on this topic.

“Oh, you’ve got plenty of time,” Emily suggests.

My eyes bounce between the four of them as they nod and smile.

“She just needs to focus on finding a man,” Charlotte adds with a twinkle in her eye.