tell her and shiver. “Have a nice date.”
“I will. Bye, Callie.” I close the door and pull the stopper out of my coffee. It’s still hot and smells so good.
“I’m going to bed,” Eliza tells me, walking down the hall as I head to the kitchen. “I’m glad you didn’t die.”
“Me too.”
“Oh, and your sister called, and I answered. We’re going to start planning your baby shower.”
“Isn’t it a little early?”
“To plan?” Eliza blinks, long lashes coming together rapidly. “Never. And from what I’ve read online, most new mothers wish they had their showers closer to six months than waiting until eight. And given your track record, who knows what will happen?”
“True.”
“Sometime in March would work, possibly on the anniversary of the very first time you walked into the bar. I thought you were crazy then.”
“And I’ve proven you wrong.”
“Only in the sense that crazy doesn’t even cover it.”
“That’s fair. And on the anniversary of when we met…I like that.”
“I knew you would, and no, it won’t get in the way of your niece’s second birthday party. We already worked that out.”
“Thanks, Eliza. Do you want to know what kind of theme or whatever I have in mind?”
“No.”
“But it’s my shower.”
Eliza shrugs one shoulder. “Did you like your wedding and reception?”
“Yeah,” I say, smiling when I think about it. “I did.”
“You’re welcome.” She gives me a wink. “All I need from you is a list of people to invite. And you’re going to leave the rest for me.”
“That sounds more like an order than an offer.”
“It is. If I left this to you or your friends, you’d all be sniffing melted chocolate in diapers.”
I wrinkle my nose. “I have heard of that game.”
“It’s disgusting.”
“It’s a waste of perfectly good chocolate is what it is.”
“I’ll never understand humans.”
I laugh. “Honestly, we don’t understand ourselves. Have a good night—day? Sleep well.”
“Thanks. Don’t be loud and wake me up. I need my beauty sleep.” She winks. “Actually not, but I do like sleeping.”
“Me too.” Right on cue, I yawn and take another drink of coffee. Eliza zooms up the stairs, and I go into the kitchen. Lucas sits with me while I eat.
“I know we planned on going home after breakfast, but if Abby’s home, do you care if I go over and visit for just a little bit?”
“By yourself?”
“Usually, when I visit her, she’s there so I’m not alone.”
Lucas frowns. “You know what I mean, and I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to go somewhere alone right now. Invite her over here. If anything happens, I can protect you.”
My heart swells in my chest, and I’m finding it hard to be annoyed with him. My risk level is at an all-time high right now, but I’m only eighteen weeks along. There’s no way I can survive another twenty-two weeks of being on house arrest. “I know,” I say gently, also realizing that Lucas is on house arrest of some kind as well. He cannot go outside during the day. I could be screaming in the streets and he’d have to choose between not burning to death or saving me, and we both know what he’d choose. “I’ll text her and see if she’s even free. Do you know where Eliza put my phone?”
“She was talking in the living room. I’ll get it for you.”
“Thanks.” I get back to work on devouring breakfast. Lucas brings my phone, and I text Abby.
Me: Hey, sorry I missed your call earlier, but I think Eliza was happy to answer. Are you busy today? I’m gonna be in town for another hour or so if you want to get together.
Abby: Hey! It’s okay. She said you were sleeping and I kind of forgot you keep different hours than I do. Well, except when I’m working midnights.
Me: Hah, right. I am up late a lot.
Abby: I’m just about to head out to go grocery shopping. Phil is staying home with Penny and I’m really looking forward to an hour or so alone. I can swing by if that’s okay.
Me: Yeah, that’d be great!
Abby: Okay, see ya soon then :-)
“You’ll be happy to know she offered to stop by,” I tell Lucas. “Remember when she used to be scared to come here?”
He nods. “She wouldn’t even come on the front stoop.”
“Seems like so long ago, but it really wasn’t.”
“A lot has happened in that time. No one can ever accuse you of being dull, my love.”
“My life has always had a certain level of danger to