Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 199(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 199(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
Business is booming and having Laura here most days means I can keep James happy and still get my hands dirty in other ways—with flowers. Something I’ll always love doing, but there’s really no contest when it comes to James. He wants me to have whatever makes me happy and running the store part time now makes me happier than ever.
This morning, Iris is carrying the coffee in one hand with a little paper sack pinched between her fingers and a stool from her shop in the other. My instinct is to rush and help her, but she playfully scolds me, looking me up and down before moving behind the counter and setting the stool down.
“I… brought you… a… stool,” she puffs, waving off my concern and rallying herself before scanning me again.
I open my mouth to tell her she didn’t have to. If I need something to sit on, there are plenty of crates, but I don’t come to work to sit on my ass all day.
“Girl, in your condition, you should be sitting down more… and eating more,” she adds, passing me the paper sack.
“Eat,” she commands me, and I already know it’s one of her giant chocolate muffins, the kind she always sells out of as soon as they’re out of the oven. I’m not going to argue with her, and taking a seat, I devour the baked treat, groaning with pleasure that isn’t just for show, either.
Iris’ food is always the best, and this morning, more than ever.
“What do you mean by a ‘girl in my condition?’” I finally ask, licking my gooey fingers and taking a sip of coffee.
Iris shakes her head and gives me a sidelong look.
“Have you told him yet?” she asks me in an almost accusing tone, making the pit of my stomach jolt.
“No, not yet. Hey? How did you know?” I ask her, catching myself and wondering if maybe I did tell Iris.
About the baby.
I have been pretty absent-minded lately.
If it’s so obvious to Iris, how obvious is it to James? He hasn’t said anything. Just tells me to keep eating and stop whining about the few pounds I’ve put on.
He still tells me I’m a ways off from being what he considers a healthy weight for a girl of my height, as he likes to put it. When I stand next to him or lie on top of him, I kinda have to agree. Next to him, I feel tiny, even at three months.
“Just when were you going to tell me?” Iris adds with a feigned offense, breaking into a warm smile instead and hugging me.
“I’m so proud of you, Jaz. So happy, too. You’ve made me the happiest old lady in the world this past year. And now a baby!” she exclaims.
“But… how did you know?” I ask. I have to ask.
Iris creases her brow. “You kidding me?” she shrieks.
“A man like that asks you to move in with him, and the fact you can’t even walk straight most days, Jasmine. Jeez, I may be old, but I’m not stupid!” she says loudly, slapping her thigh and laughing until she chokes.
I flush red at first, but she’s right. Before long, we’re both howling like maniacs. Iris is doing her best impression of me trying to act “normal” after a night of James after dark.
Suddenly, the sound of the brass bell above the door makes us both stop.
“What’s so funny?” James asks, his deep voice silencing both of us in a second, with Iris suddenly needing to go back to her store. She stops just long enough to squeeze James’ forearm before she does what she always does best—walks back over to her coffee shop. She shoots me her sly wink as she passes the window.
“Everything all right?” James asks, noticing the change in my mood.
I’ve gone from crazy laughter to a bundle of nerves, knowing I should’ve told James and Iris, too, but I only found out last night.
Although I had kind of figured I was pregnant, I never found the right moment to bring it up. With James on tap, it is pretty easy for a girl to get distracted.
“Jasmine?” he asks, moving over to me and taking my hands in his.
I’m still on my stool, which is just as well. I have a dizzy spell, which I have been getting lately, and James squats down in front of me, telling me firmly to let him know what’s wrong.
Nothing’s wrong. Everything is just perfect.
Okay, here goes…
“Remember how I said the store was my baby?” I ask, watching him consider it and nod before he gives me a blank look.
“Well…”
I try to find the words but reaching for James’ hands, I hold them over my belly, pressing them gently but firmly. It takes a moment, but once I see James connect the dots, I see just how happy it makes him. I already wish I’d told him sooner.