Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 90290 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90290 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Elle glances at me and without her saying anything, she knows I’m not impressed. Sometimes it’s hard to hide how you’re feeling, but the website for this winery showed a very different picture of what they can offer.
As soon as the tour ends, Kerry urges Elle to sign a contract, saying dates are filling up. She’s good at her job, but the winery isn’t selling itself. At least, not to me.
“I’m still looking at other places,” Elle tells her. Kerry nods. She gets it. Every bride has to do their due diligence. “I’ll be in touch.”
Once we’re an earshot away, I say, “Not a fan. The pictures they have on their website do not match.”
“No, they don’t. I hate when businesses do this,” Mom says. “It really chides my butt that they wasted our time.”
“Whoa, Mom. Watch the naughty language,” Elle says, and we both laugh. “Don’t worry, I’ll tell Ben and he’ll mention how disgruntled his MIL was during the visit.”
“MIL?” she asks.
“Mother-in-law,” I tell her.
“Do you call Liam a DIL?”
Elle snorts. “No, but others call Dad and Liam, DILFs.”
Mom looks at Elle strangely. I shake my head but know Elle’s going to do it.
“Dads I’d like to fu—”
“Elle Miller so help me. . .” Mom walks off shaking her head.
“She’s so easy to rile up,” Elle says as she links her arm with mine.
At the car, Elle tells us Ben has started vlogging. It was something his therapist said would help as part of his recovery and acceptance. “You know since he lost his nuts.”
“Elle!”
Elle cackles.
“That’s pretty cool for Ben,” I tell my sister.
Elle nods. “He’s doing a pretty detailed account of everything. It’s like journaling. At first, I thought it was a bit odd, but he likes it and I like reading and watching the videos he’s made. He’s taken a bunch of photos and videos on the sly and put them together.”
“That’s very sweet,” I tell her. I don’t bother to tell her that Noah’s taking a picture of me daily so we can watch the bump grow in real time. It feels intimate and something that should stay between us. I know he plans to share it on his social media sometime after the baby arrives and I’m okay with that, but for right now, I like that it’s private.
We pile into my mom’s car, with Elle in the front. Instead of going to the next winery, Mom takes us out to lunch. In the back corner, the color pink has exploded, and the section is filled with women, presents and balloons shaped like baby bottles.
“We should probably talk about a baby shower or gender reveal parties,” Mom says as we sit down. “We can schedule them after Elle’s bridal shower.”
“I love presents but don’t need a bridal shower. A baby shower for sure,” she says.
“I don’t want a shower or a party.”
“Wait, aren’t you and Noah going to find out?” Elle asks.
I shrug. “We’ve talked about it. One day, we want to know and then the next we want it to be a surprise. Imagine the elation you’d feel when Ben says it’s a boy or girl, and you’re finding out for the first time.”
“I get it,” Elle says. “I still want to know though.”
“For shopping,” Mom adds.
“Definitely,” Elle says. “I want everything bought and done so I can rest on maternity leave and not have to worry about anything. Just me, the baby and Ben, living in bliss.”
“Part of me wants that too,” I tell her and my mom. “But I don’t know. There’s something about the element of surprise.”
Mom nods. “You have a very valid point. I don’t care what you girls have, as long as they’re healthy and my babies stay safe. It’s all I can ask for.”
“How does it feel knowing you’re going to be a grandma?” Elle asks her.
“A lot better than it did when I found out I was having twins,” she said. “Even though I wouldn’t trade you girls for anything, having multiples scared the shit out of me.”
“Ben wants twins,” Elle says. “One of each and then we can be done.”
“Noah wants a football team,” I tell them. “He’ll be over-the-moon happy with the one he’s getting.”
Mom and Elle laugh. We pick up our menus and have our orders ready by the time the server comes to the table. With our glasses raised, Mom says, “To my babies and their babies, I’m one lucky woman.”
18
NOAH
Today, we are meeting Peyton’s obstetrician. I’d met the one she used in Portland, but because she’s pregnant now, she needs one in Cali. While I’m over the moon that we’re having a child, I’m nervous about fatherhood. I know I'm going to be a good dad because I have some strong male role models in my life, however I fear that with my career I won't always be around when my child needs me. Which makes me feel like I should retire sooner rather than later, and just kick this football career to the wayside.