Some Strange Type of Peculiar Love

Baby Shower

Fiona's POV

I woke up around 9, today was my 'baby shower'. Originally, I was uncomfortable with the idea of everyone watching me give my baby a shower, but Noor said it's when everyone gives me things for the baby. I wasn't on board until Noor told me Emma would be cooking.

I was in the toweling off the water from my shower and I getting ready for my baby shower, (which was at 12) when I made a horrific realization.
I didn't have breakfast.
I lived for breakfast these days, the blueberry pancakes covered in maple syrup was one of my most prominent cravings so far, and for some reason pickles, which I never liked before my pregnancy. I dried my feet on the bath mat and put on my slippers when I smelled it.
Blueberry pancakes. Hugh was slaving over the hot stove with steam over his goggles.
"Morning." He smiled. I walked over to him and wiped the steam from his goggles and kissed him.
"Morning."
"Noor said we weren't allowed to come to your party, so the rest of us chaps are going to have beers at the pub and possibly come back here."
"Just make sure Enoch takes off his shoes." Lately he had found out there were skeletons possibly around the yard, so he's been digging holes all over, mostly in the bog, and then having me grow grass over the dirt so Miss P wouldn't catch on.
"I was maybe thinking we let him dig up the yard."
I gave him a skeptical look.
"I don't want baby Apiston to grow up in a haunted house!"
I laughed and rolled my eyes.
"Fine, but nothing under the house!"
Hugh nodded.

Before I could even knock on the door, Miss Peregrine opened it in a swift fashion and smiled.
"Oh you're just absolutely glowing!" I smiled shyly. Miss Peregrine and I linked arms and she walked me into the foyer. Horace was there, too.
"Horace managed to stay behind." Noor rolled her eyes annoyed. Her arms were folded and the pushed her chest up in a way that made Miss Peregrine do a double take.
"Everyone's at the pub, but I hate the pub and I like parties." He had on a baby blue tie with a light pink pocket square, everyone had something in either color on their person— even Miss Peregrine had a pink flower tucked into her hat. Suddenly it clicked, pink for girls, blue for boys. I knew for a fact I was having a boy. Hugh said that there wasn't any reason for me to believe I was having a boy.
"But I just know." I smiled playfully.
"Fiona, you want a boy right?" Horace said.
"Every mom wants a girl." Noor said in a matter-of-fact way. I shook my head and Noor looked at her feet. I wish I could see my feet.
"I can just see it now, Horace Junior." Horace said dreamily. I laughed quietly and shook my head.
"Well do you have anything in mind for names?" Bronwyn asked excitedly, the little ones were in the present all day with Lily and Ann, I think Bronwyn was exited for some adult conversation.
Oh my bird, I'm an adult.

First we played a game where you wrap a string around my belly and then others try to guess how long it was, which was a whopping 27 centimeters. I'm as big as a house! Miss Peregrine guessed perfectly the first time.
"But that's not fair, you know everything!" Emma protested. She was wearing a light blue dress with a pink flower behind her ear. Noor was wearing a hot pink halter top tucked into blue jeans that exposed her knees and upper thighs— I'm surprised Miss Peregrine didn't have a heart attack right then and there.
The next game was guessing the babies weight and hight, Miss Peregrine probably will get that one, too. Horace then brought out vegetarian  lasagna and breadsticks with a side salad for lunch. For desert, we had a beautiful two layer cake with the colors of the day, it tasted delicious too. Shortly after lunch, we played  2 other games involving a clear wrap with things rolled into it (you have a timer for how many seconds you can unroll and then you can keep the prizes, I got a neat little resin bookmark with pressed flowers in it that Noor got from the present). After that, we played 'guess the peculiarity' for the baby. Even if it isn't peculiar, Miss Peregrine told us, it was still conceived in a loop therefore if can stay here.
"It could be the first ever normal in a loop!" She said cheerfully. Still, I want my child to share the gift that Hugh and I have.
Horace wrote everyone's guesses down on our old school chalkboard.

Horace— Cloud Manipulation.
"It's one I've never heard of, but I like the idea of it."
Emma— Telekinesis
"Melina had that, it was really cool."
Bronwyn— Flight/Strength
"I don't know, it just came to my mind first!" She laughed.
Noor— Talking to Animals.
Noor shrugged, "Hugh said you can do it," I gave the international hand signal for 'sorta' and shrugged.
"Well either way, I think your baby will be able to do it very well." She said chirpily.

I came home around 6 to find Hugh sleeping on the couch next to some clothes, Millard. They were both snoring loudly as Bronwyn unloaded the cart and brought all the gifts into the nursery. Speaking of gifts,

I got a stroller (Miss Peregrine)

Some toys, and a raddle (Lily sent it from the present via Noor)

A gift card to a store called 'Target' ( the card was worth 100 pounds so I could buy whatever I needed Noor said)

A drawing book for me to do when I'm stressed (Emma)
A soft and fuzzy rocking horse (Horace)

A pack of baby bottles (Bronwyn)

Jumbo pack of disposable diapers (Horace)

Despite them not being here, the boys (plus Olive and Claire) left gifts.

Cream colored baby onesies that came with markers to draw on. (Claire and Olive)

How to be peculiar, a book by Millard Nullings (Millard)

Frankenstein: for kids (Enoch)

And lastly, a framed picture of all of us, which made me tear up (Jake)

Before I left, Noor gave me my last present in private, she said it was called a breast pump and that it helps with breast feeding. She also gave me some formula which she said was ok to use.
"Breast is best." Emma said under her breath, she was standing behind the door.
"Have your nipples bit on, then we'll see if 'breast is best'." Noor mocked.
I heard a groan and saw Millard and Hugh stretch and get up.
"Aww, were you two cuddling." Bronwyn touched her heart and smiled.
"We were napping." Hugh said defensively.
"Like men."
"Like men." Hugh repeated after Millard.
Millard glanced at his watch.
"It's almost dinner time! Lily is going to kill me!" Millard patted Hugh on the back and kissed my cheek as he dashed out the door.
What a beautiful day.

4/12/21