Against All Odds

Chapter Eighteen

The coffee shop is completely crowded, way more people than we had originally planned for. Last year when we had the karaoke contest, only about thirty people showed up. Too say that I was surprised when Xania read me the final count- one hundred and thirty-three- would be an understatement.

Ollie is currently in charge of keeping score, marking who is going to sing against who in the next round. Laughter is filling the air as two of the regulars at the coffee shop, an elderly couple, battle it out to a song about poker faces.

"This is great, Milo," Maya says from beside me, sipping at her peppermint hot chocolate.

"Thanks," I say, a smile on my face as I adjust Adalia in my arms. She is nearly a month old, still pretty scrunched looking, but cute anyway. She is fast asleep in my arms, not minding the loud music. "So far, we hit our goal, and the contest isn't even half over yet."

"It was a great idea. A fun way to get everyone out of the rain and buying your goodies. And all the works that you are allowing the local artists to show are amazing."

They really are. A couple times a year, I like to have an exhibit for some of the artists from Willow Creek and some of the other smaller towns close by. There are sixteen of them this time, their works displayed in the bookshop. I have been checking on them periodically, but David is the one running the show in there. People are bidding on the pieces, and it is easy to see that the artists are excited.

Shrugging my shoulders, I readjust Adalia so that she is laying on my shoulder. "It's fun for all of us. Besides, this way I can have a few hours without Ollie hovering over me."

"Oh please, like you don't love it," she says, readjusting the sock that is about to fall off of her daughter's foot. "Every time he dotes you practically preen."

"I do not!" I say, and Maya just rolls her eyes.

"Milo, you two are so in love it is practically gross. Add in the fact that you are actually starting to show, and the two of you are inseparable. You love the attention just as much as he loves giving it."

My mouth falls open to argue with her, but when no words come out, I snap it closed. She just raises an eyebrow at me, knowing that I can't argue with her.

We sit there silently for a few minutes, before Maya reaches over, setting her hand on my arm and giving it a small squeeze. "You two are good for each other. I don't think I have ever seen you this happy."

A small smile spreads across my face as one of my hands drops down to my stomach. I really am starting to show now. At my last appointment, I had been worried that I wasn't showing yet, nervous that I wasn't gaining enough weight. Dr. Romero had been quick to assure me that everything is progressing nicely. Next week we would even be able to find out the genders.

"He makes me feel like I am worth it."

"You are worth it," Maya says, wrapping an arm around my waist and giving me a tight hug. "Nico and I worried about you for years, but it looks like you have everything figured out now."

Nodding my head, I lean against her, taking comfort in her presence as we watch the next few singers get up on the makeshift stage that Nico and Ollie had spent all of last night constructing.

It isn't until Adalia wakes up, crying from hunger, that Maya steps away. "Mind if I nurse her in your office?"

"Not at all," I tell her, digging around in my pocket for my keys. She takes them, giving me a grateful smile while carrying her whining baby into the only quite part of the building.

Arms wrap around me not a second later, causing me to startle slightly. A familiar laugh greets me as Ollie presses a soft kiss against my ear, hands coming up to rest on my stomach. "How are all of my loves doing?"