Who Loves You, Pretty Baby

Baby Steps

By 6:30 that day, I was exhausted and I knew Mary was exhausted. She and I sat there in the breakfast nook with Chrissie and Veronica surrounded by an explosion of wrapping paper, tissue paper, bows, boxes, and bags. This house was a mess and that’s an understatement. Mary and I would be cleaning up for days it seemed and I knew my dishwasher would be working overtime. It was nice that the four of us could finally enjoy each other without fifty others around to entertain. Both Chrissie and Veronica were still in a state of shock over everything that had happened today.

 “I just can’t believe you two did all this without us even realizing! I hope to tell you, we didn’t have a damn clue!” Veronica said. “Thank you. Thank you both for such a truly beautiful day.” Veronica’s words were so very sincere.

 “It was so wonderful to see so many people who loved here today. Shit, Lydia. I can’t even begin to help you clean up! I can barely clean my house!” Chrissie admitted. “Look how swollen I am! Look at my feet! Sandals are the only things that save me right now!

 “Hey, speaking of sandals, Roger and I were talking yesterday and we want all of us to go out on the yacht next week!” I said excitedly.

 “Oh my god! The yacht! That’s right! You have it docked!” Veronica said.

 “Yes, so. Next week you three talk to ya’ other halves and tell us a day. We would only stay out for two of three nights and we could bring ya’ back to port if anyone starts feelin’ all….labor-y.” I smiled and searched around for my cigarettes.

 “The yacht!? You want to take us all out onto the yacht?” Mary asked. I could sense the excitement in her voice. “Have…you even been on the yacht yet?” she asked.

 “Of course! Roger and I spent a week on it and might I add, what a week it was! He met my dad today and they’ve had it out away from the harbor. You know, getting familiar with the controls and such.” I explained, having found my cigarettes.

 “He doesn’t know how to drive the yacht?” Mary questioned.

 “Yes, yes. He knows how. We both do. But today is the first time he’s spent an extended time with it away from the harbor.” I elaborated.

 “I can’t go out on the yacht! Not now! I’m about to have this baby!” Chrissie insisted, rubbing her hand over her stomach.

 “You still have three weeks to go and you probably won’t go early. I’m farther behind you and it’s only for a few days. You’ll be fine.” Veronica insisted. Chrissie wasn’t entirely convinced.

 “Think about it Chrissie. Twenty-nine meters of floating luxury. Champagne, vodka, laying on the deck, a different party at the dock each night, watching the trawlers come in at sunset, waking up to the sound of the gulls and your clothes strung from one end of the bedroom to the other.” I stopped because I couldn’t help but laugh. “Shit…I love the yacht.” I finished.

 “You…you did all this in a week?” Chrissie asked. I shook my head.

 “Hell, I’m not surprised at all. I’ll ask Freddie tonight but any day should probably be okay!” Mary said excitedly.  Chrissie gave Veronica an apprehensive look but Veronica’s smile said it all.