Chapter 26 - The second baby shower
Three years after Naya’s shower, our cousin Jenna had a baby shower.
Naya and I were both invited.
So was Mom.
No Mike.
Not because of us.
He barely knew Jenna.
The decorations were yellow and green.
Thank God.
I sat beside Daniel, now thirteen.
Tall.
Voice dropping at unpredictable moments.
Molly attended briefly with Rebecca because Jenna had become friendly with her through family events.
Lucas, almost three, ran around stealing cookies.
Naya chased him.
At one point Jenna opened a gift.
A baby carrier.
Someone joked:
“Now Dad has no excuse.”
The room laughed.
I felt something pass through me.
Not pain exactly.
Memory.
Naya looked at me.
She had heard it too.
Three years earlier, she would have avoided my eyes.
Now she mouthed:
“You okay?”
I nodded.
That was all.
Later, Daniel whispered:
“Do you remember what I said?”
“At Naya’s shower?”
“Yeah.”
“Unfortunately.”
He grinned.
“I was kind of legendary.”
“No.”
His smile vanished.
“What?”
“You were brave. You were also ten and furious.”
“That’s less cool.”
“Truth often is.”
He leaned back.
“Would you rather I didn’t say it?”
I thought.
“No.”
“Then legendary.”
“Eat your cupcake.”
May you like
He did.
Some battles are not worth continuing.
