The banner draping the back of the room was white with gold metallic cursive lettering reading, “It’s a baby!”
A few flashes from cameras snapped as Stefanie broke off from the crowd and enveloped Pen into a warm hug. Pen held on a beat longer than she expected. Ending the engagement with Zach also would mean distancing herself from his family, and she was going to miss Stef when she left.
“We’re very surprised,” Pen said, including Zach, who stood at her side like a wall. She quirked an eyebrow at him and his mouth pulled into a tight smile for the benefit of their guests. Yes, probably her timing wasn’t the best on telling him her plans.
Stef hugged her brother next. “I know you hate surprises, Zach, but try to lighten up.”
“I’ll try,” came his gruff response.
“So, I lied about this being a cake-tasting,” Stefanie said, gesturing to a round table off to the side, “but we do have cake.”
Chase, Elle and Rider emerged from the crowd next to deliver hugs and welcomes. Elle, in particular, was notably excited.
“Granddaughter or grandson?” she asked Pen conspiratorially. “One blink for a girl, two for a boy.”
“No! Absolutely not.” Stefanie positioned herself between her mother and Penelope. “Nine o’clock is the announcement, and not a moment before.”
“Nine o’clock,” Pen said, her own smile faltering. A quick glance to Zach confirmed that his was gone completely. “Uh, Stefanie, this room is amazing. The party, the food. Everything looks incredible.”
She had to focus on her appreciation for what Stef had done, and pray that she could somehow dismantle the engagement and announce that she was expecting a girl without ruining the vibe of the party, or undoing Stef’s hard work. She hoped Stef would understand and forgive her.
Stefanie put a hand on her hip and gestured like a model on The Price is Right. “I did it myself. I mean, yeah, okay, I had a team helping, but the ideas came out of my brain.”
“Well, it’s incredible,” Pen said, meaning it. “If I need a party of any kind in the future, I’m coming to you.”
“Sparkling grape juice.” Stef plucked a flute from a waiter’s tray. “I put little purple ribbons on the nonalcoholic drinks for you.” Pen accepted her bubbly drink, a lump settling in her throat. She forced it down and called up her party smile again.
“Come see what else I have planned.” Stef wrapped her arm around Pen’s and led her away. Pen gladly took the reprieve—anything to keep Zach from bringing up the conversation she’d railroaded him with in the elevator.
He was easy to avoid over the next two hours given that Stef had filled the evening with games—albeit sophisticated ones.
“We’re adults,” Stef had said with committed seriousness. “I’m not melting chocolate bars in diapers, or asking guests to guess your belly width with lengths of toilet paper.”
“Thank you for that.” As sisters went, Zach hit the jackpot. Pen ignored the feeling of melancholy that swept over her. No matter where Pen and Zach ended up, Stef would always be their daughter’s aunt. Pen would hold on to that.
Dessert was a selection of miniature cakes or cupcakes, and cake pops on sticks, all decorated in white fondant with edible gold sprinkles. Pen sampled the sweets, and drank down another sparkling grape juice as she played coy about her baby’s sex. She’d lost count of how many times she’d told someone “Sorry. The announcement is at nine.”
About twenty minutes before the evening’s most anticipated hour, she found an opening and slipped away from the crowd. Zach and Chase were speaking to their grandparents’ friends and since Pen had already spoken with Rudy and Ana, she knew their conversation could last well past the time Pen and Zach were to take the mic.
August in Illinois was hot, but nothing like Texas hot. There wasn’t much fresh air to be had on the balcony, but it was private, and she desperately needed a break from the fake smiles. Her cheeks were starting to ache.
Sweltering heat, even this late in the day, blanketed her bare shoulders. Hot, yes, but quiet. She rested her hands on the railing and looked out at the city beyond. Of all the goals for a fresh start she’d made when she left Chicago, none of them had involved a giant engagement ring on her finger, a billionaire fiancé and a baby due by Christmas.
The phrase “Man plans and God laughs” flitted through her brain, but she could admit she was laughing with Him. True, she hadn’t planned any of this, but she was also so incredibly grateful to be pregnant—something she likely never would’ve planned.
Her eyes tracked to the windows and she spotted Zach, dark slacks accentuating his height, button-down pale blue shirt unable to hide his muscular build.
Her heart did what it’d been doing for a few weeks now, and gave an almost painful squeeze. She’d fallen for him. Head over heels. Ass over teakettle. Hook, line and sinker.
No matter how hard she tried to compartmentalize her feelings from the relationship, they managed to glob together into one four-letter word.
Love.
Whenever he walked into a room, she lit up. She sank into him whenever he pulled her close for a kiss, like she could fuse her very being with his. But all of this oneness and overwhelming feeling of rightness wasn’t shared by her betrothed.
Zach offered support, loyalty and means but not love. Love for his daughter? Most definitely. But for Pen, his caring stopped at friendship, and some days before that. Since she’d learned about his ex, Lonna, it was like she could visibly spot each and every boundary line he drew. Those boundaries were intentional—whether he was aware he was doing it or not.
He took care of her, provided for her every need and was adamant about not missing a moment of his daughter’s life. Zach made love to Penelope with a single-minded focus on her pleasure, and if she were a fresh-faced twentysomething, she might mistake his actions for love.