This wasn't good. This was so not good. 

"We can't do a veggie plate and finger foods! What do you think this is? A hoe down?"

"Last time I checked, Priscilla, it was a baby shower for Danielle. And Jamie and I were in charge of the food and dessert." 

"And you call this—" Priscilla held up the sheet of paper "—suitable food and dessert ideas?" 

Cherise crossed her arms over her chest. "Listen here, Mrs. Hale, you're kind of new around here. Before a week ago you didn't even want to be involved." 

"Should we break them up?" my mom asked quietly from beside me on the plush cream-colored couch. 

Jamie scoffed. "Good luck with that. Those are the two most stubborn women on the planet. It's kinda like..."

"Godzilla and Mothra," I finished for her. 

"Exactly!" Jamie agreed. "Best to just stand out of the way and let them go at it." 

"And pray to God they make it through this alive," I muttered. "I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little worried." 

Jamie leaned back against the sofa and waved my concern away. "Please. My mom can hold her own. She was raised in Brooklyn for crying out loud." 

"I was talking about Mrs. Hale." 

When Ryan's dad suggested including Mrs. Hale with the baby shower preparations, I couldn't really say no. It wasn't that I didn't like her, it was just...this. When I assigned tasks for my shower to my nearest and dearest, Priscilla wasn't included—and not by my choice. She's barely spoken two words to me since Ryan and I eloped and ruined that whole arranged marriage thing with Harper and her family. 

But I wanted to make Ryan happy and we were all trying to mend fences and be one big happy family. So here we were. All Jamie, my mom, and I were missing while we sat on Jamie's couch and watched this motherly deathmatch was popcorn. 

"Listen, Cherry—"

"It's Cherise. And everyone knows that I make the best desserts in all five boroughs! So we aren't going to have any desserts that the Queen would eat and we aren't having any snails or octopus to eat. I'm making the menu." 

When Mrs. Hale's eyes narrowed, I knew shit was going to hit the fan. I got to my feet immediately and walked over to the two moms. 

"Ladies, back to your corners. Please." I waited until both women turned their gazes to me. "Now this is my  baby shower and I'm going to pick the menu." I turned towards Jamie's mom. "Cherise, you're right—you do make the best desserts out of everyone in all five boroughs. Probably the world. I would like you to focus on that." 

I turned towards Priscilla next. "Mrs. Hale, I would love for you to take care of the food. But there are certain things I like and don't like. I can make you a list and you can choose what to bring." I looked back and forth between the two of them. "We all good with that? I'm six months pregnant with my daughter and I don't want to have to worry about playing referee with you two. Agreed?" 

"Agreed," they both said at the same time. 

With a satisfied smile, I walked back over to my mom. She and Jamie both rose from the couch when I got close. 

"Jamie, I know you originally were supposed to help your mom, but I was thinking about you helping me out with something else." 

"Anything you need, D. I'm happy to help." 

"And me too," my mom added with a smile that lit up her whole face. 

She and I had a long talk when I told her I found out the sex of the baby. I'd been dreading it before, worried that it would upset her since it went against our 'family traditions'. But she was gracious and accepting about it. 

She was even excited when she heard I was having a girl. She immediately started bombarding me with girl names and asked if I wanted the baby's clothes and decorations to be pink, purple, or something neutral. Or a mixture of all of them. 

My answer was simple: I had no idea. 

It was just all starting to get so overwhelming. As for the decorations, Lanie was in charge of that.

"Mom, why don't you help Lanie with the decorations. You both have a good eye for that kind of stuff." 

She clapped her hands together and squealed. "That sounds great! You don't think she'll mind? I don't want to take away from her task."

"She won't mind at all," I told her before looking at Jamie. "As for you, I was thinking you can help me and kind of be a...wrangler." 

"A wrangler?" Jamie raised a brow and glanced from my mom to me. "What do you mean exactly by wrangler? What, or who, will I be wrangling?"

"Whoa," I breathed, when the room suddenly started to spin. Instinctively, I reached out to grab ahold of the counter.

All the women surrounded me with concern. Each offering to help in some way, one talking over the other. 

"Have you eaten today, Danielle?" 
"Here's some water." 
"Actually let's try cranberry juice."
"I'm calling Ryan." 

I wasn't sure who said it, but I stopped that last one from happening immediately. 

"Don't call Ryan. Please," I begged. I drank more of the juice before taking a seat on the barstool. "I don't want to worry him. I just got a little dizzy because I need to eat." 

Cherise was on top of it. "I'll make you a sandwich, dear."

"I'll help," Mrs. Hale added smugly and I groaned.

If these two women didn't come to an agreement and grow up soon, this pregnancy was going to be a fucking nightmare. And a nightmare is the last thing I needed right now.

Jamie stepped in front of me. "So tell me what this wrangler job is."

If I wasn't still dizzy, I would have smiled just then. Jamie and I had grown closer over the last year or so. I offered support and was there for her when her mom had been sick with cancer. Jamie dealt with most of that alone before she told me. Especially when Lanie and Harper were dealing with Ayden and Nate missing overseas. There'd been so much going on at that time and poor Jamie didn't want to bother them with her own personal stuff. 

She's gotten to know me well and she could tell I needed a distraction right now. 

I licked my lips and brushed my hair back from my face. "Basically you would be the manager. You would make sure everyone does what they need to and everything is setup on time. Oh and when I open gifts you can write down the name of the person who bought it and what it was so I can send thank you cards." 

Jamie's wide smile surprised me. I haven't seen a look like that on her face since Harper's wedding. "I love that job!" She cast a mischievous look to her mom. "I'm finally the boss of you now. Maybe I'll start giving out your number to strange men." 

"Please do," Cherise teased. "It's been a long time since—"

Jamie stuffed her fingers in her ears. "Ew! La la la. Nope. I'm good." 

Her mom and I laughed. Jamie walked right into that one. One thing we loved about Cherise Lovett was that she spoke her mind. There was no filter with her. 

"Besides," she continued, "if you brought a man home once in awhile, Guinevere, I wouldn't have to give out your number." 

Jamie rolled her eyes. "Don't call me Guinevere! And I don't need or want a man." 

Cherise shrugged. "A woman would be fine, too."

"Mom!"

I stifled a laugh. Poor Jamie, I thought as her mom continued. 

"What about Ollie? He was very charming at the wedding. And you seemed to really like him. Where is he working and when is he coming back?" 

Pain flickered in Jamie's eyes briefly before she put her guard back up. "Ollie and I aren't interested in each other, mom. And I don't want to talk about him. Just leave it be. Okay?" 

My mom leaned close to me and whispered, "Danielle, is there always so much drama around you guys?" 

I wanted to say no, that this was out of the norm. But unfortunately it wasn't.

Cherise raised a hand. "Fine, Jamie. I'll stay out of it...for now." 

Thankfully the arguments stopped after that and everyone started to say their goodbyes. My mom was the first to leave. Honestly I think she was just ready to get home where it was a litter quieter. 

Cherise left after her, more excited than before now that she had full control over the desserts for my baby shower. 

When it came time for Mrs. Hale to leave, I was surprised when she pulled me aside. 

"Danielle, can I speak to you privately?"

Jamie's eyes widened with surprise. Thankfully, she was standing behind Mrs. Hale so Ryan's mom didn't see it. 

"Uh, yeah. Of course." 

I followed her out onto Jamie's balcony. "Is everything okay?" 

She looked out at the city. People littered the sidewalks and the streets. Cars were honking as they tried to get through traffic. Speeding up and slowing down. At least a minute or two passed before she finally spoke.

"I owe you an apology." She turned towards me. The sincerity on her face was so shocking that my eyes popped wide. 

"Mrs. Hale, I don't—"

"Priscilla," she corrected. "I think we're both pass the formalities now." She took a step closer and kept her hand on the rail of the balcony. "I love my son, Danielle, and I've always wanted what was best for him. When it came to that arranged marriage thing...it was about business. Money. I convinced myself it was the right thing and it would make him happy." 

Her head turned to the right again, looking over Manhattan. "It hurt me when he eloped with you. I know why he did it and I do believe he did the right thing." Her eyes were filled with unshed tears when she looked at me again. "But I'm his mom. I should have been there." 

"I'm so sorry." It was the only thing I could think to say even though I knew it couldn't change anything that happened. And just like Ryan, I didn't regret they wat we got married. "We both wanted you there too. Especially Ryan." 

She smiled sweetly when I mentioned that last part. "Ryan is a good son, and I'm proud that he fought for what he wanted. For you. I just wish that I'd done better when he was growing up." 

I knew she was referring to Everly, but I wasn't going to bring up her name and open that can of worms. So I went with the obvious. 

"He loves you, Priscilla. Very much." 

It was the truth. Even though Ryan confided in me and told me he felt closer to Everly in some ways, he told me how much he loved his mom. 

"I know he does." She walked up to me and reached for my hands. "I want to officially welcome you to the family, Danielle. Contrary to what you might think, I actually like you. And I know you'll make him happy." She let go of my right hand and placed it on my distended belly. "I can't wait to meet her. My first grandchild." 

"Thank you," I replied when she pulled me into a hug. 

Once we separated, she said goodbye to both me and Jamie before making her exit. I was so stunned by the events that happened here today that I just stared at the door she left through. And I wasn't the only one. Jamie joined me on the balcony with a surprised expression of her own.

"That was—"

"I know, right?" 

She turned towards me. "Do you think she meant it?" 

I cocked my head to the side curiously. "I think so." I hoped so. Otherwise Priscilla Hale was not very motherly. "She seemed sincere." 

"Wanna eat some chocolate cake while we watch some rom-coms and cry?" 

Poor Jamie. I knew the mention of Ollie was going to put her in a mood. She never told me what happened between them at Harper's wedding, but I know something did. 

She was hurting. 

"Yeah," I said softly as we walked back into her apartment. "You pick the movie." 

I waited patiently in her living room while she got the cake. Today has been one of the weirdest days of my life. Especially the odd new friendship that formed with Ryan's mom. 

"Oh!" I gasped. My daughter was kicking. I placed my hand on my belly and smiled. "I know, little one. We're going to have a big party for you soon. Then you'll be here with us before we know it." 

I knew I still had a lot of planning and baby proofing of the apartment to do.

But first...

Cake. Lots and lots of chocolate cake.