What do ice cream, doughnuts, and sliders have in common? Paisley, a seven months pregnant ex-marine that stood five-feet high with a massive personality. Maybe that's why Tulip let her have her pink on pink theme without putting in her creative input and persuasive jargon to get her to pick another color from the palette. She even tied it with the party slogan that was scribed in bubble letters on a banner over the dessert table where Tulip and Neisha stood; Made of Pink Sprinkles and Scoops of Love.

Tulip came up with it on the fly while she and Sidney were shopping for camping supplies. Most of Paisley's party was put together with ease. Tulip could throw a baby shower together without accumulating an ounce of worry. She and Neisha had put together more than their share of baby parties that they already had everyone they needed on speed dial and some leftover decorations in the storage room. It was an easy win and after the week she had, easy was very much welcomed.

"What did the lawyer say?" Niesha asked, once the shaggy-headed man had finally left the food table after putting them through a battery of questions pertaining to calories and fat counts. It was doughnuts and ice cream. Don't count. Just eat. Even though that was what Niesha wanted to say she just steered him to the dairy-free options and baked doughnuts. "Mrs. Clark's son-in-law, right?"

"Yeah, Xavier." Tulip said, glanced down at her watch wondering what was taking Lachlan so long. "He read over the paperwork that I stupidly signed."

"Stop." Neisha nudged her arm with her elbow. "You were eager. No verbal-flogging in my sight or ever. You were just eager. What else were you going to do. Not sign them."

Tulip nodded knowing her friend was right. Her eyes were trained on Paisley as she put on a show opening up her shower gifts wondering what her shower would be like if she had had one all those years ago. It wouldn't be as chic and pleasurable. Her client picked the colors that pleased her. Paisley loved pink. She and her partner chose to have the baby's gender as a surprise. She chose the food she had been craving. Ham and cheese sliders with pickle relish wasn't on the menu. Tulip had to talk the caterer into doing the vet a favor.

Most importantly, all the guests in attendance dining their pinkish attire were ecstatic for the woman that had finally gotten her happy after coming back from the battlefield to physical therapy and a titanium leg. The laughter swelled in the backyard and smiles consumed every face. Tulip knew she would be faced with the same sentiment.

"Here, eat this." Niesha handed her a red velvet doughnut. "Sugar makes everything better."

Tulip took a bite out of the doughnut as suavely as possible without getting frosting on her mouth. The sugar seeped on her tongue and the moist dough was heaven in her mouth. It almost absolved the bad news she learned during her meeting with Xavier.

She swallowed and told her. "Apparently, the guardianship contract or paperwork I signed had a clause." She didn't remember the exact word he used from being his swanky desk. She just sunk back in the leather chair drained of happiness realizing Irvine was telling the truth. "There's a six month grace period where everything I do will be supervised and if I screw up my custody can be revoked."

"What does everything include?" Neisha asked, dumping more ice around the tins of ice cream as the summer heat steamed around them.

"It includes everything?" Tulip broke the doughnut in half and gave Neisha part. Eating at a client's party wasn't frowned upon but they never wanted to taste too much. "Housing. She had to be in the best neighborhoods. The right school. Her grades will be scrutinized. If she gets a 'C'." She slid her hand horizontally across her throat. "This experiment will be over."

"Tough." Niesha said, putting a morsel of dough in her mouth. "Is that why you sat Austin's flowers in the furthest corner of the shop?"

She shrugged, it was part of the reason but not all. "I don't need a random to be the reason I lose my daughter...I mean...Sidney." She shook her head at the slip she kept making but it was hard since she and the little one were getting so close.

Getting her to go into the country club and being there to pick her up at the same time everyday had chipped away at the distance between them. Well, had chipped at the walls Sidney put up. She didn't fully know why but she was happy it had happened.

Just as she thought of the little girl that filled her with a contentment that she hadn't felt in years, she skipped out the house and made a beeline to her with Lachlan in tow.

"Can I have some?" Sidney asked with her eyes on the uneaten piece of doughnut in Tulip's hand.

"Hold up." Tulip held up her hand. "I don't even get a 'hi'. No 'hello'."

"Hello. Salut. Hallo." Sidney quipped, then curtseyed. "Can I have some, now?" She beamed a cute smile that would get a yes out of anyone.

"Just a piece."

Sidney opened her mouth and Tulip placed a piece of her piece into her mouth. Tulip didn't know why Sidney had turned into a birdbird everytime she asked for food. It started when they started cooking together and let Sidney steal taste on a teaspoon.

Sidney chewed the dough and did her happy dance which was just energetic movements with her arms and fanciful steps but it never ceased to make Tulip happy also.

"It's good, uh."

"Oui."

"Oui." Tulip added. "I know." She raised her sight to Lachlan. "Thanks for picking her up."

"It's my pleasure." He said, his Irish accent hugging every syllable. "She reminds me of my nieces."

Niesha peeked around Tulip. "How many do you have?"

"Three." He answered with fondness glowing on his chiselled face. "I'll show them to you later." He rubbed his hand together. "Are you guys ready for the crib?"

Tulip counted how many gifts Paisley had left. "Yeah."

He nodded and headed back to the house.

"Can I help?" Sidney begged with her hands clasped together. "Please."

"Fine." Tulip gestured for her to go. Sidney twisted on her heels and sprinting toward him in her white golf dress that she mysteriously still had pristinely clean.

"Look at you." Niesha wisped, with a grin. "Mothering like a pro."

"I am." Tulip couldn't hide the smile on her face. "Am mothering, aren't I. I knew all those clips of Claire Huxible were going to come in handy."

"You studied Clarie Huxible?"

"I mean..." Tulip shrugged. "Phycilla Rashad and Lorretta Devine are examples of motherhood. Tell me I'm wrong."

Neisha couldn't find just reason to refuted the claim so she just chuckled and turned to the eager mom opening gifts.

"I'm so ready for this weekend." Tulip stretched her back already thinking about the camping trip. She wasn't one to sleep outside but after working hard these last couple of weeks without having her 'playtime' she needed a getaway. "Sand. Water and—" Her voice gave out as a ghost entered the backyard.

His footfalls stopped and the curve on his face went slack as his eyes matched with her's.

"Jasper." She whispered, taking a staggered step back. 

Jasper's here!!! What do you think Tulip is going to do?

Why do you think Jasper is at the baby shower?

Why do you think Tulip put Austin's flowers in the furtherest spot in the shop?

Why do you think Sidney likes Tulip to feed her food sometimes?

How do you think Jasper is going to effect Tulip and Sidney's realtionship?