Chapter 136

Abigail and Megan were halfway through assembling the bookshelf when Abigail’s phone began to buzz on the floor beside her. She reached over, wiping her hands on her sweatpants before swiping to answer.

Emma’s voice came through warm and cheerful. “Baby, breakfast is ready!”

Abigail smiled, immediately softening at the sound of her voice. “Perfect timing, we’re starving in here.”

Megan smirked, tightening one last screw. “Speak for yourself. I’ve been surviving on cold coffee and sawdust.”

Emma laughed on the other end. “Well, come save yourselves before Ashley eats everything. We’ve got pancakes, bacon, eggs, sausage, and a fruit tray. And, of course, Ashley decided it wouldn’t be breakfast without mimosas for the three of you.”

Abigail laughed. “Of course she did.”

Emma continued, her tone teasing. “And don’t worry, I’ve got my sparkling juice, so I’m part of the toast too.”

“Good,” Abigail said, her voice warm. “We’re on our way, beautiful.”

She hung up and looked at Megan, who was wiping her hands on a towel. “You heard the chef time to eat.”

“Finally,” Megan said, standing up and stretching. “I thought you were going to keep me hostage in here until lunch.”

They left the nursery and followed the smell of food down the hall. The closer they got to the kitchen, the richer it became buttery pancakes, crispy bacon, and the faint tang of orange juice and champagne.

When they stepped inside, Emma was setting plates at the counter, wearing one of Abigail’s oversized shirts that barely covered her thighs. Her hair was messy from cooking, and her face glowed in the warm kitchen light. Ashley was behind her, pouring mimosas into three tall glasses with a grin.

“There they are!” Ashley said, raising a glass. “The hard-working builders of the day.”

Emma giggled. “I told her to wait to do a toast, but she’s been pouring since the pancakes flipped.”

Megan laughed and took her glass. “I’d expect nothing less from you, Ash.”

Abigail leaned over and pressed a kiss to Emma’s cheek, whispering, “Smells amazing, baby.”

Emma smiled up at her. “You’ve been working hard all morning. You deserve a good meal.”

Abigail rubbed her hand gently along Emma’s lower back before sitting down beside her. “You spoil me.”

“I call it equal partnership,” Emma teased, handing her a plate stacked with pancakes and bacon.

They all settled in around the counter, laughter and chatter blending with the soft sizzle from the still-warm skillet. Ashley raised her mimosa again. “To family, to friends, and to the little one who’s already got us building, painting, and planning before they’re even here.”

They clinked their glasses together mimosas for Megan, Ashley, and Abigail, and sparkling juice for Emma.

“To family,” Abigail said softly, meeting Emma’s eyes.

Emma’s hand brushed her knee under the counter, and she smiled. “To family.”

For a few moments, the room was filled with nothing but the sound of forks against plates and quiet laughter. Megan stole a piece of sausage off Ashley’s plate, earning an exaggerated gasp. “Hey! That was my last one!”

“You’ve got pancakes left!” Megan countered, grinning.

Ashley rolled her eyes. “You’re lucky I love you.”

Emma giggled at their banter, looking around the table, her heart swelling at the sight. Abigail caught her gaze and leaned over to press a soft kiss to her temple.

“You okay?” she whispered.

Emma nodded, her smile gentle. “Better than okay.”

Abigail smiled back. “Good. Because after breakfast, I’m putting the finishing touches on that nursery.”

Emma raised an eyebrow. “Without me?”

Abigail winked. “You’ll get your moment. I left something special for us to do together.”

Emma tilted her head, intrigued. “You always have something up your sleeve.”

Abigail chuckled. “You love it.”

“I really do,” Emma said softly, squeezing her hand.

By the time breakfast was over, the kitchen looked like a happy disaster. Empty plates were stacked on the counter, syrup had dripped across a napkin, and three half-empty glasses of mimosas sat lined up next to Emma’s sparkling juice. Laughter still lingered in the air, the kind that comes easy after a good meal and good company.

Abigail stretched, feeling pleasantly lightheaded, the faint buzz from the mimosas warming her cheeks. Megan leaned against the counter beside her, swaying slightly as she pointed her glass in the air. “Okay,” she announced. “Operation Nursery continues. But first, does anyone else feel like gravity’s working extra hard right now?”

Ashley laughed. “You mean, are we tipsy at eleven in the morning? Absolutely.”

Emma giggled, rubbing her belly. “This is why I stick to juice. I’ve got three drunk builders and a baby to supervise.”

Abigail smiled and stepped over to kiss her forehead. “I’m perfectly capable of building furniture under the influence of light joy.”

“Light joy,” Emma repeated, shaking her head. “You better not break anything.”

Megan raised a finger, pretending to be serious. “I second that. The last thing this baby needs is a crooked crib.”

Abigail grinned. “That crib is flawless, thank you very much.”

Ashley clapped her hands once. “Alright, let’s move before the buzz wears off. Someone hand me a screwdriver and a playlist.”

They made their way back to the nursery, Emma following behind with a bowl of fruit in hand, keeping an amused eye on the three of them. The sunlight had shifted, spilling across the sage green walls, and the half-finished furniture boxes waited patiently for their return.

Megan sat cross-legged on the floor, humming as she unboxed the small dresser. “You know,” she said, “this is actually kind of fun. Tipsy construction should be a sport.”

“Only if there’s supervision,” Emma said, sitting in the doorway with a smile.

Ashley laughed. “You mean you don’t trust us with hammers and sharp objects?”

“Not with those mimosas still in your system,” Emma teased, popping a grape into her mouth.

Abigail joined Megan on the floor, their laughter filling the room as they tried to make sense of the dresser instructions. The paper unfolded into a long sheet of diagrams, and Megan tilted her head. “Tell me why every one of these drawings looks like a riddle.”

“Because it’s Ikea’s secret way of testing relationships,” Abigail said.

Ashley raised an eyebrow. “You two sure you want to do this and not just call someone?”

Abigail smiled, sliding the first drawer piece into place. “Nope. This is our bonding moment. Besides, I think it’s turning out pretty good.”

Megan squinted. “That piece is upside down.”

Abigail looked at it, then laughed. “Okay, maybe not perfect. But that’s what teamwork’s for.”

Emma leaned back, resting her head against the doorframe, watching them with a soft, adoring smile. “You know, I could get used to this,” she said quietly.

Ashley glanced over. “What? Free labor?”

Emma laughed. “No, this. The noise. The laughter. The chaos. It feels like home.”

Abigail looked up from the floor, meeting her eyes. “That’s exactly what it’s supposed to feel like.”

Megan smiled, handing her another screw. “Alright, poetic moment over. Let’s finish this dresser before Emma gets emotional again.”

“I’m pregnant, everything makes me emotional,” Emma said, wiping at her eyes even as she laughed.

By the time they finished, the room was transformed. The crib stood proudly against the far wall, freshly polished and steady. The rocking chair was placed by the window, right where the soft light poured in, the perfect spot for late-night feedings or quiet moments. The small bookshelf sat neatly beside it, filled with picture books and a few sentimental trinkets they had collected. The dresser and changing table lined the opposite wall, every drawer organized and ready.

Ashley stood back, hands on her hips. “Look at that. We didn’t break a single thing.”

“Speak for yourself,” Megan said, holding up a tiny blister on her finger. “I sacrificed for the cause.”

Abigail smiled and slipped an arm around Emma’s waist. “Worth it though, right?”

Emma looked around, her hand drifting to her belly. “More than worth it,” she said softly. “It’s perfect.”

Megan grabbed one of the folded blankets and tossed it over the crib rail. “I think we did good.”

Ashley clapped her hands once. “Alright, team. The nursery’s officially ready for duty. And if anyone asks, we were completely sober.”

Abigail chuckled, pressing a kiss to Emma’s temple. “That’s our story and we’re sticking to it.”

Emma smiled, resting her head on her shoulder. “You guys really made this perfect.”

Megan grinned. “Hey, anything for my favorite moms-to-be.”

Ashley added, “And my favorite little family.”