Chapter 165

After breakfast plates were cleared and stacked, Abigail grabbed her laptop and set it on the coffee table. Megan slid her chair back and flopped onto the couch, kicking her feet up, while Ashley curled into the armchair with her phone, already half-invested.

“Alright,” Abigail said, opening a blank document. “Baby list. No spiraling. Just… practical.”

Emma smiled, already tucking her legs under herself beside Abigail. “Okay, but I get to suggest things first.”

Megan raised a brow. “Oh, this should be good.”

Emma leaned forward, suddenly focused in that calm, teacher way she had when she knew exactly what she wanted to say. “Start with the basics. Diapers, obviously. Multiple sizes.”

Abigail typed. “Newborn. Size one. Size two.”

“And wipes,” Emma added. “Unscented. Sensitive skin. Like… a lot of them.”

Ashley nodded. “You can never have too many wipes.”

“Thank you,” Emma said, pointing at her like that settled it.

“Bottles,” Emma continued. “But not just one kind. Babies are picky.”

Abigail smiled, fingers moving quickly. “Two or three brands. Different nipples.”

“And a bottle brush,” Emma said. “And drying rack. And sterilizer bags for the microwave.”

Megan blinked. “You’ve thought about this.”

Emma laughed softly. “I think about it at three in the morning, yes.”

Abigail reached for Emma’s hand, squeezing it gently. “Okay, what else?”

“Swaddles,” Emma said. “The Velcro kind and the blanket kind. Some babies hate one and love the other.”

“Sleep sacks,” Ashley added. “Game changer.”

Abigail typed it all in, nodding. “Got it.”

Emma paused for a second, then said more quietly, “A white noise machine. Something consistent.”

Abigail glanced at her. “For the baby?”

Emma smiled a little. “For all of us.”

Megan chuckled. “Fair.”

Emma continued, gaining momentum. “Diaper cream. Two kinds. A baby thermometer. Nail clippers. Or the electric file thing.”

Ashley leaned forward. “Oh yeah, the file. Clipping baby nails is terrifying.”

Abigail added it, then looked back at Emma. “Anything else you’re thinking about?”

Emma hesitated, then shrugged lightly. “Just… comfort stuff. A few outfits in each size. Extra onesies. Socks. A soft blanket that stays in the living room.”

Abigail softened. “For cuddling.”

Emma nodded. “For all the places.”

Megan smiled at the two of them. “You’re already nesting.”

Emma laughed, a little bashful. “I guess.”

Abigail scrolled through the growing list, impressed. “This actually helps. A lot.”

“That’s the point,” Emma said gently. “So when your brain goes ‘what if,’ we can go ‘it’s on the list.'”

Abigail leaned over and kissed Emma’s temple. “You’re really good at this.”

Emma smiled. “We’re going to be good at this.”

After a few more items were added, Abigail leaned back against the couch cushions, laptop balanced on her knees, scrolling slowly through the growing list.

“This is already longer than my grocery lists,” she said, half amused, half impressed.

Emma smiled and shifted closer, tucking her feet under herself. “Good. That means we’re thinking ahead.”

Megan craned her neck to peek at the screen. “Read it back. I want to hear how intense this is getting.”

Abigail cleared her throat theatrically. “Okay. Diapers in multiple sizes. Unscented wipes. Backup wipes. Bottles in three brands. Bottle brush. Drying rack. Sterilizer bags. Swaddles—Velcro and blanket. Sleep sacks. White noise machine. Diaper cream—two kinds. Baby thermometer. Electric nail file. Onesies in multiple sizes. Socks. Extra blankets. Living room blanket.”

Ashley nodded along. “You’re missing burp cloths. A lot of them.”

Emma laughed. “Yes. Burp cloths. Everywhere.”

Abigail added it. “How many is ‘a lot’?”

Ashley thought for a moment. “However many you think is enough. Double it.”

Megan pointed at the screen. “And a diaper bag. A good one. With pockets.”

Emma chimed in immediately. “With insulated bottle pockets. And a changing pad built in.”

Abigail typed as fast as she could. “Noted.”

Emma rested her hand over her stomach, her voice softening again. “A baby carrier. One you can wear. I want them close.”

Abigail glanced at her, something warm spreading through her chest. “Yeah. That sounds nice.”

Ashley added, “And a stroller that actually fits in your trunk.”

Megan laughed. “Learned that the hard way.”

Abigail shook her head, smiling as she added it. “Okay, what about feeding stuff? I feel like that’s a whole category.”

Emma nodded. “High chair eventually. Bibs. Silicone ones, not just cloth. Baby spoons. Plates that stick to the table.”

“Plates that stick?” Megan asked.

Emma grinned. “Trust me.”

Abigail added another section header. “Feeding.”

Emma leaned her head against Abigail’s shoulder for a second. “Also… a small basket for nighttime stuff. Diapers, wipes, cream. So we’re not walking across the apartment half-asleep.”

Abigail paused, then typed it in. “That’s smart.”

“It’s survival,” Emma said lightly.

They went quiet for a moment, the list filling the screen, the future taking shape in bullet points and categories.

Megan broke the silence gently. “You know, it’s kind of wild watching this happen.”

Ashley smiled. “In a good way.”

“In a really good way,” Megan agreed.

Abigail scrolled back to the top and saved the document. She closed the laptop and set it on the table, then looked at Emma. “How do you feel now?”

Emma took a slow breath. “Better. A lot better.”

Abigail reached for her hand. “Me too.”

Ashley stood and stretched. “Alright, planners. I think this is a solid start.”

Megan nodded. “Yeah. And we can add to it anytime.”

Emma smiled at both of them. “Thank you for being here.”

“Always,” Ashley said easily.

Emma’s face suddenly lit up like a switch had flipped.

She gasped softly, eyes widening as she turned toward Ashley. “Oh my god—what if it’s a girl?”

Ashley looked up, instantly intrigued. “Okay, I’m listening.”

Emma practically bounced on her toes as she crossed the room. “What if she’s a girl and we can wear matching outfits?” she said, words tumbling out faster now. “Like little dresses and tiny jackets and—oh my god—we could get our nails and toes done together when she’s older.”

Ashley’s mouth fell open in delighted shock. “Stop. A mini Emma mixed with a little Abigail?”

Emma clasped her hands together, squealing. “She would be so adorable.”

Ashley was fully in it now, hands flying. “The hair alone—Emma, the hair. Headbands. Little clips. Bows.”

“Bows!” Emma echoed, laughing. “And tiny dresses and little sneakers.”

They both squealed at the same time, Ashley grabbing Emma’s hands and spinning her just a little before catching her again.

Abigail watched from the couch, smiling so wide her cheeks hurt. “You two are already planning her entire aesthetic.”

Ashley grinned over Emma’s shoulder. “Listen, we’re just being prepared.”

Emma laughed, a little breathless now, one hand resting protectively on her stomach. “I just keep imagining it. Little outfits. Little attitude. Probably bossy.”

Abigail chuckled. “Definitely bossy.”

Emma pointed at her. “That’s on you.”

Ashley shook her head fondly. “I can already see it. She’s going to have Emma’s confidence and Abigail’s heart.”

Emma’s eyes softened at that, emotion flickering just beneath the excitement. “She’s going to be so loved.”

Abigail stood then and joined them, wrapping an arm around Emma’s shoulders. “No matter who they are,” she said quietly. “They’re ours.”

Emma leaned into her, smiling, while Ashley nodded with certainty. “And they’re going to have the best aunties.”

Emma laughed again, wiping at her eyes. “I’m already obsessed.”

Abigail kissed the side of her head. “Yeah,” she said softly. “Me too.”