Chapter 273 Chapter 273

Chapter 273 Chapter 273
The reception was in full swing.
The backyard had been transformed again. The ceremony chairs replaced with round tables draped in white linen, centerpieces of white roses and candles, those string lights now glowing overhead as the sun started to set. A dance floor had been set up near the house, music playing, people already dancing.
Emma sat at the head table, Daniel's hand warm in hers, watching their friends and family celebrate. She took a sip from her champagne flute. Sparkling water. She'd told Daniel she wanted to keep a clear head tonight, wanted to remember every moment. He'd kissed her temple and said he understood.
But as Emma looked around the reception, she started noticing things.
Prue was drinking water like her, of course. Emma could see her at the table with Nate, laughing at something he'd said. And Honey, sitting beside Grayson, her glass also suspiciously clear. Not champagne or wine.
Emma's eyes narrowed before moving to Lauren. She was sitting with Wyatt, and—yep. Water.
What the hell?
Emma glanced at Maggie. She was drinking water too, but that made sense. Maggie was a doctor. She probably had work later or tomorrow. She was always on call. Eric was drinking water.
But the other three?
She started to notice other things. Throughout the next thirty minutes, she watched her friends. The way Wyatt had his hand on Lauren's lower back, checking on her often. Then Honey shifted in her seat, and Grayson's hand went to her stomach. Just for a second. Honey swatted it away, glaring at him, but Emma had seen it.
Oh my God.
No way.
Emma's heart started pounding. She looked at Daniel, but he was talking to Kyle, who had come to their table, about something, laughing. They had chosen to seat their parents with them. Let their friends sit together.
She looked back at her bridesmaids, looking for changes.
Honey's dress was fitted but not tight. Room to hide things. She did have a glow about her.
Lauren's was the same.
They all knew about Prue. Because she couldn't hide her bump, small as it might be.
But… Holy shit.
Emma stood abruptly. Daniel looked up, shocked at her sudden movement. "You okay?"
"Fine. Just need to use the bathroom." Emma smiled, squeezed his hand. "Be right back."
She made her way across the reception, stopping at Honey's side first. Leaned down, whispered in her ear. "Bathroom. Now. I need help with my dress."
Honey blinked but nodded. "Okay."
Emma moved to Lauren's side next. Same thing. Then Prue's. Then Maggie's.
Five minutes later, all five of them were crammed into the downstairs bathroom, Emma's dress taking up half the space.
"Okay, what's going on?" Honey asked. "Do you actually need help or—" Knowing Emma had picked this dress because she wouldn't need help peeing.
"Are you pregnant?" Emma asked, cutting her off.
Silence.
Honey's eyes went wide. "What?"
"Don't play dumb. Are you and Lauren pregnant?" Emma looked at each of them.
More silence.
Then Lauren sighed. "Shit. How'd you know?"
"The water. None of you are drinking. And the way your husbands are treating you like you're made of glass. I saw Grayson put his hand on your stomach, Honey. You swatted him away, but I saw it." Emma crossed her arms, but she was grinning. "So? Are you?"
Honey and Lauren exchanged a look. Then Honey nodded slowly. "Yeah. I am. About twelve weeks."
"Me too," Lauren said. "Ten weeks. Let's just say Wyatt and I were not careful at all."
Emma looked at Prue. "So, you're seventeen weeks, right?"
"Almost," Prue agreed.
Honey shrugged. "I was going to tell you all after the wedding."
Lauren grinned. "Same. I just didn't want to overshadow Emma's day."
So they hadn't even told each other. That was sweet but not needed.
"Overshadow my day," Emma finished. "Of course you didn't. Because you're all ridiculously thoughtful and self-sacrificing and honestly a little bit insane." She felt tears pricking her eyes. Happy tears this time. "You idiots. This is the best news ever."
"You're not upset?" Honey asked cautiously. "Because we didn't even tell your parents. I believe your mum has already worked it out though that woman misses nothing."
"Upset? Are you kidding?" Emma laughed, wiping at her eyes. "I'm thrilled! I don't know anything about being a mom. I've been terrified about it. And now we can figure it out together."
"Wait, what?" Lauren's eyes narrowed. "Emma, are you—"
"Pregnant, yes, eight weeks." Emma said, grinning. "I haven't told anyone. Not even Daniel. It's my wedding gift to him tonight."
"Oh my God!" Honey squealed, pulling Emma into a hug. "Emma!"
Then they were all hugging, laughing, crying. Five grown women crammed in a bathroom.
"I can't believe this," Emma said, her voice muffled against Honey's shoulder. "That we all got pregnant around the same time. This is insane."
"It's perfect," Prue said, wiping her eyes. "Our kids are going to grow up together."
"They're going to be best friends," Lauren added. "Just like us."
Emma pulled back, looked at Maggie. She'd been quiet. Too quiet. "I just wish you were pregnant too, Mags. Then it would be all of us."
Maggie's face went red. Bright red.
Emma's eyes widened. "No." She had thought Maggie was drinking water because she was going on duty at the hospital, but her red face told a different story.
"I—um—" Maggie stammered.
"Maggie," Honey said slowly. "Are you?"
Maggie covered her face with her hands. "Yes. Four weeks. Eric and I—we're getting married in a few weeks. Just a small ceremony at the courthouse. We didn't want to overshadow Emma's day either—"
"Oh my God!" Emma pulled Maggie into a hug. "You're all pregnant! We're all pregnant! All of us!"
"We're all knocked up," Lauren said, grinning. "Like a bunch of knocked-up idiots."
They burst into laughter. The kind that came from happiness and shock and the sheer joy of it all.
"I can't believe you all kept this from me," Emma said.
"We were trying to be considerate," Honey protested.
"Well, stop it. You're terrible at it." Emma looked around at her friends, her family. "Seriously. This is the best wedding gift ever. Knowing our kids are going to grow up together? That's everything. I can't wait to tell Daniel."
"He's going to lose his mind," Lauren predicted.
"I think everyone will." Maggie added quickly.
"I know." Emma felt her hand drift to her stomach again, a habit she'd developed since finding out two weeks ago. "He wants kids so badly. A big family. He's an only child, and he always said he wanted a house full of little rug rats. And now… now we're starting that."
"Have you thought about telling your mom?" Honey asked.
"After Daniel. He deserves to know first. Well, next, at least. I think he will understand what happened here." Emma looked at herself in the mirror, at her friends reflected behind her. All of them glowing, all of them happy. "Can you believe this? I'm married, pregnant, and surrounded by the best friends anyone could ask for. Who are also all pregnant with me. You couldn't write this stuff."
"Life's weird," Lauren said.
"The best kind of weird," Emma agreed.
Honey said, "Maybe once your honeymoon is over, we can tell Faith and Luke together."
Emma looked at her sister-in-law. "I'd like that."
A knock at the door. "Em? You okay in there?" Daniel's voice.
Emma looked at her friends, put a finger to her lips. They all nodded, trying not to laugh.
"Fine!" Emma called back. "Just fixing my dress. These things are really complicated."
"You've been in there for fifteen minutes. I was about to send in reinforcements."
"Beauty takes time!"
Silence. Then, "Do you need help?"
"No! Girl stuff. Go away."
They heard him laugh. "Okay. But people are asking about the first dance."
"Five minutes!"
Footsteps retreating.
Emma turned back to her friends. "Okay. We're keeping this quiet until I tell Daniel tonight. I would like to tell my parents and Daniel's parents next."
"Faith is going to lose her mind when she finds out there are two grandchildren on the way."
They laughed. Faith would love every minute of it.
Emma admitted, "I'm scared out of my mind, like I said. I don't know the first thing about babies. My closest friend moved away and we lost touch, so I don't have people around me with babies."
"None of us do," Lauren pointed out. "Except Maggie, and she only knows the medical stuff."
"I know how to deliver a baby," Maggie said. "I don't know how to raise one. There's a difference. Babies don't come with instruction manuals anyway. Each baby is different."
"We'll figure it out," Prue said. "When the time comes."
They fixed their makeup, straightened their dresses, made sure there were no mascara streaks from the happy tears. Then filed out of the bathroom one by one so it didn't look suspicious.
Emma went last, pausing to look at herself in the mirror one more time.
She was married to her best friend and pregnant, and she couldn't be happier. This was the best day of her life.
She walked back out to the reception, found Daniel waiting for her near the dance floor.
"There you are," he said, pulling her close. "I thought you got lost."
"Just needed a minute," Emma said. "Big day."
"The biggest." Daniel's hand went to her waist. "Ready for our first dance as husband and wife?"
"Yes, I think I am."
The music started. Something slow and very romantic. Daniel led her onto the dance floor, and everyone else backed away, giving them space.
Emma rested her head against Daniel's chest as they swayed. His arms were solid around her, warm and safe.
"I love you," she whispered.
"I love you too." Daniel kissed the top of her head. "Best day of my life." Echoing Emma's thoughts from a moment ago.
"Mine too." Emma smiled against his chest. "But tonight's going to be even better."
"Oh yeah? What happens tonight?"
"You'll see," Emma said. "I have a surprise for you."
"I like surprises."
"You're going to love this one." Emma pulled back slightly, looked up at him. "Trust me."
Daniel's eyes were soft, full of love and contentment. "I trust you. With everything."
"Good." Emma went up on her toes and kissed him. Soft and sweet and full of promise. "Because I'm about to make you the happiest man alive." He most likely thought it would be something sexual.
"Now I'm really curious."
"Patience," Emma said. "All good things come to those who wait."
Daniel laughed, pulled her closer. They kept dancing, swaying to the music, surrounded by their friends and family. Emma could see Honey and Grayson dancing nearby. How did they get so lucky? They were all starting new chapters. All of them.
Emma closed her eyes, let herself sink into the moment. The music, the warmth of Daniel's arms, the knowledge that in a few hours, she'd tell him about the baby.
Their baby. Daniel was going to be an amazing father. She knew it in her bones.