Party of Four

We Survived: Cole

The party ended. The rest of our friends said their goodbyes, and we were left in a satisfied, exhausted silence. Nica collapsed on the couch, her shoes hitting the floor with little taps as she pulled her feet up under the voluminous skirt of her dress. Riley sat next to her, his arm resting on the back of the couch behind her. I fell into the chair, stretching my legs out in front of me as I sank into the cushions.

“Well,” Riley sighed, his voice thick with relief. “We survived the party. And Aunt Jan.”

“You guys were great,” Nica murmured, leaning into him. Her hand rested just above the leather strap that wrapped around his waist. “I don’t know why she feels the need to be so aggressively judgmental.”

“Because she’s miserable,” I said simply, running a tired hand down my face. “And watching someone else be happy, especially mom, makes her itchy.”

“It’s because her hot shot lawyer ex-husband cheated on her, and mom and dad are still grossly in love. Despite grandma swearing it wouldn’t last more than a year,” Riley added.

Nica nodded before voicing her own shock. “My mom and siblings actually came. I honestly thought the invitations would just be seen as a formality. I didn’t expect to actually see them.”

“That’s huge, Nica. Awkward or not, they chose to come,” I offered her a reassuring smile as I spoke.

“It did feel forced.” Her eyes drifted to the patio door, and I knew she was replaying their interactions in her head. “It felt like they were here out of obligation. Like they owed me a favor.”

Riley squeezed her shoulder, “Maybe. But Marley and Zach seemed genuinely happy for you. They saw our house. They saw us. They saw the difference between what you had before and what you have now.”

“And they saw your giant, badass dress,” I grinned. “You look like you stepped right out of a painting, Nica. I guarantee they left knowing you’re doing more than okay.”

I watched the smile form on her lips as my words landed. She no longer had to make herself small or be something she wasn’t. She was loved and celebrated. Not just today, but every day. By us, by our friends, by my mom and dad.

Her gaze drifted to the small mountain of presents still waiting to be carried upstairs. She pushed herself up off the sofa, the tulle rustling around here legs. “I’m going to change. Then we can start taking this stuff upstairs.”

Riley and I both smiled, getting up to follow her. We both grabbed boxes, starting the task ahead of her. There were still anxieties. Strained family ties, the impending birth, the driving trauma I still struggled with. Right now though, I felt completely anchored. We were ready for Poppy. I was ready for whatever challenge came next.