When Girlfriends Step Up (36 page)

And Bobby…well, he wanted to continue our relationship and be a part of Rose’s life too. To be a strong male presence and care for her. He even said one night that he felt like Rose
was,
somehow, his. Of course when I told the girls this during a Thursday Netflix night they all asked if we were going to get married, to which I quickly responded, “Things are fine just the way they are. No wedding any time soon.” Not to say I wouldn’t like to be Mrs. Bobby Holman some day. Trust me, I think about it now and then. But I’m not really ready for that yet. As Lara always says, “The chips will fall as they may,” so we’ll see. Another story, another painting, another time.

Rose looks up at me and a smile spreads across her chubby-cheeked face. She pumps her slobbery fist about and I scoop her up into my arms.

“How’s my little girl?” I coo. I start to rock her, tickling her belly.

“This one here?” Lara asks. She’s holding up the small pink and white dress that was resting on the diaper changing station.

“That’s the one,” I answer in a baby voice, directed more to Rose than to Lara. “Isn’t that right? Your pretty pink dress, huh?”

Lara helps me dress Rose, and as we’re finishing fastening her buttons, the doorbell rings.

“Party time!” Lara says. She gives Rose a light kiss on the forehead then jets to answer the door.

“Come on, little one,” I say. I cradle Rose, who seems more content resting comfortably in my arms than moving about, curiously trying to take in her surroundings. She seems very at peace. As is her mom.

“Where’s that birthday girl?” I hear Sophie’s voice approach from down the hall. “There’s the girl of honor!” Claire cries out.

I walk over to them and let them give her the usual kisses and tickles that are owed every time Rose is greeted. I’d heard that when you have a baby, she can command the room. They weren’t kidding. Rose was always the center of attention.

“Hey, guys,” I say calmly yet warmly, as Sophie, Claire, and I meander into the living room. Bobby, Conner, and Chad are already relaxing on the sofa, then Jackie bursts through the front door carrying a shopping bag, Kaitlyn following behind a second later.

“Baby!” Jackie screeches. She jogs up to me and after she gives Rose a kiss on her cheek, hands me her bag. “Didn’t have time to wrap it, sorry,” she says exhaustively. “Some cute outfits I found at Nordstrom’s. From Uncle Andrew and me.” She gives Rose another peck on the cheek, then scampers into the kitchen to help Lara with the party prep.

“Thanks for coming, sis,” I tell Kaitlyn.

“Wouldn’t miss this adorable bundle’s party for anything,” Kaitlyn says. She gently touches Rose’s head.

“Hey, honey,” Bobby says, getting up from his seat.

We share a kiss and he says hello to Rose, who is still peacefully resting in the cradle of my arms.

“This is awesome,” I hear Sophie declare from the alcove. She’s looking at my recently finished painting, which I’d forgotten to put away.

“Oh, thanks,” I say. “Took forever, but it’s finally done. Finished it just this morning. I feel good about it.”

“It
is
awesome, Robin,” Bobby says, taking a look for himself.

“You going to name this one? Or just shelve it like you have a bunch of them?” Lara asks from the kitchen. “I saw it. It’s really great. Definitely deserves a name, don’t you think?”

Bobby rubs at the back of his neck, deep in thought. “Should even have this one framed and displayed.”

“It’s basically a representation of my life—of life when Rose came along,” I say.

Lara asks, “So
do
you have a name for it?”

“Yeah. What’s the name?” Bobby asks.

“
Finding Rose
,” I say, smiling, satisfied with the title that had
finally
arrived.
 

Bobby smiles, too, and says, “Then we best find
Finding Rose
a special place in the nursery.”
 

“Perfect idea,” Sophie adds in.

 
I look around and reflect on how fortunate I am. Funny how things seem to work out. Somehow, in some miraculous way, everything sort of fits together. The chips sort of fall and life goes on and everything comes together somehow. And, perhaps, fantasies and happily-ever-afters actually become realities.

“I think it should go right above Rose’s crib,” Bobby suggests.

“My thoughts, exactly,” I say.

Bobby takes another long look at the painting, then leans over to give me a short but sweet kiss. His kiss, his love, my closest friends, my sister, and my baby girl…my family. They’re everything I need, and everything I could ask for in this beautiful and unexpected life where I’ve found Rose, where I’ve found true friendship, and where I quite possibly have found true love.

The End

About the Author

Savannah Page, a native Southern Californian and University of Tulsa graduate, lives in Berlin with her husband. She enjoys reading, fresh flowers, and, like Robin, adventures at IKEA.
When Girlfriends Step Up
is the sequel to
When Girlfriends Break Hearts,
and a fifth novel in the collection is in the works, expected summer 2013. Savannah is also the author of
Bumped to Berlin
, her premier book about life as an American expatriate in Berlin.

Readers can visit her Website & Blog at:
www.savannahpage.com
 

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