“Here let me get that,” Taylor said, taking the sacks out of the back of the car.

“Taylor, if you don’t stop treating me like I’m gonna break, I’m gonna strangle you!” I exclaimed.

Taylor and I had just finished doing some Christmas shopping, and I was ready to kill him. Every time I started to pick anything up, he volunteered to help me.

“I’m just trying to be helpful,” he said.

“I know, and it’s getting on my nerves,” I sighed.

“Sorry,” he said. “I just don’t want you to strain yourself.”

“I highly doubt carrying a sack of socks is going to cause me to strain anything,” I commented as we walked into the house.

“So, who else do we have to buy for?” Taylor asked changing the subject.

“Um, Jessica, Zac, Shandolyn, your mom, my dad, Heaven, and Audrey,” I replied.

“Well, what should we get for them?” Taylor asked.

“Beats me,” I shrugged.

Taylor and I had been getting along unusually well during the last few weeks, but I wasn’t complaining. I actually discovered I rather enjoyed his company, and if I wasn’t mistaken, I believe he enjoyed mine as well. I guess Taylor wasn’t really such a bad guy. Truthfully, I guess I just wanted to blame him for my being pregnant, but I knew I was just as much to blame. I had made a mistake too, but as the months passed, I was beginning to think the baby was not a mistake. God has a reason for everything, right? Well, I already loved the baby growing inside of me, and I was looking forward to the day when he or she arrived.

We hadn’t mentioned anything about the false labor. Taylor still wanted to tell his mom so she would keep an eye on me, but I assured him it would only stress me out more if I had someone watching my every move.

“Well, Jess would probably like some clothes or make-up or something girly like that,” Taylor commented as he sat the bags down on the living room floor.

“Yeah,” I nodded. “Oh, well, we have a little while before Christmas,” I shrugged as I sat down on the couch.

“Did you call the airport to make the arrangements?” Taylor asked as he sat on a chair.

“No,” I replied. “I thought you were going to do that.”

“Well, I thought you were,” Taylor replied.

“Well, I’ll call first thing tomorrow and book a flight,” I sighed. “The last thing we need is for it to be full.”

“Are you getting excited about flying home?” Taylor asked.

“Yeah,” I smiled. “I miss my family.”

Suddenly, there was a knock at the front door.

“I’ll get it,” Taylor volunteered as he stood up and went to the front door.

Seconds later, Taylor returned to the room followed by Zac and Diana.

“Oh, hi,” I smiled. “What are you guys doing here?”

“You two weren’t busy, were you?” Diana asked as she sat down beside me.

“Oh, no,” I shrugged. “We just got back from doing some Christmas shopping.”

“Oh, well, I was doing some shopping the other day myself,” Diana smiled as she handed me a sack. “And I found these adorable baby outfits.”

“Aw! These are so cute!” I said as I held up a pink ruffled dress and a green pair of overalls.

“Since we don’t know the sex of the baby yet, I couldn’t help but get them both,” Diana said. “Besides, you can save the outfit you don’t need for the next baby.”

Taylor coughed loudly, and Zac, Diana, and I all looked at him. I knew he, too, was shocked by the fact his mother was already thinking about us having another baby.

“Mom, I think you need to slow down for a minute,” Taylor commented. “This baby isn’t even here yet.”

“I know,” Diana nodded. “I just can’t wait to be a grandma. Taylor, why don’t you show me the nursery, so I can put these away for Eden?”

“Sure, mom,” Taylor smiled as he started walking toward the baby’s room.

“Mom isn’t afraid to be blunt, huh?” Zac grinned as soon as Diana and Taylor were gone.

“I’d guess not,” I smiled. “So, what are you doing here?”

“My mom wanted someone to ride over here with her,” Zac said with a sigh as he sat down on the recliner.

“So, you’re just along for the ride, huh?” I asked.

“Pretty much,” Zac nodded as he looked down at the bags sitting in front of him. “Is my Christmas present in there?”

“No,” I replied shaking my head.

“It’s not?” Zac pouted. “Have you got me anything yet?”

“Not yet,” I replied. “I can only do so much shopping in a day, and unless you want some Bath and Body Works lotion, you’re present will be bought during the next shopping expedition.”

“Okay,” Zac nodded. “I think I’ll pass on the Bath and Body Works, but you better watch Tay. I think he was the one who kept using mom’s juniper breeze.”

“Thanks for the warning,” I laughed. “So, seriously, what do you think I should get for Taylor? He hasn’t really hinted around that he wanted anything special.”

“Ooh, I don’t know,” Zac said with a low whistle. “Tay’s a pretty hard person to shop for. I still have to get him something.”

“Well, then I guess you won’t be much of a help to me then,” I sighed.

“Well, maybe we could go shopping for him together,” Zac suggested. “We could help each other out.”

“Really? You’d do that?” I asked.

“Sure,” Zac nodded. “Besides, maybe you can help me find something for Avery and Zoë. I never know what to get those girls.”

“Okay,” I agreed. “Sounds fair.”

A few minutes later Diana and Taylor returned to the room.

“Eden, have you spoken to the interior designer about the nursery?” Diana asked.

“Yeah,” I nodded. “We’re trying to work on the room without knowing the gender. It’s kind of hard.”

“Oh, well, I’m sure it will turn out wonderful,” Diana smiled. “So, Zac, are you ready to head home?”

“Sure,” Zac nodded as he stood up. “I’ll see you both later!”

“Okay,” I smiled.

“See ya,” Taylor said as his mom and brother headed for the front door.

As soon as they were gone, Taylor looked at me.

“What?” I asked.

“Why are you smiling like that?” he asked.

“Like what?” I replied.

I wasn’t even aware that I had been smiling. Leave it to Taylor to notice and find it to be suspicious.

“You always smile like that after you see Zac,” Taylor commented.

“Taylor, what in the world are you talking about?” I asked.

“You and Zac,” Taylor said. “I leave you in the room alone with Zac for five minutes, and I come back and you’re smiling like a love sick puppy.”

I stared at Taylor for a moment before I rolled my eyes. Taylor and I had been getting along so well lately, and I guess I should have expected it was time for the jackass to reappear.

“Honestly, Taylor, I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I said calmly. “I think Zac is a great guy, but all we are is friends. Well, actually, we’re not even really friends. We just talk sometimes.”

“You like him more than you do me, don’t you?” Taylor asked.

“Are you jealous?” I asked. “Because if you are, there’s no reason to be.”

“I’m not jealous,” Taylor scowled.

“Yes, you are,” I replied.

I hated how he was acting so silly about nothing. There really wasn’t anything for him to be jealous of. So maybe I found Zac to be attractive, but I obviously wasn’t going to jump in the sack with him. Besides, I was married to Taylor, which meant Zac was totally off limits – even after Taylor and I were divorced.