Griffin’s head pops up. “Did something happen?”

“She’s in the hospital,” I say, then turn to Wes. “I haven’t heard anything new. They’re trying to control the swelling and stop her contractions.”

Wes gives me a small smile. “She’s tough. I know they’re both going to be okay.”

And then he’s gone.

Hearing about Margot takes some of the fight out of Griffin. He drops down on the bottom stair.

“I’m sorry, Soph. I know how worried you must be.”

I mumble a thanks, and we’re back to awkward silence. Finally, Griffin says, “All I’m asking for is another chance. I don’t want things to be over for us.”

“You’re going to have to let me think about it. There’s so much that’s happened in the last few days, I can’t think straight.”

He nods. “Do you plan on having any more dates while you’re here?”

I picture the board in the kitchen. I could put an end to it. Tell Nonna that Griffin and I are trying to work things out. But something is holding me back. So instead I tell Griffin about Nonna’s plan.

And it’s clear when I finish that Griffin isn’t happy. “So even though I’m here, telling you that I want us to get back together, you’re still going to go on six more dates?”

I look him in the eye. “I feel like I’ve learned more about myself in the last four days than I have in the last four years. And it’s not like I’m really looking forward to the upcoming dates. But I need to finish what I started.”

This is the moment. Either he’ll get what I’m saying or he’ll be gone. I’m not sure what it says about us that I can’t decide which way I want it to go.

He gets up quickly, almost falling back down before righting himself. He paces up and down the front walk like he’s trying to wrap his head around my words. Finally, he stops and turns toward me.

“I think we both got lazy. If you go back and look at early pics of us, I think you’ll find you were as happy then as you look in the ones being posted now. And I think we can get back to that place. At least, that’s what I want.”

I start to say something — what, I’m not even sure — but he holds a hand up, stopping me.

“But I agree you should finish what you started, because you need to be one hundred percent sure I’m what you want.”

He spins around and gets back in his truck. He’s driving away before his words have even completely registered.

Is he right? I keep thinking about how different these last few days have been, but what if it’s because I’m not really remembering what things were like with us in the beginning? Is it fair to compare the excitement of a first date — or four first dates — to the familiarity of a long-term relationship?

It’s only when I get up to head inside that I notice Wes sitting on his front porch steps, staring at the empty street.

***

The day drags. My phone is glued to my hand, and I’ve almost worn a path across my grandmother’s kitchen floor.

She’s watching me from her spot at the counter but doesn’t say anything. Both of us were supposed to go into work for a few hours, but neither of us could stand the thought of being there while we’re waiting on news about Margot. Instead, Nonna continues measuring ingredients and whatever else it takes to prepare tomorrow’s massive meal, and I continue pacing.

This new radio silence is killing me. I’ve already talked to Mom a few times, but all I’ve gotten is that there’s “nothing new.”

“Didn’t you have a lunch date today with Olivia’s friend?” Nonna asks.

“I did. But I canceled. I can’t go to lunch today.”

Nonna lets out a humming sound but doesn’t look at me. “I need you to run to the store for a few things,” she says finally.

I spin around. I can’t go to the store. I need to stay here and wait for Mom’s call. “What do you need?”

“For you to get your mind off things.”

I roll my eyes and start pacing the room again. “I’m not leaving right now.”

My phone rings an hour later and it scares me so bad, I drop it. It takes forever to find it underneath a side table.

Mom’s name flashes across the screen.

“Hello?” I say, almost out of breath. It feels like my heart is beating out of my chest.

“Soph,” she says. “They’ve rushed Margot in for an emergency C-section. They should have the baby out in just a few minutes.”

Mom’s voice sounds gravelly. Nonna has stopped moving.

“Is she okay? Will the baby be okay?” I can barely squeak out the words.

“They told us it’s safer for Margot to deliver than to try to stop it from happening. There’s a neonatal doctor and nurse waiting to whisk the baby to their unit, and plenty of doctors and nurses caring for Margot, so there’s no reason to think that everything won’t be just fine.”

Except the fact that the baby is coming early and, until this morning, the goal was for Margot to get further along before delivering. I mean, is the baby ready?

Even though I’m scared as hell, a sudden thrill runs through me. I can’t believe Margot is about to be a mom. And I’m going to be an aunt!

“Will you call me as soon as you know something?”

“Of course. I’ll call you soon,” Mom says.

“Okay. Tell Margot I love her and can’t wait to see the baby!”

“Oh, sweetie, I will.”

And then the line goes dead.

I catch Nonna up. “Is it possible to be terrified and excited at the same time?”

She comes up behind me and pulls my hair back, twisting it around her hand, just like she used to do when I was little. Her voice is soft when she answers. “It’s how I’ve felt every time one of my children or grandchildren was born…and now a great-grandchild! It’s amazing what doctors can do nowadays. Six weeks is early but not unheard of.”

“I know,” I mumble. “But we haven’t even had her baby shower yet. She wanted to get past Christmas first.”

“Well, then, once we know if it’s a boy or girl, we’ll just have to go shopping.”

I swore I’d never step foot in a store on Christmas Eve, but for this, I’m willing to change my mind.

Nonna is back at the stove and I continue to stare at my phone.

“This will be the first time you’re a great-grandmother,” I say. “I didn’t realize it until you just said it. How does that feel?”

Nonna turns to face me. “It feels pretty fantastic.” Her face is beaming. “And you’ll be Aunt Sophia for the first time!”

“Aunt Sophia sounds too formal. She can just call me Sophie.”

“I had an Aunt Judy growing up and we all called her Aunt Ju-Ju. So maybe you can be something cute like Aunt So-So!”

Sounds kind of silly but it makes me smile thinking of a chunky little baby looking up at me with arms outstretched asking for Aunt So-So to pick her up.

My phone dings and I jump in my seat.

I swipe open the message. “It’s a girl!” I squeal.

Nonna clasps her hands together and I can see tears in her eyes. “A girl! How wonderful!”

“Mom says the baby was rushed to the neonatal unit, so she’ll send a pic as soon as she gets one.”

“Does she have a name yet?” Nonna asks. I text the question to Mom.

Those bubbles jump around and then her reply comes.

I’m so choked up I can barely get the words out. “Anna Sophia.”

I’m gutted. That sweet baby has my name and I don’t even know what she looks like.

***

“What size are you looking for?” the saleswoman asks me. Olivia and I are at a small baby store downtown. Thankfully most of the people shopping on Christmas Eve are not shopping here. Well, good for us, I guess.

“She was born today, but she’s small. Barely five pounds.”

The woman’s eyes get big. “Follow me over here. We have a preemie section that will have something in the size you need.”

Olivia and I hold up tiny little gowns. “I could seriously take the clothes off some of my old dolls at home and they would probably fit her.”

“I know,” I say. “These little bloomers barely cover the palm of my hand.”

Then she gets distracted by a stand of breast-feeding products. “Think Margot will need some of this nipple cream?” she asks with a laugh.

“That’s something she’ll have to buy on her own. And seriously, after all this, it will be a miracle if I ever decide to have a baby.”

“Well, it will be a miracle if Jake ever finds anyone willing to marry him, so you may have to share Anna and let me be her aunt, too. It might be my only chance.”

I look at Olivia. “I can definitely share her with you.”

We’re close enough that she throws her arm around me and squeezes me close. “We’ll be the best aunts ever. Not like Aunt Patrice.”

I lean my head against hers. “Or Aunt Maggie Mae.”

She laughs. “Definitely not like her.”

In the end, we pick out three soft gowns that have an elastic opening at the bottom and a super-soft pink blanket.

“Want me to wrap these?” the saleswoman asks.

“Yes, please,” I answer.

While we wait, Olivia picks up a miniature LSU cheerleader outfit. “I forgot to ask how things went with the college guy last night,” she says, and wags her eyebrows.

“That party was amazing!”

“I saw all the pics, but did you like him? Did he say he wanted to go out again?” she asks.

I shake my head. “No, he’s kind of talking to someone else.”

Olivia looks bummed. “Well, that stinks.”

I open my mouth to tell her about Wes but shut it again quickly. What would I say? I’m glad we’re finally getting back to normal, but now let me screw it up by bringing up my almost kiss with Wes? And let’s not forget he has a girlfriend…I think. And I’m super confused by my ex-boyfriend.