Rafe had suggested the baby shower as a less-formal way for CeCe to meet some of the other Celestia in the community, and CeCe had agreed, but now that the day had arrived, she was regretting the decision. What would they think of her refusal to let Rafe heal her? She knew that most Celestia fell in love when they worked their first miracle, and the emotional connection created between Celestia and human was a supernatural bond. Would they question her loyalty to him since she had rejected his gift?
She’d been thinking about it more and more lately, especially when she saw how happy Emily was to have regained her sight. Of course, Emily had only lived without it for a few months while CeCe had lived most of her life blind. Rafe had assured her over and over again that the decision was up to her, and he would love her no matter what. She was finally starting to believe him. They’d planned their wedding for the next quarterly ceremony, only a few short weeks away. The idea had crossed her mind to let Rafe heal her on their wedding night, but the idea of making such a radical change was daunting. She didn’t know who she would be if she wasn’t blind; it was an integral part of her identity.
The doorbell rang, interrupting CeCe’s mental conflict, and her tension eased a little at the sound of Rafe’s voice. “Hi, gorgeous,” he murmured, taking her in his arms and kissing her till she forgot everything but the sensation of loving him.
“My turn, Mommy! I want a hug, too!” Emily tugged on CeCe’s skirt, squeezing her way in between them. CeCe broke off the kiss with a smile and reached down to embrace Emily. Once Rafe and CeCe had announced they were getting married, Emily had decided to start calling her Mommy. Every time she said it, CeCe’s heart doubled in size.
“Are you ready?” Rafe asked, patting Dexter and grabbing the gift off the counter.
“As ready as I’ll ever be, I guess,” CeCe groaned.
“They’re gonna love you, honey, I promise. You have nothing to worry about.” Rafe took her hand and squeezed it before placing it in the crook of his arm.
CeCe gulped and forced her lips into a smile.
“I’ve got my new dress on, Mommy. Daddy says I look beautiful in it.” Emily twirled around, flaring out her turquoise, polka-dotted skirt. CeCe and Jessica had made good on their intention to take her shopping, and now her closet was bursting at the seams with adorable clothes that made her look like a miniature CeCe.
“I’m sure you do, sweetheart.” CeCe pulled her in for another hug. “But you’re beautiful on the inside, and that’s what matters most.”
The baby shower was being hosted by Eve’s sister in law, Charisse Arella. Rafe was sure all of their friends would be in attendance, filling the space to the rafters. He couldn’t wait to show off CeCe, and he knew everyone there would welcome her with open arms, despite her unwillingness to let him heal her.
The mailbox was festooned with pink and blue balloons and streamers, and cars were already spilling out of the driveway when they arrived. Rafe found a spot in the grass to park and escorted his ladies to the front entrance.
Maddock Engel opened the door for them with a wide smile. “Doc Rafe, CeCe, welcome! And who’s this little cutie?”
“I’m Emily, and this is my mommy and daddy.” She puffed up her chest and stuck out her chin at him. Maddock quirked an eyebrow at Rafe who nodded in pride.
“I’m her foster dad right now, but we’re working on an adoption.”
“That’s awesome, dude. Nice to meet you, Emily. I’m Maddock. I’m the cute one. When you meet my brother you’ll understand what I mean.”
Rafe and CeCe chuckled, and Emily cocked her head, staring up at him quizzically.
“Well, come on in. Everybody who’s anybody is already here. Oh, by the way, you can’t say the word baby or you lose your pin. It’s a party game,” Maddock explained, sticking a safety pin to each of their shirts.
Maddock wasn’t kidding. The living room was crammed with Celestia of all ages and their mates. It wasn’t surprising, since Eve Arella was possibly the most well-known and well-loved Celestia in the whole region, even though she’d only been part of their community for a few years.
Eve was sitting in an armchair with her feet up on an ottoman, her bulging belly significantly larger than the last time Rafe had seen her. She glowed with happiness, her copper hair surrounding her milkmaid complexion like a titian aura.
“CeCe!” she cried out at the sight of her, pulling herself up from the chair to greet her. She flung her arms around CeCe, surprising her. “I’m so glad to see you here — with Rafe.”
CeCe blushed and smiled, holding onto Eve’s arms. “It’s nice to see you again, too, Eve. Thank you for inviting me.”
“Is this Emily?” Eve asked, bending down, trying to catch a glimpse of the girl who was peeking out from behind CeCe’s skirt, suddenly bashful. “Rafe sure likes to talk about you.”
Emily grinned at the compliment and stepped around CeCe’s legs towards Eve. “Hi,” she squeaked.
“I love your dress, Emily. You look very pretty in it.”
Emily’s smile widened, and she twisted around, making the skirt sway. “Thank you. Your dress is pretty, too. Daddy says there’s a baby in your belly.”
“You said the b-word!” Maddock swooped in and stole Emily’s pin, adding it to his growing collection.
“Hey!” Emily complained, pouting her lips at him.
Eve and CeCe giggled. “That’s right, Emily. Do you want to feel it kicking? Here, put your hand on my belly.”
Emily reached out tentatively and gasped when she felt movement. Her eyes widened and her mouth formed a large O. “Wow! I think it’s ready to come out!”
“I know I am!” Eve said, and CeCe snickered.
“Come on ladies, let me introduce you to some people.” Rafe linked arms with CeCe and led her towards a group congregating by the refreshment table, nibbling on tiny, crustless sandwiches and cookies shaped like baby rattles. “You’ve met Maddock and his twin Cheydan; these are their girlfriends, Amanda and Lissy.” CeCe held out her hand, and Rafe whispered in her ear, “They’re identical twin sisters.”
Emily was swinging her head back and forth between the two couples with her mouth hanging open. “I think I’m seeing double!”
The two sets of twins laughed and introduced themselves, and Emily mouthed their names under her breath, trying to get them straight in her head.
“You see what I mean, right?” Maddock asked her. “I’m the cute one.”
Emily wrinkled her nose and looked back and forth between them again. “You look the same to me, but his clothes are nicer.” She pointed at Cheydan, and everyone cracked up.
“Okay, everyone, I think we can get started now. Who wants to play some party games?” Charisse clapped her hands to get their attention. Her designer outfit was somehow perfectly coordinated with the pastel color scheme and yet still looked high fashion.
A collective groan rose from the crowd, but Risse ignored them, and soon everyone was giggling as they tried to guess which brand of candy bar was melted in their diapers. CeCe shocked them all when she immediately stuck a finger in hers and tasted it. “It’s a Snickers,” she announced and won the first prize.
Rafe brought her a cup of punch to wash down the candy and squeezed her hand. “I told you they’d love you.”
“I’m having a good time, Rafe. Thank you for encouraging me to come. Your friends are all really nice.”
“Well, you’re easy to be nice to.” He leaned over and kissed her gently, savoring the moment.
“Hey, no fooling around! I don’t want to have to go to another one of these in nine months!” Maddock teased.
CeCe turned red, but Rafe just grinned.
Emily pulled on his pant leg with a confused expression. “I don’t get it.”
Rafe ruffled her hair and whispered, “I’ll explain it when you’re older.” Emily rolled her eyes but climbed into his lap and stuck a thumb in her mouth.
Next was a diaper-changing race that Eve’s husb
and, Zeph, won easily. “I’ve been practicing,” he admitted sheepishly, running a hand through his hair and smoothing his oxford.
“Okay, now we’re going to play Pin the Baby on the Belly! It’s just like Pin the Tail on the Donkey, only…” Risse tore a piece of paper off the wall, revealing a life-size photo of Eve, clutching her baby belly. Loud laughter bounced around the room, and Eve groaned and covered her face with her hands.
“That is so embarrassing,” she muttered.
“Cece’s definitely going to win this one,” Rafe said, wrapping his arms around her.
Maddock launched himself over the back of the couch, landing next to Rafe. “No way! She can’t play. She has an unfair advantage.”
“Let Emily go first,” Eve suggested, and Rafe lifted Emily off his knee and propelled her towards Risse.
“Come here, Emily. Do you know how to play?” Risse crouched down and held out a long, silk scarf. “Let me tie this blindfold around you.”
Emily started squirming and whimpering as soon as the fabric touched her eyes. “No! I don’t want to be blind! I don’t like it! I don’t wanna play.” She pushed the blindfold off her head and ran back to Rafe, climbing into his lap and burying her head in his chest. He smoothed her auburn locks and whispered reassurances into her ear as he patted her back.
The three of them cuddled on the couch, observing, while the others stumbled around, trying to get the paper baby in the center of the belly. Mercy Angeletta eventually won the game, claiming her cop senses guided her.
Afterwards, Risse announced it was time to cut the cake. The three-tiered confection rivaled a wedding cake and was decorated with pastel circus animals.
“What kind of cake is it? Is it chocolate?” Emily asked, recovered from her earlier upset.
“Nope, it’s a special cake!” Risse’s face lit up with a grin as she brandished a crystal-handled cake server. “It’s either going to be pink inside or blue, depending on whether the baby is a boy or a girl.”
“What are you hoping for, Eve?” another party guest asked.
“Well, I know how to handle boys — I helped raised my brothers.” At their mention, her brothers, Alex and Andy, popped up next to Eve and started poking at the cake. Their mother smacked at their hands and shooed them away. “But a girl might be a nice change.” Eve winked at them.
“It definitely needs to be a girl. We are way outnumbered around here,” Risse complained, poking a finger towards all the men in her life — her father, boyfriend, brother, and his best friends, Cheydan and Maddock.
“Zeph, why don’t you cut the cake? Today is your day, too,” Eve offered, nudging her husband toward the table.
“Gladly.” Zeph took the cake server from his sister and held it poised above the cake till the room grew silent. He made two quick cuts, positioning his body in front of the cake so no one could peek, then moved to the side as he stuck the cake server under the slice and lifted it up for all to see.
Oohs and ahas echoed around the room as Zeph held up the pink slice, a giant smile on his face. Eve wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his shoulder, rubbing her belly in satisfaction. Zeph plopped the cake on a plate and handed it to her, kissing her forehead. “Congratulations, little momma. You’re having a daughter.”
Rafe looked at CeCe and squeezed her hand, and she gave him a knowing smile.
“So, since meeting my friends wasn’t so bad, how do you feel about meeting my parents?”
Chapter 20
CeCe woke up with a smile on her face, the fading memory of her dream still lingering like a pleasant aftertaste. She’d dreamt of a honeymoon with Rafe that involved hot rays of sunshine, cool ocean water, and sandy beaches. Rafe had suggested a trip to the Caribbean, and CeCe had never imagined anything so lavish, but the seed of an idea had blossomed into a full-blown fantasy.
She padded out to the kitchen to start some coffee, her mind still whirling with the imagined sensations. She could almost hear the kettle drums tinkling in an island rhythm and smell the fresh, lime scent of margaritas. She was so distracted, she didn’t even notice Jessica leaning against the kitchen counter, munching on a bowl of granola.
“You look awfully happy today. I figured you’d be stressed out about meeting Rafe’s family.”
CeCe’s fantasy immediately disintegrated. Her smile drooped as she dumped coffee grounds into the filter and poured in the water. “I forgot. But thanks for ruining my moment.”
Jessie pulled out CeCe’s favorite mug from the dishwasher and handed it over. “It won’t be that bad. I’m sure they’ll like you. Why wouldn’t they?”
A million reasons swarmed in CeCe’s mind like stinging hornets waiting to attack, and they were too intimidating to swat away. A Tsunami of anxiety washed away the remains of her daydream and left her feeling desperate.
She trudged through the rest of the morning distracted and worried, the clock dragging through the minutes but also racing inexorably towards the meeting she was dreading.
Finally, at 11:30, she harnessed Dexter and headed out for the hospital where Rafe’s clinic was located. She would meet the family there, and together they would head out for the restaurant. Why she had agreed to meet them on their home turf, in a medical clinic of all places, she wasn’t sure, but doing so meant her already aggravated nerves would be wound as tight as possible, since that was the one place in the world that made her the most nervous.
She walked to the hospital, her mind telling her to slow down but her nervous system sending out fight or flight messages that had her feet scampering. The hospital buzzed with the sounds of a medical practice, and her anxiety ratcheted up a notch as she entered. She could hardly keep up with her racing heart in the high-heeled shoes she has chosen to wear. She had no idea why adding two inches of height and tilting her feet at a 45 degree angle in a pair of pumps made her feel more confident, but she needed all the boost she could get today, so she’d worn them, hoping they’d help her feel better about herself.
She immediately regretted them the moment one of her heels caught on a rug she didn’t expect and sent her sprawling onto the hard, tile floor. He ankle twisted underneath her, and she cried out as her body crumpled on top of the offending shoes.
“Oh my goodness, are you all right, dear?” a soothing male voice said as he reached for her arm. His hands were cold, the skin dry and chapped like he washed them too often, but their grip was strong yet gentle as he tried to help CeCe to her feet.
“I’m oka—” CeCe winced as soon as she put pressure on her left leg.
“Oh, I don’t think so. I think you might have sprained that ankle.” The man wrapped his arm around hers, bearing her weight, and CeCe balanced on one leg. “Raymond, bring a wheelchair over here, please,” he called out to an orderly.
“That’s not necessar—”
He cut her off with a firm but kind tone. “Now, now, I can’t have people leaving this hospital in worse shape than they came! You’re in good hands, my dear. I’m Doctor D and I’ll take good care of you. Let’s take a quick X-ray to make sure you didn’t fracture it.”
Before CeCe could protest, she was lowered into a wheelchair and pushed down the hallway. She expected to feel instantly terrified, knowing she was about to be treated by a doctor, but for some reason, this particular one put her at ease. Maybe it was because he was focused on her ankle and not her blindness. She was more worried about being late, so she fumbled with her phone, trying to check the time.
“Don’t worry, we’ll be done in a jiffy. I’ll skip you to the head of the line.” She could hear the smile in his voice, and he reminded her of Rafe.
“I came to have lunch with my boyfriend and his family, but I was running a little early. He’s a doctor here — Rafael DiAngelo,” she explained, babbling nervously.
“I’m sure he won’t mind waiting a few minutes while I make sure his lady is okay.”
“I can’t believe this happened. I’m meeting his parents for the fi
rst time, and I wanted to make a good impression,” CeCe groaned. “I usually do just fine on my own, but now they’re going to think I need someone to look after me.”
The man chuckled. “I wouldn’t worry about that, either. It was just an accident — could’ve happened to anyone. I can see just fine, and I still trip over my own feet all the time.”
CeCe grinned at his attempts to make her feel better. If all doctors were this nice, she might not have developed such an aversion to them. His rumbly voice vibrated like a cello, and he smelled like he’d been raiding the bowl of peppermints the nurses left out on the check-in counter.
He wheeled her into the radiology wing and spoke a few brief words to the attendant before helping her onto a table. The cold metal bit at the bare skin of her legs, and CeCe pulled on her skirt, trying to slide the material farther down. She suddenly wondered if the length was immodest, adding another stressor to her list of insecurities.
The doctor gently maneuvered her legs into position then laid a lead pad over everything but the sore ankle. He snapped a few X-rays, repositioning her legs in between so he could capture different angles. His touch was gentle, and he never made her feel nervous or uncomfortable.
“Well, the good news is, I don’t see any breaks or fractures. I think all you need is an ice pack, some ibuprofen, and a few days’ rest, and you’ll be just fine,” he announced, scanning the digital images.
CeCe sighed, grateful that it wasn’t serious. Her ankle was throbbing, though, so his prescription sounded like a good idea.
“Come on, CeCe. I’ll wheel you over to the clinic and get you hooked up with all three.”
CeCe startled at the use of her name — she didn’t remember telling it. Before she could ask, though, she heard a familiar voice behind her.
“Dad, what are you doing? CeCe will be here any minute. You don’t have time to see another patient.”
Date with Destiny Collection: Angel Romance Series: Books 1 - 4 Page 59
