“All right, all right,” she says. “Let’s not freak the kid out before it’s even born. Also, I think my face is against the little blighter’s butt.”

Laughing, I release my friend and pat my stomach. “I think you’re right. That feels like my baby’s bottom.”

Lily screws up her face. “Lovely.”

“So, you’re going to do it then? Marry Darryl,” I ask.

“I guess.”

“Wow. Who would have thought? The beast is finally tamed.”

“Are you insinuating I’m the beast?” Lily looks at me with mock indignation.

“I wouldn’t want it any other way.” I kiss Lily lightly on her head. “Congratulations, Lily. I think you made a good decision.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely. Darryl’s one of the good ones.”

Wincing as another Braxton Hicks picks up steam, I sit heavily and inhale deeply, in and out, waiting for the tightness to pass. Lily shovels a mouthful of pie in her mouth and chews slowly. She’s acting cool, but her anxious eyes keep darting in my direction then back to her plate.

“Are you sure that’s normal?” she finally asks.

I nod and my body sags as the contraction ends.

“You’re not, like, in labour, are you?”

Lily’s face tells me this would be a truly horrific turn of events.

“No. Well, I don’t think so.”

“Great,” Lily says, rolling her eyes. “Just what I need.”

I dig into my pie. “So,” I say, chewing. “Have you set a date?”

“For what?”

“Your wedding!”

Lily screws up her nose. “Oh, right. Nah, not yet. Maybe we could just stay engaged and never get married.”

“That sounds more like it.” I giggle and Lily sticks out her tongue.

“This is a big step, Trish. Huge.”

She’s right. This is big for Lily. And I wouldn’t be surprised if the engagement is off again by the end of the week. Then on. Then off. It could well be years before Lily finally lets herself commit.

“I know, Lils. It’s right up there with having a baby.”

Lily nods vigorously. “Exactly! Do you ever feel like we’re just acting like grown-ups, Trish, instead of actually being them?”

I nod. “All the time. I’m pretty sure the biggest part of being a so-called grown-up is faking it till you make it. It should be a thing. Adult Imposter Syndrome.”

“Uh-huh. We could write a book about it.”

*

After we finish our lunch and Lily heads back to work, I decide to work off the pie with a walk. It’s funny how little I miss running. Pounding the streets, trying to notch up a certain number of kilometres in a limited amount of time. Running was about the end result. It was a means to an end and that end was worth it if it meant I stayed fit, didn’t gain weight and kept my mental demons at bay.