Leah looked beautiful and ready to pop in a blue maternity top and stretchy white skirt. She was sitting on the patio in a comfy armchair that Madigan and Steph had carried outside for her, looking over the tattoo bear—a cute stuffed bear with no fur—Madigan’s mother had given her, reading off what everyone had tattooed on it with permanent marker. Junie sat beside her, still as could be, while Aria Bad, who worked at Tank’s tattoo shop, drew a picture on her arm of a cat surfing, and Gia Galant, another tattooist at Wicked Ink, made up a story about the surfing cat.

Marly was gushing about Dante to Evie, Sid, and Cait Weatherby, who used to work at Wicked Ink but had recently fallen in love and moved to Silver Island to be with her fiancé. Across the yard, Steph, Chloe, and Starr were chatting with Junie and Rosie’s daycare provider, Corinne, and some of the other waitresses Leah had worked with at the Salty Hog, while Rosie and Starr’s daughter, Gracie, played a few feet away with some of the other guests’ kids.

They’d played games and eaten a feast, and now Madigan’s mother was flitting from one group to the next, doting on everyone, while Ginger cut the cake and Madigan handed out slices.

Madigan picked up the last two plates and forks and carried them over to Aria and Gia. “That cat is adorable. I’m just going to leave this here, and you can eat it when you’re done drawing.” She set a plate on the table beside Aria, who was as petite and slim as Gia was curvy and tall.

“Thanks, Mads.” Aria smiled up at her, her long dirty-blond hair cascading over her shoulders. She wore a silver hoop in one nostril and a gray-and-black sleeveless dress, which showed off her colorful tattoos.

“My girl Aria has mad drawing skills,” Gia said. She was all legs, with flawless brown skin, and a plethora of tattoos. She held out her hand. “I know that corner slice is for me.”

“Yes, my frosting-loving hottie, it is.” Madigan handed it to her.

“Thanks.” Gia scooped frosting onto her finger and licked it off, looking like a vamp in her tight red minidress. “When are you going to bring your new man by the shop so I can check him out?”

“You mean so you can give him the third degree?” Madigan raised her brows. Gia was as protective of her friends as Madigan’s brothers were.

“Maybe.” Gia ate a bite of cake.

Leah leaned forward and picked up Aria’s plate. “I’m afraid this is going to melt, so I’ll just…” She ate a forkful.

“Mama, that’s for Awia,” Junie complained.

Leah giggled. “Pregnant mamas are allowed to have seconds.”

“Don’t worry, Junie, we have plenty more for Aria,” Ginger assured her.

“I’m not that hungry anyway,” Aria said.