Nobody asked whether I was excited or nervous about becoming a parent.
I tried not to take it personally.
She was enthusiastic.
That was all.
At least, that was what I kept telling myself.
Levi leaned toward me.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
He studied my face.
“You don’t look fine.”
I squeezed his hand.
“Please. Let’s just get through today.”
Then Diane tapped a spoon against her glass.
“Everyone! It’s time for our first game!”
My stomach sank.
I approached her quietly.
“Diane, remember? I asked for no games.”
She waved a hand.
“Oh, this one is harmless. Everyone loves it.”
She held up a spool of ribbon.
“We’re going to guess Mommy’s belly size!”
Nearly forty guests turned toward me.
Before I could object, Diane had invited everyone to estimate the circumference of my stomach using lengths of ribbon.
People began laughing and comparing their guesses.
One guest held up an absurdly long piece.
The room erupted with laughter.
Diane laughed louder than anyone.
I stood there trying to smile while wishing I could disappear.
I hadn’t wanted attention focused on my body.
I’d specifically asked her not to organize games like this.
Yet there I was, surrounded by people I barely knew, listening to them make jokes about my pregnant belly.
Levi appeared beside me.
“We’re leaving.”
I looked at him.
