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They walked through to the baby store There were cribs and changing tables, mobiles and teddy bear la to the left "There’s a bedrooirly and if we have a boy, I’m not sure it’s appropriate"

Pia followed her friend to a display done in pale wood The s table were all carved with fairies and angels, the edges scalloped Pink-and-gold drawer pulls sparkled with a touch of glitter

"Too girly doesn’t describe it," Pia said with a grin "I think it’s great, but you need to et this"

"It’s too over the top for a boy?"

"It will give Josh a heart attack, and that’s the last thing you want"

"I know" Charity sighed "I had planned not to know the sex of the baby until the birth I thought that would be fun I’ve always been such a planner This see to have to let go on the furniture selection," Pia told her "This is a whole new di reluctant "What are you going to do?"

Pia turned to her "About what?"

"Knowing the gender of the babies"

"I haven’t really thought about it"

"Fro to have fraternal rather than identical triplets," Charity said "Three es That couldDoes Raoul want to know?"

They hadn’t talked about it, Pia realized In fact they hadn’t talkedabout his thoughts on children, except he wanted them What were his hopes and dreams for these babies? Did he spank or prefer tiirls?

She put her hand on the dresser to steady herself There was oals for their lives She didn’t knohat religion he was, if he opened his presents Christ They hadn’t even discussed which way to load a dishwasher

How could she have agreed to marry soet to know each other? Of course, she was the same person who had blithely had her friend’s babies i the future

She was going to be theto have to raise theoing up She could barely take care of herself There was the whole hu relationship failure with Jake, the cat

"I can’t do this," she said

"What’s wrong?" Crystal asked, sounding concerned

Pia had to get out of there She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think

She glanced at her watch "I have to go I have…" Her mind went blank, then rebooted and provided her with the perfect excuse "I have a city council et back to work and prepare"

"Me, too," Crystal told her "We’re talking about the budget, which is a serious drag Neither of us can have caffeine How are we supposed to stay awake?"

Pia was amazed She must still look and sound normal, when on the inside, she was seconds from a meltdown