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“Can you just appreciate my work?”

“I do.”

“Then come on.”

The ride to the restaurant started normal enough, but about halfway there, Anika slapped the steering wheel.

“Damn.”

I looked over. “What?”

“I left something at the house.”

“What you leave?”

“Something.”

“Very descriptive.”

“I’ll be quick.”

She turned around, and I didn’t think much of it until we pulled onto her street and I saw cars packed into the driveway, parked in the yard, and lined along the road. Then I noticed the bright balloons tied to the mailbox, complete with little tacos and a baby bottle.

I slowly looked at Anika. “Trevon throwing a party?”

She gave me a dumb little shrug. “I don’t know. Let’s go see.”

“You live here.”

“And?”

“How you don’t know if your husband throwing a party at your house?”

“Come on, Lee.”

Something was wrong with her. I knew it. I just didn’t know what yet. She got out, so I grabbed my purse and followed her toward the house. The second she opened the front door, everybody screamed.

“SURPRISE!”

I jumped so hard my hand flew to my stomach. “Oh my God!”

The living room was full of people. Mama, Wren, Nina, Trevon, family, friends, everybody. Then I spotted Van. For a second, all I could do was stand there before I finally noticed the decorations.

TACO ‘BOUT A BABY was written across a huge sign behind the dessert table. Little tacos wearing diapers were printed on everything. There was a taco bar set up along one wall, cupcakes with tiny sombreros, bright balloons, games, and gifts stacked everywhere.

I slowly turned toward Anika. “You lied to me.”

She was already laughing. “You wasn’t gonna let us throw you one.”

“I said I didn’t need one.”

“We weren’t trying to hear all that.”

Wren came over and wrapped her arms around me. “Surprise!”

“You knew too?”

“Obviously.”