A few weeks later
Surrounded by inventory and packaging, I'm packing orders, when a text from Molly comes across the screen. I jump slightly at the sight of her name. She's been so busy that I'm borderline surprised to hear from her. Pleasantly, borderline surprised of course.
“I'm taking the kids to Disney in a few weeks. Can you meet us there?”
“I don't see why not,” I reply casually. Inside, I'm elated and although Disney in the Florida summer sun isn't my own personal idea of fun, I would give just about anything to spend time with my long-distance best friend.
A short month later, we're standing in line at Disney as my pits fill with sweat. It's hot as balls and I'm already overstimulated, but I do my best to hide my discomfort. I look around for the magic at Disney. In this moment, I'm admittedly having trouble finding it.
It's hotter than an elephant's nut sack out here. I theatrically wipe the sweat from my face. As I do so, Molly's sizable belly catches my attention. How the fuck is she even doing this?
This is bloody miserable is what this is.
She looks in my direction and I flash her a grin, praying to the Disney gods that it doesn't look like a grimace.
The day flies by in a serious of humid memories.
When it is time for us to leave, Molly's big doe eyes blink slowly, almost as if to blink back tears. “I'm gonna miss you,” she pouts, her eyes genuinely showing signs of being distraught. Part of me wants to laugh at the theatrics of it all, but I'd be lying if I said her sad eyes didn't mirror my own.
Pulling my lips into a smile, I wrap her in a hug. “We will find a way back to each other again,” I promise. “And until then, I'll see you on the Internet.” I say, laughing. It sounds so funny to me when I say it out loud.
As I wave goodbye moments later, I do my best to hide my sneaky grin. Little does she know, I'm already secretly planning her baby shower weekend, only a few short weeks away.
We'll be seeing each other a lot sooner than she thinks.
And not only that, but our friends from Crafty Bitches, are coming too. Several of them will be flying in, from all over the nation. Including our newest members, Molly's new group of friends.
As the plane lands, it's then that my social anxiety kicks in.
What if this is a social disaster?
Chill out. You know these people.
Except, I don't. Not really. The cozy clique quality of the internet has given me a false sense of familiarity and security.
It's in this moment, that I realize I don't know Molly's friends at all.
Pulling into the restaurant parking lot, I take an earth-sized breath in an attempt to settle my nerves and hop out of the car. Once inside, the sound of excited chatter echos through the room.
As I look around, I spot several familiar faces among the small crowd. My eyes lock in on my funny friend. In response, her eyes light up when she sees me.
Squealing, we make our way towards each other and exchange a semi-aggressive hug.
I can tell by the grin plastered across her face that she is happy to see me. The feeling is mutual. Looking around the room again, it's almost eerie to see people that I met on the internet, all physically in the same room. All ten of them.
After exchanging excited hellos, we all settle into our seats.
Any minute, Molly will be waddling through the wooden double doors.
Seconds later, the room goes suddenly quiet - a small hush falls over the room.
As it does, the wooden doors swing open, revealing Molly and her husband. As Molly waddles through the doors her jaw swings open too.
Her eyes widen as she soaks in all of the familiar faces in the room. I can tell by the look on her face that she is genuinely surprised. Her look of surprise melts into confusion as she shakes her head in bewilderment, turning to her husband. “How did ya'll do all of this?”
He gives a slight smile and an appreciative nod in my direction, “It was Jessi's idea.”
She takes a confused look around the room and then looks over her shoulder at her husband.
“How -how did ya'll do this?”
Her husband nods in my direction.
“Jessi thought of it.”
“This is amazing. I can't believe this.” She says still shaking her head. When her eyes meet mine across the room, my shoulders soften. “I love you!” She mouths in my direction. I give her a small millennial nod with a genuine smile and blow her a kiss.
As Molly and her husband take their seats, the waitress comes up behind them to take their drink order.
And just like that, the room roars to life again with excited chatter.
Looking around the room of familiar faces again, my heart swells with joy.
I'm so lucky to have found her.
