Our Accidental Forever
Chapter 112: Your Favorite Kate

Chapter 112: Your Favorite Kate

Kate’s POV:

I stood by the window in my living room, cradling a mug of tea that had long gone cold. The golden afternoon light streamed through the sheer curtains, painting delicate patterns on the wooden floor, but its warmth did little to ease the unease settling in my chest.

Joanne’s visit lingered in my mind like a stubborn shadow. The unexpected knock on my door had brought her into my space, all smiles and cheer, carrying a notebook and an unusual urgency.

"I’ve been thinking," she’d said, making herself comfortable on my couch as if she owned the place. "With everything Ella’s been going through, don’t you think it’s time we plan her baby shower? It could be just what she needs to lift her spirits."

I had hesitated, unsure how to respond. A baby shower wasn’t a bad idea—Ella deserved to be celebrated—but something about Joanne’s eagerness unsettled me.

"We should do it before the wedding," she pressed, flipping open her notebook. The pages were already filled with carefully outlined plans—too carefully outlined, considering this was the first I was hearing of it. "A small, intimate gathering for close friends and family. What do you think?"

That was when my discomfort deepened. I frowned. baby shower before the wedding? The timing felt... off.

Ella’s wedding was mere weeks away, and she was looking forward to it with so much excitement. Why rush a baby shower now, when a bridal shower would make more sense? And more importantly—Ella hadn’t even mentioned wanting one, let alone one scheduled before her big day.

Joanne’s insistence carried a strange urgency, as if the timing of the event was more important to her than Ella’s actual wishes.

"It’s her first child, Kate," Joanne had pressed, her voice smooth, rehearsed. "This is something unique, something we need to celebrate immediately. The wedding will be beautiful no matter what, but a baby shower? That’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment."

The words had felt too polished, as if she was trying to convince me rather than just share an idea. Joanne spoke as though she knew exactly what Ella needed without even asking her, and that grated on me more than I wanted to admit.

Now, in the quiet of my home, the unease gnawed at me. I moved to the kitchen, absentmindedly rinsing dishes in the sink, my hands working while my thoughts spiraled. Joanne’s urgency, her persistence—was this really about Ella, or was she using this as an opportunity to center herself?

I sighed, resting my hands on the counter as my gaze drifted to the window. A baby shower before the wedding could easily overshadow the big day. Was that her goal?

Drying my hands, I leaned against the counter, my mind a storm of speculation. I needed to talk to Ella. Maybe I was overthinking things, but my instincts told me to tread carefully. I had never fully trusted Joanne.

And I wasn’t about to let her derail the most important day of Ella’s life.

My thoughts scattered when my phone rang, pulling me from my spiraling suspicions. I didn’t even need to look at the screen—the cheerful, customized ringtone was reserved for one person.

"Ella!" I answered, grinning as I snatched up the phone. "How’s my favorite godchild doing? Has Arec been pampering you, or do I need to come over and whip him into shape?"

I didn’t wait for her to reply. "Oh, wait, don’t tell me. The baby probably has Arec wrapped around their tiny little finger already, and they’re not even born yet! I bet he’s all ’Ella, are you comfortable?’ and ’Ella, do you need a pillow?’ I bet he even talks to the baby bump every night—"

"Kate."

Ella’s voice cut through my rant, but I wasn’t done.

"And don’t even get me started on—"

"Kate!" she practically shouted, making me pause. "Will you shut up for a second and listen? I actually have something important to tell you."

"Fine, fine." I smirked, leaning back against the counter. "What’s so important that it can’t wait until I finish my brilliant comedy routine?"

Ella sighed, but I could hear the amusement in her tone. "My mom visited yesterday, and she mentioned she’d like to see you."

My jaw dropped. "Your mom visited yesterday, and you’re only telling me now?!"

"I didn’t want you stealing her from me," she teased. "We had a lot of catching up to do, so I figured I’d let you know once I was done monopolizing her time."

"How dare you!" I gasped in mock exaggerated outrage. "Mrs. Davis is in town, and you hid her from her favorite Kate? This is betrayal of the highest order, Ella! A crime."

"You’re just being dramatic."

"I am being just the right amount of dramatic." I huffed dramatically already thinking about how soon I could see Mrs. Davis. "So, what’s the plan? Are you bringing her to my apartment, or should I grace your penthouse with my presence?"

Ella chuckled. "Are you coming to see my mom, or are you just looking for an excuse to lounge around in Arec’s ridiculously luxurious home?"

"Why not both?" I quipped. "Not only do I get to see Mrs. Davis, but I get to bask in Arec’s ridiculous luxury. There are still a few spots I haven’t taken pictures in. You know, for my ’living-my-best-life’ portfolio."

She sighed. "Fine, come over later this evening and use the penthouse as your photo studio."

"Perfect! I grinned, already pacing my living room as I planned my evening. "I’ll be there to charm Mrs. Davis with my sparkling wit and then charm the camera with Arec’s ridiculous library in the background. Win-win."

"You’re unbelievable," Ella muttered, laughing. "And here I thought you’d be rushing over immediately after all that complaining."

"Please, I am not some uncivilized beast," I scoffed. "Besides you love me this way."

"Unfortunately," Ella said with a laugh.

"Tell your mom to rest up," I added, already planning my outfit. "Mrs. Davis will need time to recover from spending the whole day with you. Because she’s going to need her energy when I arrived."

"Lucky her," Ella said dryly.

"Exactly." I smirked. "I’ve got stories to tell, and she’s going to need her energy to laugh through them all."

"Stories or complaints?"

"Why not both?" I quipped. "See you later, Ella. And make sure Arec stays out of the way when I arrive—he’s been hogging my godchild’s attention enough already."

"Noted."

After hanging up, I set my phone down, the unease about Joanne still lingering in the back of my mind. But for now, I had better things to focus on—like seeing Mrs. Davis and tormenting Ella in person.

---

Later that evening, I stepped out of the elevator onto the top floor, my heels clicking against the polished marble. The doors to Arec’s penthouse were already ajar, so I pushed them open without knocking.

"Hello, my favorite penthouse!" I called out, my voice echoing in the vast space.

Pausing dramatically in the entryway, I let my eyes sweep over the grand living room, as if seeing it for the first time. "Seriously, this place is obscene," I muttered loudly enough for anyone inside the house to hear.

Ella emerged from the kitchen, rolling her eyes before I could even finish my theatrics. "Do you ever walk into a room without narrating your every thought?" She asked dryly.

"Nope!" I grinned, setting my bag down—only to freeze when my gaze landed on someone else that was emerging from a different room.

"Mrs. Davis!" My squeal was loud enough to make Ella flinch, but Mrs. Davis just beamed at me, already setting down the teacup she was holding as I rushed forward to hug her.

"My favorite Mrs. Davis," I gushed, holding her at arm’s length. "Your favorite Kate is here!"

Ella crossed her arms, her eyebrow raised. "Wait a minute. How many Mrs. Davis’ do you know? And how many Kates are in my life for you to claim that title?"

I gasped, turning to Mrs. Davis with a loud stage-whisper. "She’s jealous."

"I can hear you," Ella said flatly.

Mrs. Davis laughed, a warm sound that filled the room as she squeezed my hands. "Oh, Ella, let me have this moment. It’s not every day I get such a flattering welcome."

I shot Ella a smug look. "See? She appreciates me."

Ella rolled her eyes, but her smile gave her away.

"If someone hadn’t been hoarding you, I would’ve been here sooner." I shot Ella a pointed look.

"You’re unbelievably stupid," Ella muttered.

"I love you to Ella baby."

I plopped down on the couch beside Mrs. Davis, dramatically sighing as I stretched out my legs. "I don’t know how you’ve managed to survive without me for this long, Mrs. Davis. It must’ve been awful."

She chuckled, shaking her head. "Oh, I’ve managed just fine, Kate. But it has been a while since I’ve seen you."

Ella sat down across from us, her hands resting on her stomach in that absent-minded way she always did now. "I was going to tell you sooner, but I knew you’d demand a dramatic reunion, so I let you have your moment."

I scoffed, tossing my hair over my shoulder. "Dramatic? Me? Ella, I don’t know what you’re talking about."

"Sure you don’t," she muttered, shooting me a knowing look.

Mrs. Davis patted my hand with a warm smile. "How have you been, Kate? Still keeping yourself busy with work?"

I groaned. "Don’t even get me started. I’ve been drowning in so many drafts and rewrites I might as well start charging rent to my laptop. At this point, I think the only thing keeping me sane is my deep, unwavering belief that I deserve a bestseller."