Baby Cakes Read Online Free Page B

Delaney’s bangs. “You haven’t deserted me yet,” she said, planting a kiss on her daughter’s forehead. “You’re always my best girl.”
    â€œWhat if you have another girl? Will I still be your best girl then?” Delaney asked.
    â€œLaney, honey, you’ll always be my baby—and my first one. That’s a very special place in my heart that no one else can hold.”
    â€œOr what if it’s a boy? You’ll have to go cheer him on at soccer practice, and you won’t be able to come see me in my shows!”
    Mrs. Noonan chuckled. “I don’t think the baby—either he or she—will be playing soccer for a few years. I’ll be there—front row, center. I promise. I love watching you shine onstage, honey. And I love you.”
    Delaney knew it was true. Her mom loved her. But she wasn’t sure how things would change when there was another Noonan kid to love. It made her sad just to think about it. Maybe it was selfish, but she wanted her mom all to herself! She loved how they went to see Broadway shows together and snuggled on the couch watching America’s Got Talent . A new baby would be a lot of work—exhausting work, if Milly was any indication! What if her mom didn’t have time or energy for her anymore? What if she became just an afterthought?
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    The thought of the new baby kept nagging away at her even the next day, as Kylie called the cupcake club meeting to order. Peace, Love, and Cupcakes met once a week in the Blakely Elementary School teachers’ lounge. It was a time to go through all their cupcake business: what orders were in the lineup for this week; what recipes needed to be created and tested; and of course, who would be doing what.
    While it was a big baking business, it was also a lot of fun and a great way for the girls to bond. Juliette, Kylie’s drama teacher, was the one who had suggested they start the club. Kylie had found each of the original fab foursome, and they had learned not just how to bake and frost delicious cupcakes, but what it meant to be true friends. With the addition of Delaney, the club clicked even more. No matter what sweet surprise came their way, the girls knew they could handle it together.
    Delaney wanted to be excited about this VIP order, but every time she closed her eyes, all she could see was her mom cuddling a tiny bundle in her arms—and her standing on the sidelines.
    â€œSo as I told you all, this is a VIP order—and it’s very hush-hush,” Kylie began.
    â€œWhy all the secrecy?” Lexi asked. “Are we baking cupcakes for the White House or something?”
    Juliette, the club’s advisor, shook her head. “Nope. Think closer to home.”
    â€œThe Knicks? The Giants? OMG, are we making cupcakes for the Mets?” Sadie piped up.
    â€œUh-uh,” Kylie replied. “No sports teams. I’ll give you one more hint. Delaney will be very excited about this order.”
    â€œYou already said it’s not a pop star’s b-day or a red-carpet premiere,” Delaney said. “Beyond that, what would make me excited?”
    â€œHow about knowing if you’re having a baby brother or sister?” Kylie beamed.
    Delaney wanted to scream. This was the big surprise? This was the VIP? The baby ?
    â€œYour friend Sophie’s mom called. She wants to throw a baby shower on the seventeenth,” Kylie explained. “I spoke to your mom, and she wants us to make twelve dozen gender-reveal cupcakes. You bite into them, and it’s either pink cream for a girl or blue for a boy.”
    â€œThat is so cool!” Lexi cried. “I want to do little baby rattles in fondant on top—or little duckies, or pacifiers!”
    â€œThe coolest thing is that no one will know the baby’s gender until the party,” Kylie added.
    â€œWell, someone will have to know,” Sadie pointed out. “The