“Like I said, smarty-pants. And maybe you’re gonna be the CEO of a big company. Or the president of the whole country. But you need an education to do that stuff. So you gotta stay in school.”
“Can a girl even be president?”
“Sure, of course,” Titus answered. “There hasn’t been a girl president yet, but there will be, someday. And maybe it’ll be you. You can do anything you put your mind to, Isabela. And Mom-la and I will help you get there.”
The doorbell rang, then, the first of our friends showing up for a party we weren’t in any way ready for.
But as I got up to answer the door, I discovered our friends had brought the party to us. Teddy had managed to get a last-minute catering order put together by some sort of miracle, and Jeremy had the bouncy castle getting put together, and Zoe and Autumn were putting up decorations in the backyard while Braun and Seven hauled in cases of soda and beer and wine…
And just like that, the house was buzzing with friends.
Family, really.
Sabrina was couch surfing, her chunky little knees bouncing as she drooled on herself and chattered, while Violet looked on with the critical stare of an expert.
There was Titus’s friend in the backyard too—who turned out to be Elsworth Callahan, lead singer and guitarist of a country-rock crossover band.
The evening was spent dancing and eating, standing around in big circles of conversation and laughter, the big circles breaking off into smaller ones. The younger kids wore themselves out in the pool and on the bouncy castle and were settled asleep into various bedrooms and air mattresses we’d put out for that purpose, until by the time the stars were out only the adults were left awake, except Manny, who’d taken over Titus’s PS5 and was shouting at online friends as he killed zombies or something.
We were all around our table, sipping wine and talking.
Lizzy was making eyes at Braun—or rather, they were having an entire nonverbal conversation.
I caught her eyes. “Out with it already, Lizzy. I know you’ve got something to say.”
She cleared her throat. “I dunno. Today is about you and Titus.”
I waved a hand. “If we wanted to make the day all about us, we’d have had a more traditional wedding. We’re married, and my last name is Bright, now, and we’re happy.” I sighed, emotion choking me up. “I’m just…I’m glad to have you guys as my…friends isn’t a good enough word. Sisters. As my family. And if you have some sort of news to share, I can’t think of any better time to share it.”
Laurel blinked rapidly. “Okay, well, um. I guess I can say it, then. Braun and I are expecting another baby. I just found out yesterday. I’m ten weeks.”
Autumn laughed, and it sounded like disbelief. “No, no, no. You’re kidding! Ten weeks?”
Lizzy made a well yeah face. “Yes?”
Autumn grabbed Seven’s hand. “Weird coincidence. Because…I’m ten weeks pregnant too. I’ve known for a week, but I wanted to tell everyone at the same time.”
There was a chorus of squealing and congratulations all around, which quieted as everyone noticed that I was markedly silent.
Kat was restraining a grin. “Laurel?”
I’d had it in my pocket all day. Waiting for the perfect moment. I slid the capped pregnancy test from my back pocket and set it on the table. There, in the middle of the window: PREGNANT.
Stunned silence.
“I, um. I don’t know how far along I am since I just took the test this morning, but just going by the math, I’d say ten weeks is about right.” I looked to Titus first. “I was going to tell you separately, when we were alone, but we haven’t had a single second alone all day, and…”
He shot out of his chair so fast it fell over backward, yanked mine away from the table and lifted me clear off my chair in a single scoop, my legs going around his waist as he spun us in circles, laughing in my ear.
“No, no— it’s perfect…absolutely perfect. There’s no other way I’d rather find out than like this, with all of our friends.” He looked over my shoulder at them around our table, as they watched us with joy on their faces. “With our family.”
Lizzy, Autumn, and I hugged, then, a three-way embrace as we laughed.
“Three babies at the same time,” I sniffled. “I’m gonna have a baby.”
Autumn nosed my cheek. “Me too. I can’t quite believe it. We’ve been trying for a while.”
I snorted. “I bet you have.”
She groaned. “You know what I mean.”
Lizzy kissed each of our cheeks. “I really hope we all give birth at the same time. That would be epic.”
“Yeah, except that would leave Teddy, Zoe, and me to run the entire office for two months while you guys are on maternity leave,” Kat said.
Teddy waved a hand. “Eh, it’ll be fine. We’ll handle it.” She jumped up and joined the group hug. “I can’t believe all three of you are pregnant at the exact same time.” She sounded choked up too. “I’m so happy for you, Laurel. You too, Autumn.” She squeezed Lizzy’s shoulder. “And you. Mama times two.”
All of a sudden, there were nine people all gathered in a giant group hug, clustered around the core of Autumn, Lizzy, and me. It was suffocating, but delirious.
When the group hug finally disbanded, I found myself sitting on Titus’s lap.
I met his dark gaze. “You’re not mad I didn’t tell you separately, first?”
“Mad? Hell no. I’m happy. That’s news that should be shared.”
“And you’re happy that I’m pregnant?”
He pressed me to his chest. “Beyond happy. I can’t think of anything that would make me happier.”
“We have to tell Isabela tomorrow,” I said.
“Yeah.” He caressed my hair. “You’re gonna be such an amazing mommy.” A pause. “Take that back—you already are.”
“I never thought I could be, or would be.” I met Teddy’s eyes. “I guess I just needed a little nudge.”
Teddy smiled at me, sighing deeply. But I noticed her eyes went to Zoe, who was watching everything with a reserved, neutral expression. Autumn noticed it, too.
The three of us exchanged glances.
If there was going to be another version of The Ad, we knew who the next victim would be.
Victim—ha. The next lucky recipient of the incredible fortune Autumn, Lizzy, and I had known. How else could you look at it, but as fortune? As the greatest, most improbable kind of luck? I mean, how many times can the same trick work?
Three more times, I hoped.
I wanted to see the rest of my friends find the kind of delirious happiness I knew, to be overflowing with joy, with love, with everything I never thought I wanted, much less could ever really have.
Yet, there I was—on the lap of the man I loved, with a baby growing in my womb, and a lovely, sweet, smart little girl upstairs who called me Mom-la.
What else could I want?
What else could anyone ever want?
THE END
Sign Up!
As a THANK YOU for reading my stories, I have special gift from me to you—a free, exclusive short story, Caught in the Surf.