“Just turned thirteen weeks today.”
“You’re three months?” Everleigh shouts. “You hid this for that long?”
“We wanted to wait until we had our scan and knew they were healthy. Plus, we needed some time to process it ourselves,” I explain.
“We only found out a month ago after the incident when I was already nine weeks,” Katie adds.
“Wow…I’m still in shock you’re having twins,” Gemma says.
“You and me both,” I muse, wrapping my arm around Katie and pulling her in for a kiss. “But we couldn’t be happier.”
“Are you gonna find out the genders?” Tyler asks.
“Yeah, at our twenty-week scan,” Katie says.
“What are you hoping for?” Gemma asks Owen. “I bet you want brothers, huh?”
He shrugs. “Maybe one of each. That way, I can have a brother and a sister, but I guess it doesn’t matter either way.”
Katie smiles at him. “You’ll be the best big brother regardless.”
“For your sake, I hope it’s boys. I grew up with a sister…” I tease.
“And I was an angel,” Gemma declares.
The four of us laugh.
“It doesn’t matter to me,” Katie says, smiling at me. “I’m already the happiest woman in the world to have my amazing son and you in my life.”
She has no idea how much that means to me because only months ago, I was hoping to have a place in her life at all. Now here we are—madly in love and expanding our family.
I’ll do anything to keep her this happy and will continue to prove to her how much I adore her and Owen, but my biggest fear is disappointing her. I worry about not being able to get a better-paying job and not being a good enough partner or parent, but I’ll always try my best no matter what. After all these years of wanting and wishing to be with her, I’m giving us my all.
Chapter Fifteen
KATIE
“I don’t think I can hide this bump anymore,” I tell Everleigh over the phone. “Hell, I already need more maternity clothes.”
“I’m shocked no one at work has noticed. Your face is puffy, and you’re exhausted all the time.”
“Wow, thank you.” I groan. “Remind me again why we’re friends?”
“Because I tell you the truth and don’t sugarcoat shit,” she replies, and I can hear the smile in her tone.
“Okay, fair enough. I’m gonna tell them today. Plus, I need to let my manager know about taking maternity leave and the possibility of delivering early.”
“Fifty bucks they already know. Better pay up if I’m right too.”
“And I’m hanging up now.”
“Alright but don’t forget about our plans tomorrow evening,” she says, reminding me about our girls’ date to plan Gemma’s baby shower.
“I’ll be there,” I sing-song.
“’Kay, love you. Bye!”
I hang up and look down at my baggy shirt. I’m almost out of flowy tops I can hide underneath, and at seventeen weeks, it’s obvious I’ve gained some weight. After I told our friends last month we were expecting twins, I’ve kept the news hush-hush at work. But since we’ll be learning the genders in a few weeks, it’s time they know the good news.
“Hey, Missy. Stop in on your lunch break. I gotta tell you something really quick,” I say on the way to my boss’s office.
“Ooh…juicy gossip, I hope.”
I smirk. “See ya in a bit.”
My heart hammers in my chest as I knock on the door, and Dana waves me in. I don’t know why I’m so nervous, but instead of tiptoeing around it, I just blurt out the words.
“I’m pregnant, so just letting you know I may need to go on leave in a few months.”
Her eyes widen with a smile. “Congrats, Katie! That’s wonderful. I didn’t even know you were seeing someone…”
I blush. Though it’s not been a secret, we haven’t blasted the news either. I guess not as many people saw us together at the grand opening holding hands like I thought. “Yeah, Noah and I’ve been together for a while now.”
“You deserve it. And I’ll do whatever I can to help make sure you have the time off you need.”
“Thank you, I appreciate that. I’ll likely go early since it’s twins.”
She nearly shrieks. “Holy…I guess double congrats are in order then.”
I laugh with a shrug. “Yeah, we were pretty shocked too.”
After a few minutes, I excuse myself and go back to my office, where Missy anxiously waits.
“It’s not your lunch break yet.”
“I told Monica to cover for me because I couldn’t wait.”
As I shake my head, I walk behind my desk and decide to show her instead. Placing my hands over my belly, I tighten the fabric of my shirt and show off my bump.
“Shut your mouth!” she exclaims, jumping to her feet. “You’re pregnant?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“I knew you were getting dick’ed! Totally called it.” She does a fist bump in the air. “Apparently a little too well…”
“Oh my God, you’re obnoxious.” I snicker, sitting down.
“Do you know what you’re having?”
“Twins…” I snort.
She smacks my desk. “You’re lying.”
“Nope. Not sure about the genders yet. Soon, though.”
“Dare I ask who the father is?” She arches a brow. “I mean, I’ve heard rumors but…”
I relax my shoulders and proudly tell her. “Noah Reid.”
Missy’s smile widens, and it’s obvious she already knew. “No wonder you’ve been so happy these past few months.”
“It’s been amazing,” I agree. “Never been happier.”
She tells me how happy and excited she is for us, and I feel lighter for the rest of my shift. Now, everyone knows. After work, I pick up Owen from my mother’s. Now that school’s out for the summer, I drop him off at her house or Loretta’s in the morning. Since basketball season is over and I wanted him to stay busy and active, he signed up for baseball. So they take him to practice and youth group. Loretta has temporary guardianship of Anthony until Brittany’s trial, so Owen’s getting to play with him as well. Though Owen doesn’t know the full story of why Anthony’s living with Loretta, the time will come eventually, and I’ll have to figure out how to have that conversation.
“How was your day, sweetie?” I ask when he jumps in the back seat.
“Fine.”
“Anything excitin’ happen?”
He shrugs. “Not really.”
“How was practice today?” I question as I drive us home.
“Good.”
Lord, it must take a witch’s brew to get more than one-word answers from him.
“What do you want for dinner?” I look at him through the rearview mirror, and he shrugs.
“I don’t care.”
“Noah found a new movie on Disney Plus he thought you’d like. Could make some popcorn and snuggle up with blankets,” I say enthusiastically, hoping he’ll budge. He’s been in a mood for the past two months, and I don’t know why he won’t talk to me about his feelings. I won’t push him, but I want him to know he can open up to me.