“You’d think she’d be used to it by now.” It’s not like ours will be her first official grandchild. Matt’s got a couple of kids now.
Ellie laughs softly to herself. “We’ll see how you feel, old man, when one of the girls gives us a grandchild and you’re called Abuelo for the first time.”
“Hold your tongue, woman,” I mock-scold, though I can’t help but shake my head at the old man moniker she and the girls have been using since my thirtieth birthday two weeks ago. The hilarity, it seems, is going to have a long shelf-life. “You and I both know how babies are made and our kids will never do that. Hence, no grandchildren.”
The fact that Ellie handled the initial ‘sex talk’ with the girls and every single follow up discussion that’s happened over the years is something I’ll be eternally grateful for. I think I almost fainted when Ellie told me about some of their more recent questions. Ever since, for my mental sanity, I’ve done my best to pretend that they’re sexless creatures who’ll be forever single.
“You’re like an ostrich with its head in the sand.”
“You make that sound like a bad thing.”
Trying to keep her laugh gentle and easy, she says, “You never did tell me who explained sex to you.”
“Please, I learned about sex the proper way, from TV, Jorgie, and later porn.”
Laughing outright now, she says, “Sounds healthy. And how is Jorgie?”
“Still basking in the glory of his new career as a car salesman as far as I know.” My best friend finally got himself together a couple of years ago and realized his easy-going personality is perfect for selling shit. He works at a Hyundai dealership now.
Again, Ellie’s features twist faintly with discomfort. “Oh, sweetness,” I breathe. “I think we should cancel this thing tonight.”
She shakes her head. “No, I don’t want the girls to be disappointed.”
We’re celebrating Christmas tonight, two weeks early, before the baby comes. But in my opinion, too many people were invited. “The girls will understand.”
“I want to do this, especially because all I’ll have to do is sit here. Your grandmother is already cooking up a storm in the kitchen.” She shifts her position slightly. “And Amelia will be here to help soon. Is your mom still not coming?”
“No, they’re still in Tulsa.” My mom finally got rid of Robbie, who got out a couple of years ago. She got re-married last month to a mostly decent guy. Even though I’ll never have a great relationship with her, we’ve remained mostly amicable since she never did fight us for custody of Carmen. “What about Sophie?”
A scowl that has nothing to do with the baby comes over Ellie’s lovely features. “No, she and Alejandro aren’t coming.”
Failing miserably to keep my face neutral, I give in to the urge to smile. Ellie has never quite adjusted to the idea of her baby sister and Alejandro shacking up together and she responds to my amusement by needling me with her own ammunition. “And how about Desiree and Shane?”
The smile falls from my face. Shane, that little bastard, seduced my sister and I have no plans to forgive him anytime soon. It’s horrendous; my half-brother and my half-sister together. I don’t care if they don’t share a single drop of DNA. It’s gross. “Yeah, unfortunately, they’re coming with my grandfather later.”
Ellie’s giggle draws my attention. “When are you going to admit that Shane never stood a chance against her?” she asks.
“Never.”
“My big baby,” she coos, leaning in to kiss me. “And Lolita?”
“Yeah, she, Anton, and the baby are coming.”
Ellie gives a little nod of satisfaction. She’s backed Lolita tirelessly over the years, convincing me again and again that I have no right to restrict her access to Rosa. She’s been clean for years now and Rosa dotes on her one-year-old sister, Elizabeth.
“I swear,” I say, “our life would make a great telenovela, wouldn’t it?”
The bright smile spreading across her face is interrupted by a grunt that has her curling in on herself.
“What is it?” I ask in a hushed voice.
When she manages to pry her eyes open, she says, “I think your son has decided he’s had enough of this waiting around.”
Blankly, I cock my head. Then it hits me. “As in right now?” I half-squawk.
“Yeah, as in right now.”
In the early morning hours, our son, Michael Diego McCarthy is born. Mother and baby are doing well . . . and a new chapter begins.