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My ever-astute Pike, quiet and reserved but noticing all the details.
“Come sit with me,” I tell him, and he obliges immediately, climbing into the unlocked passenger seat.
I reach for his hand, wishing that all of them were here, but I can’t keep the secret any longer. And I know Pike won’t breathe a word until I can gather the family together for a formal announcement.
“I’m having a baby,” I tell him.
His cerulean eyes pop, jaw dropping at the same time. Gaze dropping to my still flat stomach, he blinks. “What?!”
“I’m pregnant. You’re the first to know.”
Complete shock washes over his face, and I can’t tell if he’s happy or upset. My smile fades. “Are you okay?” I ask. Then comes the smile, and I relax.
“Okay? I’m speechless, Aspen!” he purrs, reaching forward to embrace me. He lets me go, worry creasing his forehead. “But what about school?”
“I should be due just after the course,” I reassure him. “The timing is perfect.”
“Timing for what?” Flint’s voice filters into the still open window of the BMW, and I grimace slightly, realizing that Lily is at his side.
Well, I might as well tell everyone, I realize.
Pike gives me an apologetic look, but I’m unfazed. I wasn’t keeping it a secret so much as trying to figure out a time to make sure everyone was together.
“Lily is going to be a big sister,” I announce, my eyes fixed on the six-year-old’s face. I’ve never seen her so elated, her dark features brightening to light up the entire garage.
“You’re having a baby?!” she squeals, scrambling into the car. Flint climbs in, too, feeling awkward where he’s standing, and the four of us grin at one another. “Is it a boy or a girl?” Lily demands.
“It’s too early to tell, honeybee,” Pike explains. He eyes me. “It is too early, right?”
“I’ll need to find a good OB-GYN here in Cypress Gardens.”
Flint chuckles. “I bet I know someone who can give us a referral,” he suggests, and I exhale, starting the car.
“All right. It’s only fair that we go tell Caden now. He won’t enjoy being the last to know,” I agree.
“Wait, now?” Flint asks nervously.
“I guess no one’s going to school today,” I say, and Lily cheers from the backseat, scrambling to put on her seatbelt.
“Can we get pizza after we see Papa Caden?” she suggests slyly.
“You’re going to turn into a pizza if you keep eating it,” Flint warns her, but Lily scoffs.
“That’s an urban legend, Papa Flint.”
Tittering, I back out of the garage, catching Flint’s steely blue eyes in the rear-view as Pike takes my hand over the stick shift.
My family is growing, and I can’t wait to see what it will become.
* * *
