“Surprise!” I answer quietly, a bundle of nerves about ready to explode.
Everyone cheers again, more hugs as Mark and I keep looking at each other.
Mark’s eyes fill with tears.Ah hell.Is this good or bad? He hasn’t said anything yet, but I don’t avert my eyes away from him. He holds out a hand to quiet everyone and gulps.
“Are you saying–I’m going to be a daddy?”
“Yeah, Daddy, I am.” I nod, solidifying my answer so there’s no misunderstanding.
“A baby?”
I nod again, and he takes a step toward me, a hand clutching at his heart. Mine stops.
“My baby,” he whispers, his eyes dropping to my belly that’s been hiding this secret for weeks now.
“Yourpiccolo,” I whisper back the Italian endearment for ‘little one’, and his face twists. My mountain of a man drops to his knees and grabs my hips, his forehead touching my belly. Deep down, his family means everything to him. He whispers unintelligible Italian to where his face lies and presses a reverent kiss against me, sealing his words like a promise. The gals are swooning in the background as much as I am. His big, brown eyes look up at me, full of wonder.
“So, you’re happy about this?”
“Happier than I ever imagined,” he croaks out, standing and grasping my face in his big palms, his lips crashing into mine.
“You guys! I can’t believe this! Cousins within the same month and a whole bestie squad!”
I clear my throat.
“Um, not the same month. I’m almost two months in. I found out not too long after Holly and Jaxon got engaged.” My cheeks flush red, knowing I’ve kept this secret for so long. Mark eyes me like he’s not crazy that I didn’t tell him right away. Jane stares at me hard, computing things in her head.
“So, we’re looking at three babies between December through March! This is going to be nuts!” She squeals with excitement, then looks like she got ran over by the somber train. “Fuck! I’m the only one drinking wine now…”
Garrett walks over and rubs Jane’s back in commiseration as we all laugh at our beautiful, mouthy friend. Life would be boring without her. “Babe, this is what you wanted! It won’t be long until Sydney’s grabbing the bottle away from you.”
“I’ve been eyeing that thing like a lone cupcake sitting in front of three hungry teenage boys. That never ends well,” Sydney deadpans, and Jane’s eyes and smile light up.
“You know I’ll win.”
Sydney shrugs nonchalantly.
“Meh,we’ll see.”
Epilogue III
Jane & Garrett
That December
Garrett
Reports. I’m drowning in reports. My fingers run down the length of my face as I sit back in my home office chair before running back through my hair with vigor as I shake off the screen fatigue and sit back up. Jim needs the help. I’ve got this. He helped out when I took paternity leave earlier this year, so it’s the least I can do. A soft snarl rumbles from me as I straighten a stack of files, then take a sip of my now cold coffee.
“Garrett! Gare, come quick! Oh my gosh, hurry!”
I fly out of my seat, spilling my coffee down the front of my new green sweater, but who gives a shit, Jane needs me. Adrenaline high, I beat down those stairs and stop dead in my tracks in the entry of the living room at what I see.
A little, round face with springy blonde locks grins up at me, but she’s on her feet, and she is not holding the table.
“Dada!” She squeals, wobbles, and grabs the table.
“She let go and took a step,” Jane informs me, eyes wide with anticipation. Charlotte’s been cruising and attempting steps here and there for a couple weeks now, getting bolder by the day.
