Millie’s eyes go wide. “That’s a terrible idea. Mattie and Alex—”
“I meant what I said about sharing the responsibilities.” I shake my head. “You don’t need to worry about that anymore. I’ll talk to Alex.”
The tone of my voice seems to surprise her, but she doesn’t look upset about it. “O-okay,” Millie says with a grin.
Gripping the doorknob, I turn back to her. “Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be,” she says, color rising in her cheeks again.
I take her hand and then open the door. We’re met with the sound of scurrying and urgent whispers coming from downstairs. When we step onto the landing, the bottom of the stairs is empty, but I know my family. They’re just on the other side of the wall in the living room.
“Mami!”I call. Beside me, Millie’s eyes bulge.
“What are you doing?” she hisses, squeezing my hand.
“Announcing it on our own terms,” I whisper back.
My mother’s voice, dripping with false innocence comes from the kitchen side of the living room. I know it’s false innocence because she sounds a little out of breath. “What is it,mi hijo?”
“Trae a todos a las escaleras, por favor.”
“What did you say?” Millie whispers.
“I asked her to bring everyone here.”
Millie palms her face with her free hand. “Oh God,” she moans.
From behind the living room wall, I hear Emmett. “Why are we going back?” Five or six mouthsshhhim. I chuckle.
“Oh, God,” Millie pleads again.
But when the foot of the stairs quickly fills with every member of both our families, she drops her hands and stands up straight beside me. She’s bright red, so I know what it’s costing her, and I love her all the more.
I lead her down four or five steps with me so that we aren’t quite so far from the gathered crowd, and as I do, it’s my father’s face that catches my eye. I expect to see a look of disapproval. And if it were there, I’d be beyond caring.
If having his blessing means not having Millie, I’d rather be cursed.
But he’s not frowning or scowling. He looks… curious. Maybe even expectant.
I don’t take time to puzzle it out. I glance over at Millie and find her looking down at the kids. Somehow they’ve made it to the front of the crowd with Alex right behind Mattie and the adults all fanned out behind them. Mattie, of course, looks worried. Harry’s expression is watchful. But Emmett just looks ecstatic.
I know I have everyone’s attention, so I give mine to Millie. Face flushed and lip trembling, she gazes up at me. In spite of the fact that I’m embarrassing her, she looks happy. Almost as happy as I feel.
“Abuela says we’re expecting.” The crowd of family seems to hold a collective breath. “Maybe we are. Maybe we aren’t. We don’t know.” But our hands are linked between us, and I let the outside of my pinky brush her belly in silent greeting. Silent welcome. Silent promise.
From behind Emmett, Abuela mutters,“Lo sé. Voy a ser una bisabuela.”Mattie and all of my cousins titter.
Judging by the smile on Millie’s face, she understood Abuela perfectly, and I turn to give my grandmother a mock glare.
“All I know is I asked Millie to marry me, and she said yes.”
Everyone cheers, including Abuela, who still insists on pretending she doesn’t speak English. Mami breaks through the crowd to swarm the stairs, and before we know it, we are smothered in hugs. Valencia hugs. Delacroix hugs. For his size, Emmett threatens to squeeze the life out of me.
When Mami, Luci, and my cousins pull Millie toward the kitchen, peppering her with questions, I let her go. The kids and my Uncle Raul follow them, leaving just Papi and Abuela at the foot of the stairs with me.
She shoots my father a warning look that needs no translation before taking to her cane, and then it’s just the two of us.
Papi clutches the banister with one hand and digs aimlessly in his pocket with the other. He’s looking at the bottom stair as though trying to decide if it’s level or not.
