Page 22 of Keeping Zita

“Why aren’t you partaking?” Pyro asked their mechanic. “You always have a beer or two with us.”

To Obi-Wan’s surprise, Laryn’s cheeks heated. She bit her bottom lip and wouldn’t meet the eyes of anyone around the table.

“Laryn? Are you okay?” Buck asked, leaning forward with a look of concern on his face.

“She’s fine,” Casper answered for her. “We weren’t going to say anything, but…you guys are our family. We just found out this week—Laryn’s pregnant.”

Silence greeted the announcement for a split second—then everyone spoke at once.

“Holy shit, pregnant?”

“Congrats!”

“That’s awesome…isn’t it?”

“Wow! I take it this is a surprise?”

When everyone quieted down, Laryn said, “We were going to wait to mention it. We wanted to have some time to sit with the news, just us for a while.”

“This is why you’ve been so stressed out,” Mandy said softly. “You admitted that much to me the other day when I called, but you didn’t say why.”

“Yeah.”

“We’re happy. Ecstatic. It’s just been a little overwhelming. The change in our plans and all,” Casper explained.

“I can imagine,” Mandy said. She reached across the small table and took Laryn’s hand in hers. “But you’re okay? Healthy?”

Laryn gave her a small smile. “Yeah. I’m good. Thanks. And for the record, even though he or she wasn’t planned, we couldn’t be happier.”

“Coulda fooled me,” Edge mumbled under his breath.

“Happy, but stressed about everything it’s gonna mean,” Casper clarified.

“I don’t want to not be deployed with you guys,” Laryn explained. “When the colonel finds out I’m pregnant, he’s probably going to take me off the rotation, and I can’t stand the thought of Tate, or any of you guys, going anywhere without me there to troubleshoot. That sounds conceited as hell, but I know your choppers like the back of my hand, and there’s no one who’ll work harder than me to make sure they’re battle ready.

“And then there’s what will happen after the baby’s born. Will I be allowed to be deployed with you at all? Do we even want both of us to be deployed at the same time? If we are, what will we do with the baby? It’s not as if we can stick them in a kennel like we would a dog. I love my job, and I don’t want to have to quit.”

“I keep telling her that we’ll figure it out,” Casper said, rubbing Laryn’s back lovingly. “We’ve got some time to make plans before the baby arrives.”

“I’m more than willing to help out,” Mandy said. “Aunt Mandy will spoil your kid rotten while you’re gone, and when you get a little heathen back, you’ll wonder where the calm, rational child you left behind has gone.”

Everyone chuckled.

“Thanks, Mandy. I told her that my dad will be thrilled to come up and babysit while we’re gone, as well. He’s gonna dote on his first grandchild. And if Nate’s not busy, he’ll be willing to help out too.”

“Your brother is a SEAL,” Laryn said in exasperation. “He’s got just as hectic a schedule as you do. He’s not going to be able to drop everything to babysit.”

It sounded as if they’d had this conversation before. At least now Obi-Wan knew why they’d both been stressed out recently. Having a kid was a huge deal. It would mean a drastic change in their routine. And Laryn was right, their jobs would be a challenge to work around when it came to childcare.

“I might know someone who could help out,” Zita blurted.

All eyes turned to stare at her.

“I mean, I know we literally just met and all, but there are always actors and actresses on the sets I work on who have kids. And yes, while they have the luxury of bringing them to the sets sometimes, and traveling with them, they can’t be by their sides all day. There are women I’ve met who’re professional nannies for babies and kids on set. I’ve talked to them a little, and often they stay in the hotels, near the parents, so they’re always available.”

“We wouldn’t be able to afford a full-time nanny,” Laryn said.

“They aren’t as expensive as you think, since room and board are considered part of their salary. I know it might be weird to leave someone in your house, with your child, but if you got to know the person from day one, and trusted them, it could be a solution. Think of it like a rent-a-granny or something.”