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“Mommy’s having a baby with Duke,” Max announces.
My jaw drops along with Lila’s. The room falls silent, and everyone stares down the table at me.
“Max,” Lila says in a hushed tone. “How did you know?”
“I Googled why does Mommy sleep all the time? Why does Mommy spend so much time in the bathroom?”
The room erupts into a fit of laughter.
“Morning sickness is the worst,” Kat says.
Lila nods in agreement. “You’re too smart for your own good,” she says to Max.
Max presses her palm to Lila’s stomach. “Can I name the baby?”
Lila looks at me for confirmation.
“What names did you have in mind?” I ask her.
Max peeks up at me. “Pete.”
“Like Pete the Cat?”
She bobs her head. Max loves the cartoon television show and the books.
“If it’s a boy, we’re naming him Dennis,” Lila says.
Max scrunches her nose. “Why?”
“Because that’s my name,” I tell her.
She laughs. “No, it’s not. Your name is Duke!”
“Duke is a nickname.”
“Baby Duke,” she says with laughter in her voice and rests her head on Lila’s chest.
“You’re having a baby?” Austin stumbles into the room with a familiar brunette on his arm. He stops next to my chair and clamps his hand down on my shoulder, giving it a squeeze when I nod in response. “Congrats, bro.”
Everyone at the table echoes the same sentiment.
“Veronica?” Dad says to Veronica York, a sports announcer for ESPN. He stands with Noah in his arms, and his eyes travel between Austin and Veronica. “You’re not dating, I hope.”
Austin looks at Veronica for answers, and she turns her head away.
“Well, this is awkward,” Dad says.
“No,” Austin
says, his face filled with horror. “Please tell me…”
My dad fucked Veronica, and Austin brought her home for Christmas. What the hell? I want to laugh but stop myself.
“Austin,” Veronica says under her breath. “It was a long time ago.”
Dad passes Noah to Dean and then escorts Veronica and Austin into the hallway to talk. So much for our family getting back to normal. I knew my dad got around after my mom died, but Veronica is more than half his age.
“When does the baby come out?” Max’s squeaky voice cuts through the tension. She slides her hand across Lila’s stomach and smiles.
