Page 61 of The Decoy

I follow her, my hands in my pockets. She takes a sweater off a polished hanger and holds it against her stomach, looking completely radiant. A powerful thud echoes in my chest.

In just a few months, I’ll be gearing up for camp, and my girl and my son will hopefully be sleeping in my house.

My gaze wanders as I try to get my emotions in check, and I see a pair of white sneakers, no bigger than the palm of my hand.

Without thinking, I pick up one of the tiny shoes. It’s so absurdly small in my hand.

Ellis looks over at me and smiles. “Brody, you’ve already gotten him a few pairs of Nikes. I think he’s set with sneakers for now.”

“Ellis, he needs footwear,” I say, clearing the emotion from my throat. “We can’t have him running around shoeless.”

“Brody, it’ll be a while before he’s running anywhere,” she laughs, stepping into me, pressing her body against my side. “These would be more of a statement accessory.”

“I suppose you’re right, but I’m still buying them,” I insist stubbornly.

She reaches out, resting her small hand over mine, as we both look at the sneaker in my palm. “Okay, let’s get them.”

My phone chimes in my pocket with my sister’s ringtone.

I pull it out of my pocket and see Lauren’s smiling face on a FaceTime call. I look at Ellis. “It’s my sister.”

“Answer it!” Ellis says excitedly. “Tell her now. I mean…there’s no time like the present.”

“Okay, here we go,” I say, tapping on the screen and holding the phone up.

Lauren’s face pops onto the screen immediately. Her dark hair is pulled into a messy bun, sitting in her apartment in Ohio. “Brody! You’ve dogged my calls the last few days. What have you been up to?”

“Sorry, I’ve been busy,” I say, keeping my face steady on the camera.

“Busy doing what? You’re in the offseason. And it doesn’t look like you’re at the training facility working out,” Lauren teases, leaning closer to the screen. Her eyes squint as she looks around me. “Wait…where are you? Are you in a…baby store?”

I flip the camera around for a brief second, showing the wall of strollers and tiny clothes before turning the camera back to my face.

“I am,” I say, my voice serious.

Lauren goes still on the screen, her mouth dropping open. “Brody…what’s going on? Why are you in a baby store? You didn’t adopt another dog, did you? I didn’t mishear what kind of store you walked into?”

“I didn’t get another puppy, Laur,” I say, taking a deep breath and stepping closer to Ellis, extending my arm so the camera catches us both. Ellis gives a polite wave toward the screen. “Lauren, this is Ellis. My girlfriend.”

Lauren stares at the screen like she’s trying to process the sight of Ellis, then glances at my arm wrapped around Ellis’s waist, right above her bump.

“What…oh my God,” Lauren gasps, covering her mouth with both hands, her eyes wide. “Brody! Are you guys having a baby and you didn’t tell us?!”

“We’re having a baby,” I confirm, my chest swelling as I look down at Ellis, then back at my sister. “She’s twenty weeks, so we’ve just now started telling people. It’s a boy.”

“Twenty weeks!” Lauren squeals so loud I have to pull the phone away. Tears spring to her eyes. “You’re in so much trouble! Why didn’t you tell us? She’s like halfway through her pregnancy now. Mom is going to be so upset, but also, she’s going to lose her mind. And oh my God, hi Ellis! Nice to meet you. I’m sorry my brother is a knob, and this is the first I’m hearing about this and you. He tends to keep things close to his chest.”

“It’s nice to meet you too, Lauren,” Ellis laughs, the warmth in Lauren’s voice instantly making the call lighter.

“My plan was to fly home in a week and tell you and Mom in person,” I cut in, pulling the focus back to me. “I really want to tell Mom, so I’d appreciate it if you let me do it. Please.”

“My lips are sealed, but you better be prepared for a grand interrogation the second your feet touch Ohio soil!” Lauren warns. “Ellis, I hope you’re coming! Oh! I need to start shopping for my nephew. I’m going to be an aunt!”

“Okay, let’s settle down for a minute. I’ll let you guys know my flight plans so you can drive up from Columbus, or I’ll pick Mom up, and we can drive to you. Whichever is easier for you.”

“It doesn’t matter to me. Just let me know. But if I don’t hear from you in twenty-four hours, expect an onslaught of calls until I get those plans,” my sister warns.

“I will, I promise. Love you,” I say before hanging up the call.