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“Is it a wallet? It’s that or a gift certificate.”
“Just open it,” she said, laughing. “Attention, everyone, this is really a gift for you, too, Mom and Dad.”
Looking confused for a moment, the Conners joined the couple at the Christmas tree while the others looked on in anticipation.
“Since you were all with us when Charlie asked me to marry him, it’s only fitting you’re here with us now. Go ahead, sweetheart, open it.”
Reluctantly and nervously, Charlie carefully removed the colorful Christmas wrapping from the slim box and took the top off. Inside under tissue paper was a shiny black-and-white photo. He couldn’t make it out at first, turning it around.
“Is this the ultrasound? Can you see the sex of the baby?” Charlie asked as the others crowded in to see.
“Here, hold it this way,” Lila said, laughing.
“Is that the head?” Bob asked. “Wait…”
“I see two heads!” Charlie cried. “Are you having twins?”
“More than two!” Lila answered. “They’re not sure yet, but there could be four in here. They counted four pair of feet so far.”
The screams of delight and disbelief echoed throughout the house for the next minutes, while Charlie, shocked, stared at the ultrasound image and tried to count body parts while his sons looked over his shoulder, excited for their dad. His brother John, the doctor, looked at it too and agreed there might be more babies hiding behind each other.
After that, the party was chaotic while Charlie walked around in a daze. He’d gone from misery, alone in a house that was for sale because no one wanted to live in it now, to euphoric, with a woman he loved insanely, his two grown successful man-children, and an unknown number yet unborn. While the rest of the party opened gag gifts, he pulled Lila into his arms in the privacy of the mudroom off the kitchen. Most of the gifts were ridiculous stuff like fake dog poop and whoopee cushions. For Big Mike, Charlie had bought a party doll that inflated when taken from its special storage box. They’d put a large sign on it that said Adults Only.
Reluctantly submitting to Charlie trying to hug her, Lila gave up, laughing.
“We have company out there, you know.”
“When will the doctors figure out how many are in there?” he asked, bending down to kiss her belly.
“I have to go to the radiology clinic at the hospital for more ultrasounds this week. They’ll count spines or long bones or heads, something like that.”
“Lila, you know I’m crazy about you, don’t you?”
“I know, Charlie, you’re so good about making me feel loved. You can stop worrying.”
“It’s a relief. This is what I hoped marriage would be like,” he said, switching his finger between them. “This is the love I’ve always wanted.”
“Aw, you just took a slight detour, darling. Try not to have any regrets. You have two great sons. Clare is happy with Harry, so you don’t have to feel guilty about her any longer. The house in the Ranch is as good as sold. I’m so lucky; this is my dream life.”
“Okay, you’re right. I need to just let the past go. It’s my dream life, too.”
“We’d better get out there and supervise. I hear the decibels getting louder.”
“I think my brother found his gift,” Charlie said, slapping his knee.
“Oh God, I hope he didn’t open it in front of your nephews’ kids!”
“They won’t know what it is, but you’re right. Your mother is probably having a heart attack.” He kissed her one more time. “Merry Christmas, Lila.”
“Merry Christmas to you, Charlie Saint.”
The End
