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Her parents’ temporary deck, strewn with Craftsman tools, made her feel right at home. She remembered many occasions where she’d sidestepped piles of wood or stacks of tile in whatever house they were currently working on. After she moved out, they’d started moving into the homes they were flipping. She was glad they’d waited because as much as the nomadic lifestyle appealed to her hardworking family, Pen liked to be in one place. It was what had made leaving Chicago so difficult.
Her mother peppered Zach with questions about his family and his job, which he handled with ease as he sawed into his second steak. Pen’s father did a good job of shoving food in his mouth whenever her mom tried to include him in the conversation, so that all he had to do was nod or shake his head in response.
Pen pushed her sandwich aside, focusing on the potato salad on her plate. She waited for a lull in the conversation and when it came she reached under the picnic table and grabbed Zach’s knee. He jerked his attention toward her, gave her a subtle nod and put down his cutlery.
“Mr. and Mrs. Brand,” he started, and Pen’s stomach flopped. She hoped her dinner stayed down.
Paula looked up, eyebrows aloft and Louis did his impersonation of Sam the Eagle from The Muppets. Seriously. If his eyebrows were any lower they’d be his mustache.
“Pen and I have an ulterior motive for visiting this weekend, other than showing off the engagement ring.”
Miraculously, her father managed to lower his eyebrows farther.
“We’re excited to tell you that—” Zach put an arm around Pen and hugged her close, looking down into her eyes when he made the announcement “—we’re expecting a baby in December.” He faced her parents first, then Pen followed suit, in time to witness their twin expressions of shock.
“I beg your pardon?” That was her mom, who, knife and fork in hand over her plate, sat statue-still while the wind whipped her hair.
“We’re pregnant, Mom. You and Dad are going to be grandparents.”
“Oh, my. I’m...” Her mouth froze open until finally, finally, that gape turned into a wide smile. “I’m so happy!” She was off her chair so fast to wrap her arms around Pen’s neck that Louis had to slap his hand down on her plate to keep it from blowing off the table.
Paula returned to her seat, chattering about due dates and how she’d have to apply for a credit card that offered frequent flier miles so she could visit Dallas on a regular basis.
“No need, Mrs. Brand,” Zach said smoothly. “We’ll fly you down.”
At the kind offer, Louis stood with his plate and climbed over the picnic bench’s seat. He grunted once, then stormed into the house, letting the screen door bang behind him.
That went about like Pen had expected.
