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“Wow.” Catie looks at me, wide-eyed.
“Come on,” I say, “let’s open them together.”
We make our way through the presents from them all, while Pongo helps us with the paper, taking it away to rip it into little pieces. There are several cute pairs of outfits. Half a dozen baby toys, including an elephant with rustly ears from Kip, and a ginormous Pooh Bear from Damon that he said he couldn’t resist. A box of ‘bump, body, and baby’ toiletries for Catie that provides much laughter when Kennedy tells me not to spread the nipple butter on my toast. A pregnancy pillow and a pregnancy journal from Jenny and Brandon. A huge box of peppermint creams from Dad because I told him she likes them, and a T-shirt for me that says, ‘The Man Behind the Bump,’ which makes me laugh.
Mum gives me a book called, ‘Daddy’s Magic Hugs.’
“Aw,” I say, “you’re getting soppy in your old age.”
“Less of the old,” she scolds, stopping as she walks behind me to kiss the top of my head.
Mum’s present for Catie turns out to be a pretty maternity top with two sets of footprints on the front that says ‘Twin Mama’. “I know what it’s like to have twins,” Mum says with a smile. “Especially when they’re your first. So anything you need, you just have to say.”
Catie looks around at all the items, holding the rustly elephant, while the huge Pooh Bear sits in front of us, cuddling his honey pot. She looks at me, still holding the ‘Daddy’s Magic Hugs’ book, which I hold up to her and raise my eyebrows. Her eyes shine.
Then she covers her mouth with a hand and bursts into tears.
“Uh-oh,” I say, “she’s gone.”
“Oh no!” Mum looks alarmed. “I’m so sorry.”
I hold up a hand as I put the book down. “This happens on a regular basis, don’t worry about it.” I put my arms around Catie, and she buries her face in my neck.
“Sorry,” she squeaks.
“Don’t worry about it.” I kiss the top of her head.
“Hormones,” Kennedy says, “I remember that so well. Jackson used to call me the Hormone Hellion.”
“I’d rather you didn’t tell your mother and father that,” he says, making everyone laugh.
“They’re all lovely gifts,” I tell them, genuinely touched. “Thank you so much.”
Mum’s brows draw together. “Sorry,” she murmurs, but I just shake my head and smile.
“Did you see the cricket score?” Kip asks Dad. “New Zealand declared at five hundred and eighty for four, can you believe it?”
“I know, and Sri Lanka are all out for one-six-four. Crazy.”
They continue to talk about the cricket. Kip glances at me, and I mouth,Thank you. He winks at me.
While they talk, I look down at Catie. I pass her a serviette from the table, and she blows her nose.
“Sorry,” she whispers again. “I got a bit overwhelmed.”
“Always going to happen,” I say cheerfully. I pick up the top and show her. “I’m going to call you Twin Mama from now on.”
That makes her laugh. She wipes under her eyes. “As long as you continue to give me Daddy’s magic hugs.”
“Definitely. Better?” She nods, so I pass her the glass of lemonade, and she takes it and has a few mouthfuls.
“Catie,” Kennedy says, “have you had any cravings yet?”
“Only peppermint creams.” She gestures to the box.
“Mine was apples,” Mum says. “Couldn’t get enough of them.”
“Salty stuff for me,” Kennedy says, then glares at Damon as he snorts. “Don’t be rude. I meant, like, pretzels.”
