AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I scratch the back of my neck. “Yes, right, we wanted to share joyful news with you. You’re going to have a brother.”
“Or a sister,” Blue adds and squeezes my hand so hard I almost yelp.
Sebastien studies us, expressionless, or perhaps with contempt. I’m often confused by the mood swings. With all the changes in his life, he’s been oscillating between a sweet child and an unbearable adolescent.
“Okay.” He stands up and pushes past us. “Are we going to Gran’s now?”
I stare at the open door as his footsteps recede. Blue lets out a deep breath of air.
“That went well?” I’m strangely defeated and relieved by his reaction.
“There will be a follow-up outburst or blackmail of some sort.” She shrugs and walks out of the room. “Wanna bet which one?”
I chuckle. “Hundred bucks on blackmail.”
She looks at me, unimpressed. “You were going to pay for his Caribbean trip anyway, so if that’s the subject of his extortion, the bet is off.”
I grab her arm and pull her closer. “But March would be a perfect time to have a week to ourselves, before the baby comes. I’m looking forward to all the pregnancy sex,” I whisper into her ear and she shivers, which sends a signal to my pants.
She hums. Actually purrs like a kitten. “I’m seeing spring break in a new, more positive light. Perhaps we should spoil our son a bit.”
I capture her lips.
“For fuck’s sake, the two of you. Can we just go finally?” Sebastien groans.
“Language,” we say at the same time.
We arrive at my mother’s in Riverdale and are greeted by Sydney at the door.
“Are we the last ones?” I ask her as we shed our coats. Blue and Seb go to the kitchen to talk to my mother while Sydney ushers me into the sitting room.
“You’re not late, but you’re the last ones. Baldo and Brooklyn are no-shows.” She leans against the door frame in the large double door opening that connects the sitting room with the larger family room.
Of course they are. Our youngest siblings have been avoiding the family and traveling for years now.
Sydney’s younger sisters, identical twins Paris and London, sit on the sofa next to their father, flipping through some book or album.
“Gio hasn’t stopped staring into his phone and Andrea seems utterly bored. What is concerning, however, is that Bianca dropped a few things on the floor and is talking in circles.”
“My mother is nervous?” I raise my eyebrows and Sydney shrugs.
“Massi.” Andrea walks over to me. “How are you, bro? I’ve been reading about you. I must make a reservation one of these days.” He gives me a one arm hug.
“Yeah, stranger, that would be nice. Do it under your name, so I know to spit into your soup.” I punch his arm.
“Asshole.”
“Andrea.” Our mother enters the room and we step away from each other as if we’re still little boys caught doing something wrong.
Micah stands up with difficulty and joins her by the door. I haven’t seen my stepfather in a while, but he seems to have aged rapidly. Mom smiles at him and takes his hand.
“We have something to tell you,” Mom says and leads Micah to an armchair where he sits, but they keep holding hands.
Blue and Seb come over and something tells me we won’t share our news today.
“We called you all here today—” My mom starts in a weird, detached voice.
“Let me speak, darling.” Micah pats the top of her hand and I think that for the first time in my life I see my mother blinking away tears.
