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Shelby shook her head. “No, not til after Sunday dinner at my Mom’s.”
“Why does your mom get to know first?” he asked. He genuinely didn’t understand what was happening.
“It’s just a promise Rachel and I made together. Please?”
“All right. It won’t hurt anything to wait a few days before we tell her and make her the happiest woman alive.”
“She’s been waiting for grandkids since we were in high school! I think that’s why she always let us study with your bedroom door closed.”
He chuckled. “I think so too.”
“My mom was a little more careful with us.”
“Yeah, your door had to be open at least six inches if we were in there together. No one quite understood that we were putting the brakes on ourselves back then.” He kissed her quickly. “So glad that’s all over.”
“Me too!” she said, looking at the table. “What did Tricia make for us?”
“Some sort of casserole. I’ve quit leaving a recipe for her, and just let her come up with stuff. She’s learned enough about us now that it’s not a big deal for her to just choose something.”
“I agree.” Shelby sat down at the table he’d already set. “I’m going to feed my baby for the first time knowing I was eating for two. It’s silly how much that excites me.”
“Will it hurt if we…”
She shook her head. “Not with a healthy pregnancy. We’ll do just fine.”
“Oh, good. I’m not ready to stop playing with my new toy yet.”
She grinned. “And I’m not ready to stop playing with mine.”
*****
Rachel and Shelby waited until after the prayer at Sunday dinner. Then they looked at their mother and said together, “We’re both pregnant!”
Andrew was surprised about Shelby, and Nate was astonished about Rachel, but both men laughed. “I knew you weren’t telling me everything,” Nate said.
Mom sat stunned for a moment. “You’re due close together?” she asked Rachel and Shelby.
Shelby answered. “About a week apart.”
“That’s enough for me to retire and take care of grandbabies full-time.”
“I have an office attached to mine that I’m going to turn into a nursery,” Shelby said. “Then we can have a nanny on the premises.”
“Only if I get to be that nanny.” Mom looked over at Angela. “I’m going to have four grandbabies soon.”
Angela laughed. “You sure are. I hope you’re happy.”
Mom’s tears answered that question for them all.
Epilogue
It was late June of the next year when Shelby went into labor. Even as Nate was grabbing her suitcase and putting her into the car, she called her mother. “Mom, I’m on my way to the hospital.”
It was just after three in the morning, but she’d promised to call as soon as she headed for the hospital.
Mom laughed. “I’m at the hospital with Rachel. You need to ask if they can put you in a room near hers. The next one over is empty.”
Soon, Shelby was holding her newborn in her arms. “What should we call him?” she asked Nate. They’d been discussing names, but nothing had seemed quite right.
“What about Zachary Charles? After both of our dads.”
“Perfect! And we can call him Zach. Now why didn’t we figure that out six months ago?”
Nate shrugged, staring down at Shelby with the baby. “Have I told you yet today how much I love you?” he asked.
She smiled. “I love you right back.”
