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“Yeah, it’s going to be released in a few months, isn’t it?” Artie says.
“Yeah,” Susan says. “Guys, wouldn’t it be cool if you came down to the city for the book launch?”
Before my brothers can answer, I do. “Are you sure you want us there?”
She frowns. “Why not?”
I point at myself before nodding at my brothers. “Three huge, hulking men will look a little out of place at a book launch event, won’t we?”
Artie and Ollie do not argue this. Susan looks upset about it for a second, but she seems to quickly recover and nods.
“Maybe we can have a smaller event here,” she says.
“We also need to figure out what we need to do before the baby comes,” I say.
“What do you mean?” Susan asks.
“He means a wedding,” Ollie says, looking at me.
An uncomfortable silence descends on the table.
“I don’t think that’s legal,” Artie finally says.
“Maybe Susan can pick one of us to get married to. On paper only,” I suggest. “That way the baby is protected.”
Susan is silent, biting her lip. “I don’t know,” she finally says. “Marriage is too big of a deal for me right now.”
But apparently a baby isn’t too big of a deal. I almost say it aloud, but reconsider. I don’t want to hurt her.
“Think about it,” I say. I’m not conservative, but I have a certain viewpoint as to how I want things to get done. A baby sure as hell complicates things, but I want to take the right steps as we move forward.
After we’re done eating, we walk back to the car. My brothers walk ahead, while Susan and I follow their trail.
Susan’s concerned gaze meets mine. “You’re okay, right?”
My immediate instinct is to reassure her, to brush off any concerns and put on a facade of strength. So I muster a smile and nod, giving her a reassuring response.
“Yeah, I’m okay,” I say, my voice filled with forced conviction. It’s a lie, and I know it. “We’re going to be just fine.”
25
SUSAN
It’s been a month since I discovered that I’m pregnant. The brothers and I have settled into a routine since then—well, almost. We make love, well, I make love with them, alternating between each brother every night. It’s been a while since the four of us got together at the same time, and I wonder if it’s because of the baby. I wonder if there’s an imperceptible shift since the baby came into the picture.
I can’t complain, though. I come several times each night, and all three of them—even Ed—have been nothing but sweet to me. They’re working hard every day for me.
They go into town four days a week to supply wood to the town. They’ve picked up an additional roster of customers that significantly increases their workload. Ollie says he doesn’t mind it. But I know they’re doing it for me, for the baby.
“The baby is going to be expensive,” Ed remarked a few nights ago during dinner. Even though I still haven’t had any morning sickness, I can’t eat milk or meat items anymore.
“We have to be prepared,” Ollie agreed. “The delivery itself could set us back by over twenty grand.”
“I can pitch in,” I said. “I have savings.”
“Absolutely not,” Ed said. “It’s on us.”
Like I said, the brothers have been nothing but wonderful to me, and there’s no reason for me to complain. But here I am, filled with anxiety, and I can’t really put my finger on it.
