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Caesar nods. “Are you ready?”
The technician holds up the tube of goo. Caesar holds my hand, and we look at the baby together. It’s amazing. We can see little fingers and toes.
“Can you tell?”
The tech shakes her head. “I wouldn’t dare get this wrong. I’m sending it to the hospital. Apparently, you will all find out tonight together.” She prints out a picture and gives it to me. “Take as long as you need. We shouldn’t need the machine anytime soon.”
Caesar shows me to his private suite and goes to get the luggage out of the car. I curl up on the bed. The next thing I know, he’s gently shaking my shoulder.
The dinner is in the King’s apartment, and, as promised, it is a small gathering. After the main course is cleared, everyone goes out onto the balcony. The King’s butler hands me a tablet with a live video feed pulled up already.
“His Highness has asked that you video-call your parents so they may join us for this moment.”
“Vivi? Are you okay?” My mom is frantic on the screen.
“It’s all good, Mom. Just listen.”
I hand the tablet to the butler who points it at the King. “Tonight, we find out if Caesar and Vivienne’s baby will be a boy or a girl!”
I hear my mom squeal. The King turns around and looks up at the mountain.
Far in the distance, I hear a small pop, followed by a whistle. Then a firework bursts apart. It’s pink. Caesar and I look at each other.
“Is it –”
The sky explodes. Hundreds of pink fireworks light up the sky along the whole ridge.
“A girl.”
The King’s voice is jubilant. I can hear my mom shrieking and my dad trying to calm her down. I look at Caesar. He sniffs loudly, and I throw myself at him.
“A girl.”
His voice is filled with amazement. I look at his face and the King’s. The butler brings me back the tablet, and my mom and dad are both crying.
“Do you know how much you are loved, little one?”I ask, looking down at my stomach. I give her the answer. “So much.”
33
CAESAR
As the last of the pink glow fades from the sky I look at my wife. She is cradling her belly. I often catch her doing that, and the usual warm feeling I feel when I see it spreads through me.
I can see the love for our baby on her face. Every time I see it, I fall in love with Vivi all over again.
I love our baby so much already. But what makes me so sure that this is going to be wonderful is Vivi. The well of love in her is infinite. I know there are a lot of changes in store for us, but I’m also certain every step I took in my life was ordained to bring me right here.
We go back inside. While we were watching the gender reveal fireworks, a small dessert buffet was set up.
Vivi’s eyes light up when she sees the assortment of traditional Solvarian pastries. There is a small cake. Written on top in icing it says,It’s A Girl.The pastry chef is standing off to the side. He has two tubes of icing, pink and blue. Our eyes meet, and he winks before he leaves the room.
My father asks Vivi and I to slice the cake together.
“Oh, chocolate,” she says as we remove the first piece.
She offers it to my father, who shakes his head. I’m not sure what his dietary restrictions are these days. Or maybe he is just tired. I whisper to Vivi that we should maybe have dessert in our room. Together we go to say goodnight to the King.
“Thank you for everything.” Vivi smiles warmly as she grasps my father’s hands. “Especially for making sure my parents got to be a part of it.”
