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“I went for an ultrasound on Friday,” Iris shared. “And not only did we learn that the baby is growing perfectly healthy right now, but we also learned the sex. We thought we’d share it with you tonight.”

My eyes slid across the hopeful faces of everyone in the room. I was convinced nobody was breathing.

Iris and I looked at one another, grinning. She gave me a nod. Then I announced, “We’re having a boy.”

I couldn’t make out one specific comment from anyone as screams and shouts of joy filled the air around us. Laughter sounded from the woman beside me, and that took the moment up several notches for me.

Iris and I were married, and we were having a son. Our family was with us, and surged forward with their congratulatory words, hugs, and thrills of excitement.

And though the joy didn’t quite wear off, it had diminished enough for everyone to settle down and enjoy a family dinner together.

As I sat there with them, knowing this was just the first of many moments of joy for us and our changing lives—the Harper Security Ops team would be just as thrilled when they heard the news—I felt even more convinced about the words I’d said to my mom.

I couldn’t have rushed myself into this.

And it didn’t bother me so much now that I was the last guy at Harper Security Ops to finally get his happy ending.