Page 11 of That Baby (That Boy 3)
My mouth drops open in surprise. Phillip slides his hand down my arm and gives me a reassuring squeeze. "We'll get through it just fine. I promise. I can deal with your little moods."
"I have little moods?" The TV is turned up to Mach Four, so no one can hear me.
"Of course, everyone does."
"You're sure we should tell everyone so soon? Now, I'm nervous."
"I can't wait to tell everyone. Although, I keep expecting someone to guess, I can tell just by looking at you."
"No, you can't. You were shocked when I told you."
He kisses the side of my face. "Oh, that's right."
I snuggle up closer and pretend to watch the game as I whisper to him. "I think you're the one who looks all sneaky and adorable."
"I'm adorable?"
"Yes. I love you, Phillip. You're the sweetest boy ever. Always have been."
His finger trails along the bottom of my jersey, just brushing my abdomen. "Lori has really popped out. Hard to believe in a few months you'll be that way."
"My body won't look the same."
"Does that worry you?" he asks.
"A little. Especially after seeing how pregnancy seems to have affected Lori's confidence."
"You shouldn't be worried. I'm going to spoil you rotten."
I smile. I like being spoiled.
Sometime during the first quarter, Lori and Danny rejoin the group and when Phillip gets up to grab another beer, Danny asks me, "Is that the jersey you had made?"
"Yeah, it's cute, huh?"
"Yours is cute too," Lori says. "I like the sparkle."
I'm waiting--hoping--that someone will ask me what mine says, but there's an interception and everyone is glued to the TV.
At halftime, I take my cardigan off and wait for the fireworks to start. For someone to notice what the back of my shirt says.
But no one does.
By the third quarter, I can't take it any longer. I stand directly in front of the TV so that everyone can see my back.
Mrs. Diamond looks from me to Phillip and says, "Mac Mommy?"
I smile. "Cute, huh?" But she still doesn't seem to get it, and Mrs. Mac is deep in conversation with Ashley.
"So he's the Mac Daddy and you're the Mac Mommy?" Mrs. Diamond asks.
I nod again, an even wider grin taking over my face.
"Are you pregnant?"
Phillip bounds across the couch--possibly the fastest I've ever seen him move--and places his hand across my stomach. "We are pregnant."
Somewhere along the way, his mom must have overheard part of the conversation because she makes a torturous sound, shakes her head, and says, "No?! What?! You're pregnant!? No way!" She stands up, her hands in front of her face and starts scream crying, which turns into an ugly cry as she continues to screech. "No!? Really? Is this a joke?"
Phillip shakes his head. "It's not a joke, Mom. You're really going to be a grandma."
"Ohmigawd, I don't believe it!" she yells, flailing her hands in the air.
"Believe it," Phillip tells her, laughing so hard at her reaction he's practically crying. "We're six weeks along."
She covers her face with her hands, overcome.
Then she starts running in place while waving her hands in the air and screaming. She grabs Mrs. D and jumps around her. "Did you hear that? I'm gonna be a grandma! I can't believe it. We'll be grandmas together!"
She's clapping now and still crying.
Phillip's dad is smiling big. He gives me a hug and congratulates his son with a slap on the back. Then I notice tears well up in his eyes as he glances toward the ceiling. I know he's thinking about my dad missing this moment.
Which makes me wonder how my parents would have reacted to the news.
I can't believe they have to miss out on this. It was bad enough to miss my wedding--but this is so much more.
My mom would have cried, but in a more dignified way. My dad would have been the more emotional one.
I have to admit, I'm happily surprised by everyone's reactions. The kid in me was kind of worried they'd say we are too young, that it's too soon. All the things I thought at first.
But all I see is joy in their expressions.
Lori mutters to me, "You have some explaining to do." But then goes on to say something about our babies being future best friends.
Danny rolls his eyes and teases, "Poor Phillip."
Finally, Mrs. Mac rushes over, fanning her face, and hugs us both.
Everyone gives us hugs.
Well, everyone but Chelsea.
I notice she's sitting on the couch, motionless, then she looks me in the eye, stands up and cries out, "I'm pregnant too!" bursts into tears, and runs upstairs.
Lori and I rush after her, finding her sobbing on the couch.
"I'm like a public service announcement for drunken hookups," she cries. "Don't have sex in the bathroom at a wedding without a condom, boys and girls, or you'll be walking down the aisle at your own wedding in a maternity dress. If he doesn't ditch you."
I sit down next to her and smile. "You got pregnant at my wedding? That's awesome."
She laughs through her tears.
Lori asks gently, "Did Joey already know?"
"Yes, he's been amazing. But I'm so afraid to tell our families. I want them to freak out like Mrs. Mac did, not question it."
"Chelsea," I say, "if you and Joey are excited about it. Your families will be too."
"And I'm sorry I yelled in the middle of your news. I'm so embarrassed."
"Seriously, it's okay. Just think of how fun it will be to be pregnant together."
"It will be nice," she says.
"Come on. Let's go downstairs."
We go back down to the family room, where everyone congratulates us both.
Once the excitement dies down and everyone starts watching the game again, I notice Joey fidgeting. Chelsea isn't sitting by him, she's over by Lori with her knees pulled up on the couch. She almost looks scared.
I can understand why. This pregnancy business is scary stuff.
Emotions. Body changes.
When another round of commercials starts to play, Joey stands up in front of the TV, blocking everyone's view.
"This isn't how I planned to do it," he says. "I was going to do it later tonight, all romantic-like. Candles. Hotel suite. But I think you need to hear me say this in front of everyone." He holds his hand out. "Chelsea, please, come
here."
Lori half pushes her up off the couch.
When Chelsea joins him in front of the TV, she says, "What are you doing?"
Joey takes both her hands in his. "We've had a long history of almosts. Almost kissed. Almost dated. Almost were single at the same time. When I pulled you in the bathroom this past New Year's Eve, I told you I didn't want almost anymore. That you needed to kiss the guy you should be with for the rest of the year. What I should have said was for the rest of your life right then, because that's how I felt. And I don't want you to feel like we're almost pregnant just because it happened so fast. I want to tell everyone that you're having my baby. There are going to be no more almosts for us. Chelsea, sweetie, I want you to marry me. Almost as much as I love you."
Chelsea is crying and so am I, because Joey, my goofy, perpetually horny, childhood friend looks sincerely happy.
He bends down on one knee and pulls out a ring box. "Chelsea, will you marry me?"
"You got a ring?" she asks, shocked.
"Yes," he says.
As he opens it, Chelsea starts shaking. "It's beautiful. You picked this out by yourself?"
He smiles at Danny and Phillip. "I got a little advice from a few friends, but yeah."
When he slides the ring on her finger, I notice that he's starting to sweat.
"You haven't answered me yet," he says nervously.
She throws herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Yes, Joey! Yes!"
I smack Phillip playfully. "You knew?"
"I thought he was going to propose tonight at the hotel. Been a pretty exciting Super Bowl, huh?"
After Joey and Chelsea stop kissing, Lori asks, "So when are you due, Chelsea? You and Jade have to be due about the same time."
"October the fourth," she says.
"And I'm due on the first. In case you all didn't notice, the numbers on our shirts are our due date."
Chelsea runs over to me. "I'm sorry I ruined your announcement. The way you told everyone was so adorable." She stares at her sparkly new ring and gets tears in her eyes again.
I glance at the close game on the TV and decide it's just not that important.
"You need to come with Lori and me," I say, dragging her upstairs.
