Page 120 of How to Defy Your Boss
I opened the scrap and read the two words in her familiar script, and my eyes welled the second I took in what it said. I looked over and discovered that she was crying too.
“We’re pregnant?” I asked in a shaky whisper.
She nodded, biting her lip. “I waited until tonight to tell you because it’s the perfect gift.”
I pulled her into a tight hug, doing my best not to break down completely. We’d been trying since the time in my childhoodbedroom, and while we weren’t at the point where we were getting stressed out about it, weweregetting frustrated that it was taking so long.
Considering I made love to my wife every damn day, if not twice a day.
I finally pulled away from her. “How far along?”
She placed her hand over her stomach. “Seven weeks. It’s still early.” She glanced around at the rest of the family and lowered her voice. “But I still want to tell everyone.”
“Tell us what?”
We both jumped as Noah popped up from behind the couch.
“Noey, come here,” Nina said, taking his hand and guiding him to us. “We have to tell you something exciting.”
He stood in front of us, his eyes bouncing between our faces. It was probably obvious to him that something very important was happening.
“Now, don’t get over excited, okay?” I cautioned.
Noah had completely shed his shy side, and these days, he had no problem letting the world hear his voice. His personality was even bigger than before, and I loved every bit of it.
“Noah,” Nina began quietly. “I just gave your dad his Christmas gift, but it’s also for you, because…” she trailed of and swallowed hard. “You’re going to be a big brother.”
His mouth dropped open.
“You mean you’rehaving a baby?” It came out in a strangled whisper.
“We are,” Nina beamed at him.
He took a beat to let everything fall into place, his face shifting from shock, to confusion, to happiness, to mischief.
He spun around. “Grandpa! You need to get me a bunk bed!”
Noah ran toward them, pointing over his shoulder at us.
My dad furrowed at me, and then it was Candace’s turn to be shocked as she processed the implication.
“Are you…” Gwen was now wide awake and staring at us. Harrison looked equally dumbfounded.
Noah climbed on the couch and raised his hands over his head. “I’m going to be a big brother!”
And that was all it took for the Christmas Eve tranquility to descend into joyful madness. Everyone jumped up and rushed to us. The cheering rivaled the crying, and the noise took over the room.
But I loved it.
Thiswas family. Old and new, blended and blood.
And absolutely perfect.
