Page 29 of The Billionaire's Baby
She was nervous meeting them, but they all embraced her like she was long lost family. Adira soon figured out she was marrying into a family filled with tremendous love. The night before the wedding, after dinner, everyone sat in the family room, laughing and talking. Favian had her lie down on the couch with her feet up and her legs across his lap.
His Aunt Carmen—his mother’s sister—looked at her round tummy and predicted, “I think it shall be a girl.”
Her husband Felipe rolled his eyes. “Of course you would. You would like to fill this family with women to rule us men with an iron fist.”
“If you didn’t act like children all the time we wouldn’t have to,” Aunt Maria said primly. She waved her finger at Favian and Remy. “The trouble these two used to get into would turn anyone’s hair white.”
“Oh, do tell,” Lynette said.
“Don’t encourage Auntie Maria. Let’s leave our exploits out of this,” Remy said. Adira noticed that he was sitting very close to Lynette and she wasn’t complaining. Two years before they get together? Uh-huh, if it takes that long I’ll eat a plate of kippers, she thought.
“There is one way to tell the sex of the baby,” Favian’s cousin Santia piped in. “Let’s use the ring test. Remember when Petra was pregnant? It predicted boy and it was right.”
“What’s the ring test?” Adira asked.
“You take a wedding ring and you hang it on a piece of string. If it moves around in a circle it’s a girl. If it moves back and forth it’s a boy,” Aunt Carmen explained.
“Let’s do it. I’m curious since these two decided not to find out until the birth.” Lynette rolled her eyes. “How will I know what to buy unless I have a picture of the sonogram showing a winkie or not?”
“Buy neutral colors,” Adira said. Lynette stuck her tongue out at her, making Adira laugh.
Aunt Carmen stood up and took off her wedding ring. “I need a piece of string.”
Suzie—who was also there with Mason because to everyone, especially Favian, they were family—got up and went to the kitchen and came back with a piece of white yarn.
“I’m making a blanket for the baby,” she said with pleasure written all over her face. “I cannot wait until it’s done for you to see it.”
“Oh, Suzie, you’re magnificent.” Adira reached out her hand and Suzie took it and gave it a fond squeeze.
Aunt Carmen threaded the ring on the string and came over to where Adira was lying on the sofa. “Okay, let’s see what we’re having.”
It seemed like everyone held a collective breath as Aunt Carmen held the string over Adira’s stomach and stabilized it by holding the ring so it wouldn’t move until she was ready. It was an old wives’ tale but Adira still thought it was a fun idea. She didn’t have family like this in her life so to be able to share all of this with Favian’s family was very special to her. Aunt Carmen let the ring go and it was completely still.
“Nothing is happening,” Adira whispered.
“Give it a moment, honey. It will,” Carmen said.
It began to swing slowly back and forth and then a little stronger. Everyone watched with rapt interest as the ring swung back and forth.
“There you have it, Favian. You’re having a boy,” Felipe said. “Thank God. We need more testosterone in this family.”
“Well, it’s not full proof. It can still be a girl,” Santia said.
“You’re the one who brought up the idea of the test, now live with the results,” Felipe replied.
“Don’t be a sourpuss.” She handed him a plate. “Eat some cake.”
About an hour later, after dessert, everyone retired to bed.
“You know what your aunt told me? She said that we shouldn’t see each other before the wedding,” Adira said.
“I think we’ve broken that rule already,” Favian said as he climbed into bed beside her and pulled her close. “Are you ready to be Mrs. Rivera tomorrow?”
Adira nodded and then teased, “Are you sure you don’t want to be Mr. Potts?”
“To have you, I would,” he replied.
“That’s so sweet,” she said and then gave a little gasp.
Favian was on alert instantly. “Baby, what’s wrong?”
She took his hand and pressed it against her belly. “Feel. You can actually feel the baby move, Favian!”
Sure enough, under his hand the small but perceptible thump was felt and he looked at her with excitement in his eyes. Favian kept his hand on her stomach and the baby moved again and again as if to say, “Yes, Daddy, I’m here.” Favian kissed her stomach and talked to the baby before resting his head gently where his hand had been.
