71 - Monty
We stand at the entrance to Disney World, the iconic Cinderella Castle rising in the distance, its turrets gleaming in the warm sunlight.
The place is a vibrant explosion of colors and sounds—families with excited children, lively music from hidden speakers, and the unmistakable scent of sweet treats in the air.
It’s a place where magic happens, where joy is a living, breathing thing.
But nothing in this magical world compares to the look on Wolf’s face right now.
His blue eyes stare in awe, his dark, rebellious demeanor gone, replaced by gobsmacked wonderment.
Black hair falls in messy waves around his face. He wears a black hoodie with Mickey Mouse ears embroidered on the front, paired with ripped jeans and red Converse. A faint smudge of black eyeliner darkens his eyes, a nod to his emo vibe.
I find myself smiling, caught up in his ridiculousness.
Frankie stands beside me, her hand warm in mine. We’ve both been here before, but never together, never like this.
This, standing here with our family. This is different. This is everything.
Leo and Kody flank us, their anticipation quieter but no less stunning. They’ve never been to Florida, let alone a theme park.
“What fresh hell is this?” Kody mumbles beside me, but I hear the smile in his voice.
“What’s the plan, Wolf?” Leo rubs his neck, his gaze darting everywhere.
“We have to start with Space Mountain.” Wolf studies his map with an enthusiasm he can’t contain. “Then the Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, and The Tower of Terror. I want to see all the princesses. I’m doing them all. Probably at the same time. And the parade later. Followed by more princess banging and—”
“Wolf.” Frankie taps a red-sequined sneaker against the back of his knee, making his leg buckle.
“What?”
“You’re not banging the princesses.”
“I saved myself for them.”
“No.” She crosses her arms.
“Evil queen.” He flicks his fingers at her. “Let’s go ride some rides.”
She goes still, a strange quietness settling over her as her grip on my hand tightens.
There’s a hesitation in her eyes, something unspoken that tugs at the edges of her joy.
“I can’t do any rides that have swoops, drops, or forceful stop-and-go motions,” she says suddenly, her voice soft but firm.
“Why not?” I turn, a frown of confusion twitching my forehead. “You loved them in the past.”
She nods, her eyes locking onto mine. “I still love them, but…”
The corners of her lips lift in a mischievous expression as she reaches into her purse, pulls out something small and white, and holds it up between us.
It takes a second for my brain to register what it is, what it means, but when it does, the world stops spinning.
“Bumpy rides aren’t safe for pregnancy.” Her voice trembles.
Pregnancy .
The word echoes in my mind, reverberating through my entire being, shaking me to my very foundation.
A joy so profound, so intense, washes over me, trying to yank me to my knees.
I stare at the plastic stick in her hand, the two faint lines that change everything.
A baby.
Our baby.
My eyes find Leo and Kody.
They’re just as blindsided as I am.
Blindsided in the best way.
A flood of emotions hits me all at once—love, gratitude, and an overwhelming sense of fulfillment.
Tears prick my eyes, and my throat tightens with the sheer magnitude of it.
I pull her into my arms, holding her close as my hand gently cradles the back of her head. Reaching out for Leo and Kody, I yank them in, swallowing her with our bodies.
I don’t even care that we’re standing in the middle of the busiest place on earth.
All that matters is this, us, the life we’ve created together.
“You’re pregnant,” Kody whispers, his voice choked, barely able to get the words out.
“Yeah.” She nods against my chest, her tears wetting my shirt as she clings to us. “We’re going to have a baby.”
I lean back just enough to look into her eyes, my hands framing her face as I kiss her.
Around us, the world continues to move, the sounds of Disney World fading into the background. I’m lost in her, in this moment, in the knowledge that the four of us have created something beautiful and miraculous.
When we finally break apart, I take in the varying degrees of shock and happiness on their faces.
Leo’s eyes shine with unshed tears. Kody’s pouty lips split into a rare grin. And Wolf. His expression glows with wonder, a smile stretching as he steps closer.
“A baby?” he whispers, like he can’t believe it. “We’re going to have a baby?”
I nod, reaching out to pull him into our embrace, and he comes willingly, his arms wrapping around Frankie.
“Yeah, Wolf,” she says. “We’re going to have a baby.”
“Best day ever.” He pivots away and returns to his map with vigor. “We’re going to do everything—rides, shows, parades—but first, we’re getting ice cream. Baby Mama, you’re eating for two now, so we’re starting with ice cream. Then we’re buying every single stuffed animal for the baby. Every. Single. One.”
Together, the five of us stand at the entrance of Disney World.
As we step into the park, our smiles as bright as the sun, I know with absolute certainty that there’s no place like home.
And for us, home is wherever we are together.
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