Chapter 8
Eight
Elle
Usually Theo woke before me, all that puppy dog energy needing an outlet. But this morning he was still asleep, his sooty lashes fanned like gorgeous, fringed curtains over his perfect cheekbones, his breathing steady as if he didn’t have a care in the world.
We’d been through a lot over the last twenty or so years. Health scares, injury worries, the kids getting up to all sorts and into mountains of trouble (anytime we got a call from or about Landon, I braced for disaster—that kid was a magnet for catastrophe).
I slipped out of the warm bed and into my cozy flannel PJs, which the entire family wore on Christmas Day, even Aurora, who was already in the kitchen, drinking what was probably her second cup of coffee and wrapping gifts.
“Last minute as usual.” I grabbed a cup and set the Keurig to do its holy work.
“They get harder and harder to shop for every year.”
Aurora put one more piece of tape on something that was suspiciously shaped like a hockey stick.
“Hatch or Conor?”
“Both. Thought I’d make them share it.” She grinned. “Just kidding. I got Hatch a jock strap, candy cane colors.”
I chuckled. “Evil.”
“That’s why I’m here. The embarrassing old great-grandmother.” She set the package aside. “Not like you to be up so early, though I guess Christmas throws the whole routine out of whack.”
“I was kind of restless and for once, Theo wasn’t, so I’m letting him enjoy the extra hours of sleep. He works so hard.”
“He does. But he also loves it. The pressure, the competition, the craziness of it all. And he’ll love a new baby.”
I shouldn’t have been surprised. “He told you?”
“No. I guessed when you were looking a bit peaky this past week. Thought I’d give you a chance to figure it out for yourself.”
Those oh-so-intuitive Kershaws. “Theo’s thrilled. I didn’t expect him to be so open to it.”
“But we both know he’s not the one who has to do the work. Don’t get me wrong—he’s a great dad. A present dad, just like I taught him to be. But this will mostly be on you. And me.”
“Aurora, you would not be expected to pitch in.”
“Why ever not? I raised Theo and while I wasn’t on hand day-to-day with my great-grandlittles, I still know how to change a diaper and burb a baby.” She cocked an eyebrow. “But that’s not the issue here. You can have all the support in the world, but if your heart’s not in it, that’s a tough road to hoe.”
“What’s a tough road?” Adeline had just arrived in her holiday PJs.
“Oh, just …” Aurora trailed off at the same moment I said, “You’ve been avoiding me, young lady.”
“No, I haven’t.” She shuffled to the coffee maker. “It’s just been crazy here the last couple of days.”
“And you’ve spent all your time over at Rosie’s. Cade said you even have your own mug in their cupboard.”
Adeline chuckled. “So they’ve adopted me. Takes a village, Mom.”
“I’m going to drop these under the tree.” With a significant look my way, Aurora gathered her gifts and headed into the living room, leaving me with my daughter.
“You know you can talk to me—to us—about anything.”
Adeline took a cup with reindeers on it and poured some oat milk to make her morning latte.
“I know. I had a chat with Dad the night before last and I ran it by him. If you don’t mind, I’m going to switch to somewhere local. If I can’t get in for the spring semester, I’ll start again in the fall. Maybe travel for a bit before then?”
She grimaced slightly, waiting on my reaction.
“Your dad didn’t say a word.”
“I asked him to keep it to himself until I could talk to you personally.”
“Okay. First question: did someone hurt you?”
“That’s what Dad said! Sheesh, you guys have been married too long.”
Her reaction was too light for that to be an issue. My heart stopped thundering and settled down.
“Is this okay, Mom? I don’t want to upset you. Or disappoint you.”
More relieved than I thought possible, I put my arms around my daughter. “Yes, it’s okay, and no, you could never upset me. I’ve never understood this compulsion to leave home purely because a certain birthday or milestone comes around. Or the idea that every kid should feel the same way and want the same thing. You want to stick around the nest a little longer, then I’m all for it.” I hugged my girl tight, unaccountably happy that she felt safe with us. Stay forever, baby. “Please don’t ever think that anything you could do would disappoint us. This is your life and we will be proud of you whatever road you take.”
Adeline sniffed. “Thanks, Mom. I’m sorry I didn’t talk to you sooner.”
“You won’t be rushed. That’s okay. You’re a little like me in that respect.”
“Dad said that, too.”
I took my daughter’s cup of oat milk and popped it in the microwave. “I do have some news that might impact your decision to stick around the homestead, though.”
“Dad’s retiring?”
I raised an eyebrow. “No. Well, we’re not sure yet. I’d like him to play for as long as he’s able, but there’s something else that might affect our living situation. Yours, too.” I turned to my daughter’s expectant expression. “I’m pregnant.”
Adeline’s eyes flew wide. “Mom! Are you kidding?”
“Nope. I took a test and had a doctor’s visit yesterday. It’s happening.”
“Oh, wow.” She looked thoughtful. “Does Dad know? Because he didn’t breathe a word.”
“Of course he does. He’s over the moon, to be honest.”
“And you?” She placed a hand on my arm. “How do you feel?”
“A little bamboozled. I thought this was all behind me, and my first instinct was panic. But then I remembered—with the help of your father—that I’m a half-decent mom, sometimes, and maybe this could be … fun.”
“Fun?” Her concern was replaced with horror. “Is Dad forcing you to keep this baby?”
“Is Dad what ?”
Cue the fireworks. Hatch stood at the entrance to the kitchen in his holiday PJs with an expression of consternation. Landon was also on site, peeking his head around Hatch, and was soon followed by Conor, who pushed through and stared at Elle and Adeline.
“Did someone say ‘baby’?” He shifted his gaze to Adeline. “Is that why you’re dropping out of college? Makes sense, I suppose. Who’s the baby daddy?”
“It’s not Adeline, dumbass.” Hatch nudged him aside. “Mom, are you really pregnant?”
“I … am. And this was not how we wanted to share the news.” I turned to my daughter. “And your father is not forcing me to do anything. Any decision we make is joint, like always. Now, everyone needs to leave the kitchen so I can start on breakfast.”
“Mom, we can help.” Adeline moved in, her mouth screwed up in guilt at having let the cat out of the bag. “Let us pitch in.”
“Oh, plenty of time for that, sweetie. You’re gonna figure out diaper-changing real quick. Still want to hang around the homestead?” I squeezed her arm to let her know all was okay. “For now, I’d like to drink my coffee in peace and get the French toast bake started before the gift exchange.”
As Theo’s specialty, he usually made it, a reminder of the first meal he made me all those Christmas mornings ago. I looked up into the worried faces of my family, none of whom were vacating the kitchen as requested.
“Kids …”
“You heard your mom,” a deep voice rumbled.
My breath caught at the sight of my husband, who looked so handsome, wearing one of my favorite expressions because it was rare: Grumpy Theo. His semi-scowl couldn’t quite smooth out those laugh lines around his emerald green eyes or make his mouth form a grim seal, but I got it all the same. He was both irked and amused in equal measure, which was about as cranky as my guy could get.
The kids started up again with the whining—about how they deserved all the details (Hatch), how this affected them just as much (Conor), how they were shocked, I tell you, shocked that the parental units were still active in that area (Landon). Adeline took one look at me, another at her dad, and herded them all out to the living room to hang with Aurora, who no doubt was chuckling away at the hot water we’d landed ourselves in.
Theo closed the door to the kitchen and leaned against it.
“So that went well.”
I started to laugh because if I didn’t, I might cry. “You never told me you spoke to Adeline.”
“She wanted to tell you herself. How did it go?”
“Fine. Do you believe her when she says nothing happened?”
He frowned. “I do. I just think she needs a little time to figure stuff out and college is too frantic a space for her. Man, I thought we’d be golden once the twins were out in the Fall. Now, it looks like the house will be as full as ever.” He moved forward and took me into his arms. “You left me sleeping, wife.”
“You needed it after your on-ice shenanigans the other night, husband.”
“Don’t you mean after the off-ice shenanigans of last night?”
“That, too.”
I leaned my forehead against his shoulder and took a calming breath. Theo held me, my rock as always.
“It was kind of nice banging away when you’re already pregnant.”
“You mean like you’ve been doing for our entire marriage?”
He gave a raspy chuckle. “More like it reminded me of those early days when you were so horny because of hormones and stress and of course, me.”
“Well, it doesn’t take much to get you fired up.”
“With you, it takes just a look. So before it gets wild out there, or in here—” He waggled his eyebrows like the rogue he was. “I have a little something for you.”
He slipped a hand into the pocket of his holiday PJs and withdrew a small velvet bag.
“But we were going to exchange gifts after breakfast.”
“This is separate from all that. A moment for us.”
I took it from him and opened the drawstring. Inside was a charm, a heart of diamonds with an embedded infinity symbol. Absolutely beautiful.
“Just in case you have a single doubt, Elle-oh-Elle. My love for you is to infinity and beyond. Everlasting. Limitless. Unbreakable.” His brow rumpled. “I can’t think of any more fancy words, but I hope you get the idea. And it doesn’t matter to me what you decide on the baby front because my life with you is already amazing. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
This wonderful man never ceased to amaze me.
“Yet again, your perfection pisses me off to the point I want to kiss you until you can’t breathe.”
His eyes flashed. “Okay, violence is not the answer to my very romantic overture. But I do have some additional good news for you.” He leaned in. “I found a gray hair this morning.”
“Where?” I searched his head, anxious to finally have a hint that this man was aging normally.
“Down there.” His gaze shifted between them to some spot on the floor, landing on his crotch.
“Not where anyone can see it, of course. Except me. I’ll pluck it for you later.”
He winced. “Your jealousy of my age-defying genetics is something else. Leave my pubic hair to gray in peace.”
That had me laughing, and he joined in, then kissed me because that was Theo’s favorite thing in the world: tasting the joy he brought me on my lips.
When he released me, I murmured, “Let’s do this.”
“Bring the kids back in and face the music?”
“Sure. But what I really meant was this .” I gestured at my stomach. “ Theo and Elle Tackle Another Surprise Pregnancy .”
His lips curved. “ And Knock It Out of the Park .”
“Part 2.”
He dropped a kiss on my nose. “Part 4, maybe? Though, after Hatch, the others were planned.”
“Well, the twins surprised us with their double act,” I countered.
“ Theo and Elle: The Thunderdome ,” he said, rolling with the sequel motif before turning serious. “You sure, Ellie?”
“I am. I can’t wait to take this ride with you, Kershaw.”
I suspected it might be the most thrilling one of all.