Chapter 2 #5
Eleana had already placed the donut box in the center of the kitchen table. Claire watched Ian climb onto his booster seat, his legs kicking with excitement.
"So," Claire said, moving beside Eleana. "I have a proposition."
"A proposition with donuts?" Rose asked.
"Yes."
Rose settled Eva into her high chair. "Uh-huh."
Claire opened the box with a dramatic flourish. "Welcome to the great baby gender guessing game!"
"The what?" Jim asked, pulling out a chair beside Ian.
Ian pointed at the pink frosted donut with sprinkles. "I want that one!"
"Patience, little man," Claire said. "First, everyone needs to pick a color. Pink means you think the baby's a girl. Plain means boy. They were out of blueberry frosted ones."
Eleana bit her lip, trying not to laugh. "And what exactly do we win or lose?"
"If you pick the wrong color, you forfeit your second donut to someone who picked the right color." Claire's eyes gleamed. "And there's a special prize for whoever has the most donuts at the end."
Jim chuckled, reaching for a plain donut. "I'm going with a boy. We need more testosterone. Dylan's gone. That leaves me with Ian and Connor in a sea of?—"
Rose's eyebrow shot up.
"Of constant?—"
"You might want to quit while you're behind," Claire said.
"I'm always behind, Claire."
Claire snickered.
Jim picked up the plain donut and held it in the air. "I stand by my choice."
"Brave," Claire said.
Eleana looked at her.
Claire widened her eyes. "What?"
Ian stretched his hand toward the pink donut. "I pick dis one."
"Excellent choice," Claire said.
"Spwinkos," he said.
"A valid reason," Claire agreed.
Rose looked into the box, then at Claire. "And Eva?"
Claire glanced at Eva, who was happily chewing on the ear of her stuffed elephant. "Eva is undecided."
Eleana chuckled.
"She's keeping her options open," Claire said.
Rose smiled and reached for a pink frosted donut.
Jim looked offended. "Rose."
"What?"
"You're abandoning me?"
"I'm following the evidence."
"What evidence?" he asked.
Rose nodded toward Claire, whose smile was too large to be casual.
Jim sighed. "I see how it is."
Claire clapped her hands once. "Okay. Votes are in. Jim says boy. Rose says girl. Ian says sprinkles. Eva abstains on the grounds she'd probably rather have a pet elephant."
Eleana covered her mouth.
"And the winner is..." Claire paused dramatically, then reached into her jacket pocket.
Rose's smile faded into something softer when Claire pulled out the ultrasound photos.
"Oh," Rose whispered.
Claire handed her the first picture. "Girl."
Rose took the photo carefully, as if it were something fragile and living. "A girl."
Ian leaned over the table, smearing frosting on his chin before he had even taken a bite. "Baby?"
"Yep," Claire said. "Your baby sister."
Ian looked at Eleana's belly. "In dere?"
"In there," Eleana said.
He considered that, then held up the pink donut. "She can have gooeys?"
"Not yet," Claire said.
"Yes, she can," Eleana disagreed, reaching into the box for a plain donut.
"El!" Claire said.
"What? Game's over, babe. I have enough gooeys to deal with."
Jim reached for the photo in Rose's hand. "May I?"
Rose passed it to him without looking away from Claire.
Claire shifted on her feet. "She has feet."
Jim studied the image. "That's usually how they come."
"I know that," Claire said. "But they're tiny."
Rose laughed softly, her eyes shining. "She's beautiful."
"She kinda looks like a weather pattern," Claire said. "You know. Like radar. Never mind."
Eleana closed her eyes briefly, touched by Claire's excitement. "Claire."
"What? A cute weather pattern."
Jim chuckled and handed the photo back to Rose. "Congratulations."
Claire shrugged. "I didn't do anything."
Eleana reached for her hand. "You're doing the most important things."
"Yeah, well." Claire looked down at their joined hands. "Gooeys are good."
Rose got up from her chair and crossed to Claire. For a moment, Claire looked like she might retreat. Then Rose pulled her into a gentle hug.
Claire froze for half a second before her arms came around Rose.
"Thank you for sharing this with us," Rose said softly.
Claire swallowed. "You're my mom. You should see her first."
Jim looked down at the table.
Eleana's eyes filled, but she smiled and said nothing.
Rose held Claire a little tighter, then let her go before the moment became too much for either of them.
Claire cleared her throat. "Okay. Everybody eat. Announcements burn calories."
Ian lifted both hands. "Gooeys!"
"That's right, little man." Claire pointed to him. "Priorities."
Rose wiped beneath one eye and sat back down with the photo still in her hand. Jim reached for another donut, then paused when Rose looked at him.
"What?" he asked.
"You chose plain," she said. "Stick with it. It's less sugar."
Claire laughed.
Eleana watched Claire slide into the chair beside Ian, helping him break his donut in half while pretending she hadn't just handed Rose a piece of her heart.
"Hey, who won the special prize?" Eleana asked.
Claire reached into the box and pulled out a frosted donut. "That's easy."
All eyes turned to her.
"Me."