Chapter 18
eighteen
Jade
We rush over to Eloise and Conor’s room, and Bodhi opens the door before we can stop him. I throw my hands over his eyes until I see that they’re both dressed.
“Thank goodness. I really didn’t want to have that conversation tonight,” I say.
“What’s going on?” Bodhi steps into the room.
Eloise crawls off Conor’s lap, and Conor waves Bodhi over and picks up a piece of paper from the bed. He points at a line on it for Bodhi. “Can you read that?”
Bodhi stares at it for a moment, then says, “‘Have a few kids with Eloise.’” He looks at Henry and me.
We step in to give everyone else room to get in here since I’m pretty sure we’re all going to be hugging soon.
Eloise’s eyes meet mine across the room.
“You’re pregnant?” Kyleigh asks, and her hand falls to her own stomach.
Rowan is holding Parker, and he shares a look with Kyleigh.
Kyleigh crosses the room. “I’m gonna be an aunt?” Eloise nods, and Kyleigh throws her arms around her. “Oh, I’m so happy for you guys.”
Eloise glances at Conor. I’m pretty sure Kyleigh knew more than Eloise had told us about them not getting pregnant. But they’re brother and sister, so I hope Eloise understands that Conor needs to talk to people about it too.
Kyleigh then goes to Conor and hugs him just as fiercely. Soon, we’re all in the room, hugging and congratulating them.
“Okay, I’m not trying to steal anyone’s thunder, but…” Kyleigh finds Rowan across the room, and they share a look I can’t decipher.
“We’re pregnant again,” he says for her, and she grins.
Conor’s gaze shoots to his sister’s flat stomach. “Again?”
Kyleigh nods.
He gets up and so does Eloise, congratulating them both. It’s clear neither of them is upset by her announcement. In fact, they’re all ecstatic that the cousins will be so close in age. Kyleigh starts crying.
Then we’re hugging again, from person to person, happy for our friends.
Bodhi tugs on my shirt. “Mommy, I have a present too.”
Henry and I look down to see him holding a wrapped present.
“Bodhi, we can open it when we all open our gifts,” I say.
“But everyone is sharing good news, and I want you guys to have good news too.” He shoves it in Henry’s hand.
Henry looks at me and back at Bodhi. “Okay.”
“Mommy needs to open it,” he says to Henry.
Henry hands me the gift.
Our friends surround us, and I slowly undo the wrapping paper, seeing a flash of the jersey I had on my bed this morning.
“Bodhi?” I say, not continuing to unwrap the present.
He must see my expression because he hangs his head for a moment.
I pass the present to Henry and take Bodhi’s hand to sit on the bed. He climbs up to join me. “What is that?”
He chews on his bottom lip. “I stole the doctor envelope from your purse.”
There’s a mixture of laughter and ahhs around the room from our friends.
Henry sits on Bodhi’s other side. “Why did you do that?”
“Because I wanted you guys to be surprised. And I didn’t have a gift for you for Christmas. I was just gonna give you the envelope until Mommy showed me the jerseys this morning.”
I smile at Henry over Bodhi’s head before dipping down and kissing the top of Bodhi’s head.
“Impressive wrapping job.” Henry passes it to me.
“Uncle Waylon helped me,” Bodhi says proudly.
Everyone laughs. It’s not surprising that my brother is in on the secret.
“Well, let’s show everyone then,” I say, tearing a little more of the paper. “All three of us at once.”
“You’re not mad?” Bodhi asks.
“No, your intentions were good, so you’re forgiven. And honestly, I’m a little relieved I didn’t lose it. I thought I was going crazy.” I kiss the top of his head again. “Ready?”
“Yeah.” Bodhi nods a bunch of times, clearly excited.
We each take a little strip and tear it open to find the pink Falcons jersey with Hensley across the back.
“A girl,” Henry whispers, staring at me.
“A little girl.” Tears fall down my cheeks.
Henry leans over Bodhi, kissing my forehead. The three of us share a moment. When we finally come apart, the room is empty, and the door is shut.
“Do you have the envelope too?” I ask Bodhi.
He nods. “I can go get it.”
I pull him onto my lap and Henry slides closer. “Not yet.” I hug Bodhi, and he wraps one arm around me and one around Henry. “Thank you, Bodhi, this was so much better.”
“Yeah?” He squeezes us tighter.
“Definitely,” Henry says.
I’m a lucky, lucky woman.