Epilogue 2
Ember
One Month Later ~ November
My hands shake as I finish setting out some cups and some other miscellaneous things on the table.
Really all I’m trying to do is keep my hands busy because I’m trying desperately hard not to think about the envelope in Lena’s pocket as she flits around the room helping with last minute preparations.
Since we got back home, Lena and I have become extremely close and she’s a frequent visitor here at the clubhouse.
“Are you ready, mija (my daughter)?” Sofia asks as she comes up next to me.
Instantly my nerves skyrocket, because depending on the baby’s gender, we have a surprise for her, too.
“Beyond ready to know,” I reply as I look out at our group of friends that have come to help us celebrate.
Some are from here in town, but some members from each of the Wisconsin chapters of the Steel Archangels clubs have come down to celebrate with us as well.
Levi winks at me from where she’s talking to Sasha and Lena.
I’d asked her opinion on what I’d wanted to do before I even talked to Tico about it.
Honestly, that was the third time I’d seen Tico cry—the first was when we found out I was pregnant, the second was at our wedding, and then that conversation a couple of weeks ago.
However, just in case, we have a name picked out for both a boy and a girl.
“Are you sure you can’t give me a hint?” Sofia teases and I laugh, shaking my head. Ever since we announced that the baby’s name would also be revealed at the gender reveal, she’s been trying to guess what they are.
“Nope,” I say with a smile. “It’s a surprise.”
She scoffs playfully at me and then kisses my cheek when Pyper calls her over for help with something.
Arms snake around my waist and I hum, leaning back into Tico’s arms as his hands cradle my baby bump.
“Did Mamá (Mom) try to squeeze the names out of you again?” he asks with a laugh and I smile, nodding.
“Yeah, but she doesn’t have to wait too much longer, just a few more minutes.”
“Alright everyone, let’s settle down and head outside for the reveal. Make sure to bring your gender paddles,” Lena calls out and excitement thrums through the air.
“Or maybe not that much longer,” I correct.
When I heard how Levi and the other Steel Archangels Old Ladies revealed their babies’ genders, I immediately asked if I could copy the idea.
So, right now, Daemon is waiting out by an old dirt bike, ready to start it up to reveal either a blue or pink plume of smoke.
Daemon and Lena are the only two that know the gender of our baby, and that’s only because we wanted Daemon to already have the bike prepped with the correct colored smoke bomb.
We all gather out behind the clubhouse and Lena waves us up by them. It’s a fairly warm day for a Wisconsin November, and I’m thankful that snow hasn’t arrived yet because I really did not want to do this in the snow.
“Now, before we do the reveal, I wanna see if you guys think Ember will be having a boy or a girl. Each of you were given a two-sided paddle earlier. Please present the color you think corresponds with our Little Bastard’s gender!
I look out into the sea of faces and bite my lip in anticipation when I see predominantly blue paddles facing us.
“Oooo, the vast majority of you think we’re going to be graced with a little boy, so! Daemon! Show us if it’s a boy or a girl!”
Daemon grins at us and starts up the bike. Instantly smoke plumes out the exhaust and I lean heavily against Tico as tears come to my eyes.
Blue smoke.
We’re having a boy.
“What’s his name?” several people ask and I laugh as I wipe my eyes and I wrap my arm around Tico’s waist.
“We wanted to honor two people that are no longer with us,” I start and then look up at Tico who looks out at the crowd, specifically his mother.
“His name will be Enrique Curtis Metzli in honor of mi papá (my dad) and Daemon’s father.”
Instantly, Sofia rushes forward, hugging me close as she says gracias (thank you) repeatedly.
Behind her Xochitl, surprisingly, isn’t trying to hide her tears, unlike at our wedding.
Same for Daemon and Uncle Marcus. Suddenly, all of them as well as Pyper, Rochelle, and Lucian surround us creating a huge hug pile.
“I love you,” Tico whispers in my ear and I turn, kissing him.
“And I love you.”
Then he drops to his knee, kissing my belly. “And I can’t wait to meet you Enrique, my Little Bastard.”
The End