“He’s going to love it when he gets home,” I said. “They should be here soon.”
She looked at her watch, absently twisting a long caramel strand. “Any minute actually. Remind me to thank Shepley for picking him up from the airport. I know he doesn’t like to leave you alone these days.”
I looked down, running my palm over my round belly. “You know he’d do anything for you and Travis.”
Abby rested her chin on her fist and shook her head. “It’s hard to believe yours will be Jim’s fourth grandbaby. Olive, Hollis, Hadley, and now …”
“Still not telling,” I said with a smile.
“C’mon! It’s killing me not to know! Just tell me the gender.”
I shook my head, and Abby laughed, only half-frustrated with my secret.
“It’s still our secret—at least for three more weeks.”
Abby grew quiet. “Are you afraid?”
I shook my head. “Looking forward to not being a waddling puffy incubator, to be honest.”
Abby tilted her head, sympathetic. She reached over to the end table to straighten a frame that held a black-and-white photo from their vow renewal in St. Thomas.
I touched my belly, pressing in on whatever baby part was stretching against my ribs. “In about six months, you’re going to have to move your breakables to higher ground.”
Abby grinned. “Looking forward to it.”
The front door opened, and Travis yelled across the foyer, his voice carrying easily into the living room, “I’m home, Pigeon!”
“I’ll let you guys catch up,” I said, positioning myself to scoot off the sofa.
“No, stay,” Abby said, standing.
“But … he’s been gone for ten days,” I said, watching her saunter across the room to meet Travis in the wide doorway.
“Hi, baby,” Travis said, slipping both arms around his wife. He pressed his lips against hers, breathing her in through his nose.
Shepley sat on the sofa next to me, kissing me and then my belly. “Daddy’s here,” he said.
The baby shifted, and I sat up, trying to allow for more space.
“Somebody missed you,” I said, running my fingers over Shepley’s hair.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Good,” I said, nodding.
He frowned. “I’m getting impatient.”
I arched an eyebrow. “You are?”
He laughed once and then looked up at his cousin.
“Where you goin’?” Travis asked, watching Abby leave for the kitchen. She came back with two helium balloons on a string and a shoebox. He chuckled, confused, and then read the top of the box. “Welcome home, Daddy.”
“Oh my God!” I screamed before covering my mouth.
Holding the box, Travis looked at me, then Shepley, and then back at Abby. “It’s cute. Is it for Shep?”
Abby slowly shook her head.
Travis swallowed, his eyes instantly glossing over. “For me?”
She nodded.
“You’re pregnant?”
She nodded again.
“I’m going to be a dad?” He looked at Shepley, his eyes wide, a huge goofy grin on his face. “I’m going to be a dad! No fuckin’ way! No way!” he said, a tear falling down his face. He laughed, a bordering-on-crazy high-pitched laugh.
He wiped his cheek and then took Abby in his arms, whirling her around. Abby giggled, burying her face in his neck.
He set her down. “Really?” he asked, cautious.
“Yes, baby. I wouldn’t joke about this.”
He laughed again, relieved. I’d never seen Travis so happy.
“Congratulations,” Shepley said, standing.
He walked over to Travis and hugged him. Travis grabbed him, obviously crying.
Abby wiped her eyes, just as surprised as the rest of us at Travis’s reaction. “There’s more,” she said.
Travis let go of Shepley. “More? Is everything okay?” he asked with red blotches around his eyes.
“Open the box,” Abby said, pointing to the shoebox still in Travis’s hand.
He blinked a few times and then looked down, carefully tearing the brown paper it was wrapped in. He lifted the lid and then looked up at Abby. “Pidge,” he breathed.