Page 75 of It Must Be Fate

***

After a chaotic dinner and an even more chaotic bath time with the kids, I settle in the armchair of my study and call my sister.

“Hey, Tessticles.”

She sighs, the kind of groan only a sister dealing with her annoying little brother can make.

“I know you’re looking for a reaction, so I won’t give you one.”

“Disappointed to hear it.”

“You know I have trained killers a mere phone call away who are just begging to do what I ask, right?”

I scoff. “You can’t kill me, I’m your brother.”

“Nice try, but that excuse is running a little thin.”

I sit up, deciding on a different tactic. “I’m a father. Soon to be of five beautiful children,” I add proudly.

She sucks in a surprised breath.

“Nera’s pregnant?”

Tess can’t see me, but we can both hear the smile in my words when I answer. “She is.”

“Oh, Tristan. Congratulations, that’s amazing. I’m so happy for you!”

“I only found out today. I wanted to tell you right away.”

“How is she feeling?”

“Good so far. She hasn’t had morning sickness like she did with Juno so that’s good news. Let’s hope it continues that way.” I laugh, then add, “Other than that, she’s told me pretty firmly that we’re done after this one.”

“I mean, fair enough. She’s a saint for making it to five when she already has to deal with having you at home.”

“I’ll have you know that my wife loves me.”

“Well, someone has to.”

I laugh, enjoying the good-natured ribbing that flows between us every time we talk.

“Can you tell her I’ll call her tomorrow? I need to take her out to celebrate.”

“Will do.”

“I’m really so excited for you both. A final little Noble baby,” she says with a happy sigh.

“Matsuoka,” I correct.

“Oh yes, sorry. Exhausted Mum brain — Rafe was sick last night so we were up with him.”

“Is he okay?”

“Yeah, just a little stomach bug. He’s thrilled that he gets to chow down as many saltine crackers as he wants.” She yawns. “The Noble name really went extinct with our generation, huh?”

I hum in acknowledgment. Companionable silence stretches between us as we both retreat into our thoughts.

Neither one of us has seen our father in years. Once my mum moved out, he moved on pretty quickly. He never reached back out to her or us, much to our delight. Last we heard, he’d left England for the south of France and had settled in Nice with his twenty-two-year-old girlfriend.

---