Page 107 of Feels Like Home

“Soon.”

And before she can respond, Reece and Aidan come storming in the house. Stinky andhungry.

They don’t even notice Bri sitting at the table. They have one thing on their minds. Raiding the fridge andpantry.

“Boys.”

“Yeah, Dad?” Reece asks, head shoved into the fridge. He turns around with some lunchmeat and cheese in his hands before he noticesBri.

“Bri!” he shouts, setting down the food, causing Aidan to stumble out of thepantry.

They both run over and give her sweaty hugs. “Holy crap!” she says, pinching hernose.

“Yup,” I say, nodding myhead.

They both sheepishly apologize but grin while doingit.

“How was practice, boys?” Christine asks, setting a bar on a plate for each ofthem.

“Good. Kicked our butts tonight. So many updowns.”

“Coach Mac istough.”

“Freshmen football a little different?” Briteases.

They both just smile around a mouth full of food before it hits them. “Wait. Why are you here?” Aidanasks.

“Fallbreak.”

“You suck! I wish we got fallbreak!”

“So, why was it so important to come here rather than the house?” Briasks.

“Andy and I have some news, but we wanted you three to be heretogether.”

“Okay?”

I clear my throat before launching in and gesture so the five of us are sitting in the living room. Once settled, Christine in the chair and me sitting on the armrest beside her, I take a deep breath. “You kids know that we’re close.” I pause and look around to see the kids’ faces masked in confusion. “What I mean is, when a man loves a woman…” The kids groan. “I guess what I’m trying tosay…”

“Dad. Just spit itout.”

“Right. Well it seems that we’re going to be a family ofsix.”

“I’m sorry, what?” Briasks.

“I, um. Yeah. So, I thought this would be easier to explain, but it turns out not so much. Christine hasn’t been feeling the best lately, and after taking about a dozen tests and going to the doctor, we discovered that she’s pregnant. In about seven months, we’ll be welcoming a little boy or girl into ourfamily.”

“You guys are going to have a baby?” Reece asks, eyeswide.

“Indeed, weare.”

“Mom?”

Christine nods herhead.

“Wow. I’m sorry, but…how?”

“Can you have a girl?” Aidanrequests.

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