Page 98 of The Lookback

“We can have another one,” David says. “Even if this spontaneous pregnancy was a fluke, we could purposely?—”

I shove him harder this time. “Stop.” I’ve calmed down some, but that joke has passed its expiration date.

“What’s so upsetting?” Mrs. Park asks from the corner where she’s been hiding. “You don’t like boys?” She arches one imperious brow. “Or are you sad about the dresses?”

“Who cares about dresses?” I feel tears threatening, and I just can’t do that. Not with all these people around.

“What is it, then?” David asks.

“I like boys just fine, and I couldn’t care less what the baby wears,” I say. “But I have no idea what to do with a boy. I don’t play ball or watch sports or. . .” I trail off, not even able to think of other little boy things. “My own baby’s going to hate me.”

David laughs. “That’s ridiculous. He’ll like what you like, and I happen tobea boy, so I’m more than willing to lend a hand whenever you need ideas of how to connect.”

It takes me a few minutes, but I do calm down. David’s telling me the things he did with his parents back in Korea, and Gabe’s telling me all the things he and Nathan like, and Steve even pipes up with how much fun it is to bean his infant son in the head with squishy balls. When Abby waltzes back into the room, I do a double take.

“When did you even leave?”

Abby’s lugging a huge bag. When Nathan sees her, he practically lunges out of Izzy’s arms to the hard tile floor.

“What is that?” I ask, staring pointedly at the large white paper shopping bag. “Where did you go?”

“This is now a gender reveal party,” she says. “In honor of that, I popped downstairs before the gift shop closed. The bad news is that they were fresh out of confetti cannons.” She makes a face at David. “But I did manage to grab a few things I thought might cheer you up.” She reaches into the bag and what she pulls out is tiny, light blue, and it has grey ridges all down the back.

I’m squinting. “What is that?”

She hands it to me, and I flip it over in my hands before realizing it’s a dinosaur sleeper for a newborn. It may be the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. “Aww.”

The next thing she pulls out is a baby bunny nightlight. “All babies sleep better in a room with low lighting, boys or girls.” She winks.

Steve takes the bag. “I call dibs on giving her the tiny fox.” He whips out a fluffy brown fox plush. “Plenty of boys still want to snuggle.” As if he can understand what Steve’s saying, Nate drops his head on Abby’s shoulder and closes his eyes.

“Ooh.” The kids have gathered around, and Izzy reaches into the bag and grabs something. She offers it to me.

It’s a pacifier with a mustache on the top. I can’t help laughing. “That is pretty cute.”

“And I know I didn’t buy any of this, but this is called a soccer ball.” David pulls a squishy orange ball out of the bag and tosses it to me.

Gabe opens his mouth. “That’s not?—”

Whitney shoves her hand over his face before he can finish. “Hush.”

“It’s clearly a basketball,” I say. “I know that much.”

“If he inherits my athletic ability,” David says, “you won’t need to know much more than that.”

“Oh, please,” I say. “You’re decent at sports.”

“But between the two of you,” Abby says, “he’s bound to be a huge nerd. Better than anyone else I know, you’re both amply equipped to raise a nerd.”

By the time Steve takes the kids to a hotel to sleep for the night, I’m feeling better. About the bleeding, about Oliver and his attempt to destroy my takeover, and about the baby being a boy.

“Should I stick around?” David asks. “Or are you going to be sleeping?”

Abby left with Steve, at my insistence, so she could nurse her little guy in peace, and for some reason, staying here alone kind of freaks me out. “Do you mind staying?”

“I’d prefer it,” David says. “But you’re Miss Independence. I try to keep you as happy as I can.”

“To keep from getting your head bitten off?” I’m smiling so he knows I’m teasing.

---