Page 56 of Home Run

I turned around to where she was standing, fists balled on her hips. “But I already sent it to you.”

“I know, honey, but I want to go and buy it too. I want to see it in the store, and I want to stock up on Tanner Simpson bobbleheads.”

I didn’t bother asking any more because we’d end up in the longest conversation about what new items were being sold in the Lions store this month. Every time they visited my mom spent an hour searching for anything that had been added since she was last there. My dad would inevitably spend the evening carrying the bags around.

I’d offered to get all her purchases shipped home, but in truth, she liked being stopped and asked why she had so much because then she could tell people that I was her son. And I wasn’t going to take that away from her.

“So, what’s news with you?” asked my mom, sittingdown and patting the chair next to her. “We haven’t heard from you this week, not since Jordan’s tooth fell out.”

Ah, the Simpson family group chat, which was currently revolving around my eldest nephew and how much he’d gotten from the tooth fairy. I’d been avoiding it the past few weeks because I was finding it increasingly hard to keep Millie and the baby a secret. Therefore it was easier if I steered clear. Also I didn’t have much to add in the way of the going rate for teeth.

“Training’s been intense?—”

“Are you tired, you look tired?”

“No, I’m good, I just…” I glanced behind me, looking for where Holiday had disappeared off to. Now. I needed to tell them now, and this opener was as good a time as any, but I wanted Holiday with me. “Let me go and see where Hol is.”

I’d barely moved out of my chair before she reappeared from the kitchen carrying a loaded tray of fresh coffee, bagels, eggs, smoked salmon, and a bowl of fruit. Jumping up, I took it and set it down on the table.

My dad reached for a bagel before I’d let go of the tray. “Great spread, honey.”

Nerves whipped about inside me, more than I’d felt in a long while. I tried to calm them by pouring out coffee, but it wasn’t working, given Holiday removed a cup from my hand to do it instead and urged me to sit.

“Actually, Mom, Dad. I have something to tell you, news…I guess. I have news.”

“Wait, we need to dial in Lucas and Riley.”

My dad stopped spreading his bagel with cream cheese and looked up. “What’s going on? Are you sick?”

“No. I’m not sick.” I tutted as Holiday put her phone on Speaker and the sound of ringing pinged out. Lucas answered first.

“Hol? Can I call you back, I can’t really talk now.”

“No, hang on. Just getting Riley. We’re all here.”

“What’s that noise?” he asked as my older sister Riley answered. “Hey, Hol, what’s up? Is Mom with you?”

“Yeah, we’re all here.”

“Oh great, Mom?—”

“No. Riley, stop,” I cut in before she could start up a conversation I didn’t want to be part of, probably about teeth. You can talk to Mom in a second. Lucas, Riley, can you hear me?”

“Yeah, our ears work fine,” grumbled Lucas. “Is this going to take long? I’m supposed to be with a patient.”

“No, it’s not going to take long.” I rubbed my hands together. Where to begin? “Okay, I have something to tell you. There’s a girl?—”

“Ohmygod, Tanny, you have a girlfriend?” screeched Riley while my mom beamed out a smile like she’d been waiting for this news her entire life.

“What? No, just…no. But, also…” Huh. I didn’t have a girlfriend, I knewthatmuch. Even if I considered Millie to be my girlfriend, it only lived in my headfor now. Head and heart. “But it’s a girl I like. A lot. I like her a lot.”

“She’s really great,” added Holiday, way too early and far too enthusiastically. Enough for me to shoot her a look.

My dad went back to his bagel, even my mom seemed more interested in her breakfast than she had five minutesago.

“Is this the news?” asked Lucas. “Because you could have texted this.”

“She’s pregnant,” I blurted. “I’m going to be a dad.”

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