Page 89 of Manny's Surprise Baby
“That would be great.”
“Gosh, are we really going to have a baby?” She grinned. “I can’t wait to tell Susan. Her mommy is having a baby too.”
“I’m so glad you’re okay with all of this, Emily. I know there’s been a lot of change in your life the last month.” I smiled at her.
She sighed. “Yes. Even though I didn’t want to come here at first, it’s been good.”
I nodded. “I’m glad.”
“When Mommy died I thought I’d lost my family forever.” Her voice wobbled. “But now I have a bigger family. And it’s going to get even bigger. Maybe we can adopt ten babies.”
“Whoa.” Pierce widened his eyes. “Let’s slow down here and see if we can handle one more.”
Giggling, Emily said, “Of course we can. We’ve got this, guys.”
“I appreciate your enthusiasm.” Pierce laughed.
“Let’s see how long that lasts after she helps change the first poopy diaper.” I smirked.
Looking horrified, Emily said, “You two have to handle that stuff. I’m just the decorator,” she squeaked.
I sighed. “I’m sorry I missed out on all your early years, Emily.”
“It’s okay.” She gave an impish grin. “You can get me a puppy. That should make up for it.”
Chapter Fifteen
Pierce
“I’m sorry. I can’t do it.” I set the spatula down and backed away from the frying fish. “The smell… it’s gonna make me hurl.”
Emily laughed and pushed me away from the stove and toward the back door. “Go outside and get some fresh air. I’ll make Dad finish the dinner.”
“But he’ll ruin it.” I covered my nose with my hand.
“Barfing in the pan will ruin it more.” She giggled.
I gasped in the pure outside air and moved toward one of the patio chairs. I sat with a grunt, patting my minimal baby bulge. My bump wasn’t anything anyone would notice on me unless I was naked. But I could feel the extra weight around my waist, and it was uncomfortable. Just imagine how much more of a whale I’d feel like once I really started showing.
Through the window I could see Emily dragging her dad into the kitchen. He stared down at the pan as if he had no idea what to do. Had he really mostly existed on cereal before I came to stay? He didn’t seem to know how to cook anything but a scrambled egg. My lips twitched with affection as he scratched his head and poked at the fish with the spatula.
We were supposed to leave for the compound tomorrow morning. I was nervous returning there as a pregnant omega. I’d been so vehement about how horrible alphas were, it was kind of embarrassing to now return fat with child accompanied by my own alpha. Trina, the head nurse at the compound, had been cool about it on the phone though; she hadn’t made me feel bad when I’d told her I was pregnant and coming to the medical facility. But still, I knew there would be others who would find it funny that, after all my bitching about alphas, I was knocked up.
The back door opened and Seth poked his head out. “Are the potatoes supposed to be black around the edges?”
“No.” I frowned. “Did you burn them?”
“Not on purpose. I turned up the heat to hurry them along because the fish is done. I think.”
I stood, moving toward him. “What did you put the temperature on?”
“Five hundred.”
“What?” I screeched. “That’s what you put it on to clean the oven.”
“Really?” He arched one brow. “Huh. Maybe that’s why it was smoking.”
I pinched my nostrils and brushed past him. Staring down at the blackened potatoes, I scowled. At least he hadn’t burned the fish. “I think the center is still edible.” My voice was muffled by my hand.
