“I think I’ll carry you guys downstairs instead of walking, okay?” I say out loud to my favorite shoes.
By the time I reach the kitchen table, my parents are already seated and have our meals dished out. It’s my favorite. My father’s ‘special’ chicken, steamed veggies and fresh berries. My parents have always insisted on a colorful plate full of food, no matter what meal it is. He’s been making this chicken for me ever since I was a little girl. I’ve always called it Daddy’s Special Chicken when I know that it’s really just breaded chicken cutlet. He loves making it for me, and I ate it practically every night for dinner for several years. I will never tire of it.
“Wow, dinner smells great,” I say and slide into my chair.
Mom and Dad have smiles ear-to-ear and I can’t imagine what has them so excited tonight.
“Okay, you guys look weird. What’s going on?” I ask as I cut into the first piece of chicken and chew it. It’s so good. It begins to melt in my mouth, and I savor the flavor from the breadcrumbs. “Can you pass the barbecue sauce?” Another one of my favorites.
My mother slides it across the table, and she drops her fork next to her plate.
“Your father and I have some really exciting news,” she says and can’t contain herself.
I look back and forth between them and my father’s eyes light up even brighter.
“You do?” I ask. “Don’t leave me hanging! What is it?”
Mom takes a deep breath and her eyes glisten a little.
“We haven’t said anything at all because at first, we weren’t sure. But it happened, and now we’re thrilled and we just can’t believe it!” She’s all over the place, and I have no idea what she’s talking about.
“What happened?” I ask and dunk a piece of chicken into the barbecue sauce and pop it in my mouth.
“Sam, we’re going to have a baby,” my father interrupts, and I practically choke.
“What?” I ask as I gulp down my chicken.
“Yes! I’m pregnant,” my mother exclaims, and I stare between the two of them and wonder how this is even possible.
“A few years after you were born, we tried for another and were told that I couldn’t have any more children. The doctors did everything they could, and we even went through fertility treatments. Nothing worked, so we decided we were happy with the family we had.”
I never realized any of this, and I suddenly feel sorry for my parents for what they went through when I was little.
“So about two months ago, I wasn’t feeling well, and I didn’t think anything of it. I thought it was the flu or something like that.”
I remember her being sick for a few weeks and she was constantly in the bathroom throwing up. I was thankful for not catching it. Now I know why I didn’t.
“Mom, Dad, this is so cool.” I think?
“Oh Sam, this is amazing! When I finally went to the doctor, he told me I was pregnant. We couldn’t believe it. We’d suffered from secondary infertility for so many years and we just never thought it would happen. We never expected this, but we’re so happy!”
“It’s going to be an adjustment for us,” my father pipes in. “We realize we aren’t in our twenties or thirties anymore. With your mom turning forty this year, we’re going to have to watch her closely and make sure everything is progressing along normally and healthily.”
“Wow,” I say and take another bite of chicken. “Do you know if it’s a boy or a girl?”
“It’s too early to tell yet. We’ll know in ten or twelve more weeks,” my mom replies and takes a sip of water.
“Wow,” I say again. A baby?
“Cassie’s going to freak out when I tell her.” I laugh through chewing my food.
“Let’s wait a little longer before we tell anyone else, okay?” my father asks.
“Why?”
“Because we want to make sure your mom and the baby are doing alright. We have an appointment with the doctor again next week. Why don’t we see how that goes before we start sharing the news? We haven’t even told Aunt Peggy yet.”
“Okay.” Aunt Peggy is going to be so happy. She’s never been married nor has she had children of her own. She treats me like a daughter, and I know she’s going to love my little brother or sister just as much. I swish water in my mouth and look down at my plate. I’ve eaten all of the chicken and veggies without even realizing it. The fresh berries are left, and I scarf them down without saying another word.
“Are you okay, Sam?” my mother asks hesitantly.
“Yeah. Of course I am. I’m just—just a little surprised?” A lot surprised.
“So are we. Oh my God you have no idea!” Mom says.
“It certainly took us by surprise, but we’ve realized this is a gift, just like you were. We’re the luckiest parents alive.” My father reaches out and grabs my hand. “We were blessed with you, and now we’re all going to be blessed with this miracle.”
Tears well in my eyes unexpectedly. I squeeze his hand and look over at my mother, who is outright crying now.
“I can’t wait,” I say honestly. The joy in my parents’ eyes is infectious, and I can’t help but feel like this baby is going to bring so much more love into our house.
I finish my meal, listening to my parents talk about the renovations they are going to make to the guest room upstairs.
“I hope Aunt Peggy is going to be okay with giving up her space when she stays here.” I smirk, knowing how much she enjoys staying in the room next door to mine when she’s here.
“We’re going to renovate the first-floor library to add a day-bed for guests. Since there’s a bathroom off of that room, it will be like her own suite when she’s here,” my father says.
Aunt Peggy only lives about forty-five minutes from us as it is. She’s so busy with the family that she works for, she barely spends any time in her own home.
I look at the clock, and my dad says, “We can be ready to leave in about twenty minutes. Is that good for you?”
“Yes. Cassie was very specific that I should meet her at the party by eight. Her mom is picking us up by midnight and we’re sleeping at her house.”
“You’re not wearing those shoes, are you?” my mother asks, looking toward my Steve Maddens that I dropped next to my duffle bag near the center island in the kitchen.
“Yes I am. And I promise I’ll be careful.”
My father chuckles and says to my mom, “We’ve heard that before, Klutzy-McGee.”
My mother chuckles and I roll my eyes.
TWENTY MINUTES LATER, we pull up in front of Trisha O’Toole’s sprawling estate. There are cars parked along the circular driveway, and the backyard is lit up like a baseball stadium, music blaring.
“Her parents are home, right?” my father asks, skeptical.
“Yes, Dad.”
“I think I’ll come in and say hi to Mr. O’Toole. We’re supposed to be playing golf at the club tomorrow, and I want to confirm the time with him.”
“Ugh, Dad!” I know this is useless and he’s going to come inside with me anyway. He’s done this as long as I can remember, and I secretly like it. But since I’m a teenager, I need to give him a hard time whenever I can.
We get out of the car and walk into the grand foyer of the O’Toole’s house.
“Benjamin! So great to see you,” Mr. O’Toole’s voice booms. “Are you ready for the tournament tomorrow?”
“Of course I am. But if I remember correctly, you weren’t quite up to par the last time we played.”
Mr. O’Toole laughs at my dad’s pun and they walk toward his den.
“Have fun tonight, Sam.” Dad pulls me in for a hug. “Watch yourself in those shoes, please.”
“Don’t worry.” I smile confidently and walk, very deliberately, toward the back of the house. I certainly don’t need to fall flat on my face, proving my father right. “Love you, Dad!” I call out before he’s out of sight.