Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 90290 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90290 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
“You too, Little One. You’re still a baby in my eyes,” JD says.
I happen to glance at Rush, who blushes.
“I’ve seen him without a shirt on, Daddy,” Eden says.
“I didn’t need to hear that!” JD sighs.
“Anyway, Peyton and I know the gender. Here’s what’s going to happen; I’m going to count to three and the men in our family will pop their balloons. Their shirts will either turn blue, pink, or remain white.”
“Wait, what?” Mack asks.
“What did you think was going to happen?” Nick asks him.
“Ah, man.” He shakes his head as he looks to the ground, avoiding eye contact with Paige. Everyone laughs at him.
I make sure my phone has the best angle to get everyone’s reactions and turn on the video to record.
“Guys, are you ready?” They hold up their safety pins. “Assume the position.”
Their hand moves next to their fake bellies, ready to jab.
“Go.”
The collective sound of each balloon popping and water sloshing, mixed with gasps is a pretty cool sound. I look at my dad and Harrison, waiting for them to realize what we’re having. And then everyone starts talking.
“You’re having a . . .”
“Boy.”
“Girl.”
“Wait.”
“Oh my God.”
Peyton and I let them try to figure it out. She comes to me, wrapping her arm around my waist.
“Peyton, what’s going on?” Katelyn asks.
She puts her hand on her stomach and looks at me.
“You tell them,” I say to her.
“Yesterday, we found out we’re having triplets,” she says excitedly. “Two boys and one girl. The boys are identical.”
Our parents rush over to us, crushing us in hugs, with tears and congratulatory sentiments.
Katelyn cups Peyton’s face. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Thank you.”
“Twin boys, really?”
Peyton nods. What she doesn’t tell them is we only had two embryos.
“And a girl?”
Another nod.
“You’re going to need so much help.”
“I know,” Peyton says through tears. “You’ll be there, right?”
“Every second of every day,” Katelyn tells her before pulling her into her arms.
While my mom talks to Peyton, my dad shakes my hand. I can’t recall any other time he’s done this, except for maybe the first time I met him.
“I’m proud of you,” he says. “Damn proud of the man you’ve become.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
We stand there, like we did on our wedding day, talking to everyone. Nick, Mack, and Amelie, who is excited to babysit as long as her dad is around to help. Eden and Rush, who probably aren’t interested because they’re teens and hopefully nowhere near this stage in their relationship. JD and Jenna, who promises us she will keep JD far away from the babies. Xander and Yvie, who says our babies have free dance lessons for life.
Quinn hugs Peyton tightly and then comes to me, so Nola can talk to Peyton. Nola’s excited and asks to touch Peyton’s stomach.
“Are they kicking yet?” she asks.
“Not yet,” Peyton says. “I’m ready though.”
“My sister says it’s the oddest feeling at first, then you love it, and then you want it to stop.” Nola laughs. “I’m so happy for you and Noah.”
“Thank you, Nola.” They hug.
“Things good?” I ask Quinn.
He nods and smiles, and he looks so much better than he did the last time I saw him.
My sister makes her way over to us. There are more hugs, tears, and promises that she'll babysit whenever. We know it’ll never happen. No one her age wants to watch three babies at the same time, but then, it could be a great deterrent from having sex.
The future great grandparents don’t promise to babysit, but all say they can’t wait for our family to expand.
Elle and Ben bring up the rear. There are lots of tears between the sisters. It’s fitting we’re having twins. Now maybe I can figure out the twin language while my sons develop their own.
We’re about to head over to the food table Katelyn and my mom put together when Harrison comes toward us. He’s still wearing his wet shirt. The only pink one. He hugs me and then goes to his daughter and holds her for a long time. He holds his arm out toward me and I step toward him.
“I know you know this, but I feel like I need to say it, ask for help. We will be there. You don’t have to do this alone.”
“Thank you, Daddy.” Peyton hugs him again.
We finally make it to the food table, where Peyton is told to cut the blue and pink cake. She brings me a piece and then sits next to me.
“That was a cute reveal.”
“Thanks.” I kiss the tip of her nose. “I wanted it all to happen at the same time. Create mass confusion.”
“Oh, there was some for sure. It was great.”
Mack returns, with both dogs on his heels. He’s like the dog whisperer or something. Of course, now that he has a plate of food, they want whatever he has, even though I know he doesn’t feed them.