Mum smiles as we all cheer. When the noise dies down, Gabriel takes to his feet, clinking the side of his glass with his knife.
“Leah and I have an announcement.”
All eyes turn to Leah. One hand goes to her stomach, while the other is clasped in Gabriel’s.
“Really?” Mum’s choked voice says.
“It’s actually a double announcement.”
Gabriel and Leah both grin at each other. “
“Twins?” Mum all but shrieks. “When?”
“I’m sixteen weeks,” Leah says, her smile bright. “So it’s going to be a very busy Christmas.”
Mum gets up and rushes around the table, pulling Leah into a bear hug.
“That’s the best birthday present,” she says, her eyes glistening as she cups Leah’s cheeks, dropping kisses on each one before moving to do the same to Gabriel.
Gabriel wraps his arm around her shoulder and gives her a squeeze. We all know how hard this time is for her. She misses Dad every day but more so this weekend. This news is priceless. My eyes meet Gabriel’s over her head and I understand now why he waited to share the news.
“Are they identical?” Kat asks.
“We don’t know yet. They have separate placentas, so it’s a fifty-fifty chance,” Gabriel says.
Another set in the family. I wonder if they’ll be as mischievous as the first pair.
My eyes find Pen. She’s pulled Leah in for a hug and is saying something to her I can’t quite hear. Leah smiles.
“That’s wonderful news. I’m so happy for you,” Pen says as she pulls away.
Caleb stands up and drags his twin in for a hug.
“I’m so happy for you both. If they are identical, I hope they aren’t as cheeky as we were,” he laughs.
“Speak for yourself. I was the quiet one,” Gabriel says drily.
Caleb laughs. “Okay, that’s very true. I hope they are more like you. At least until they’re older and wiser.”
Caleb gave my parents a run for their money. He was always into something when he was younger. Mum said she needed eyes in the back of her head. And when she didn’t, Kat and I were placed on duty.
“On a very boring note, April and I also have something to announce too.” A gasp goes up, and he shakes his head with a grin. “No, we’re not pregnant, at least not yet. We have, however, had an offer accepted on the old Lofton property.”
He shoots his wife a look filled with love, one she returns openly.
The Lofton property borders the family home. Caleb and April are about to become Mum’s neighbours. Mum squeaks again and grabs them both.
“This is turning out to be the best birthday,” she says.
I knew April was the one for him the moment she came into his life, and I wasn’t wrong. There was something about her, the way he spoke her name. I always thought myself cynical, and that Caleb was the same, but with April, it just felt right.Maybe I was more open when she came on the scene than I was with Leah. Lucky for me, Leah has an enormous heart and has forgiven me.
Gabriel looks at Caleb and grins.
Caleb grins back. “We’re buying a house. Moving out of the penthouse to prepare ourselves.”
Gabriel slaps Caleb on the back. “It won’t be long then, brother.”
Caleb grins, his eyes once again returning to April with a wink. “Hopefully not.”
