Harlow shrugs.
“We’re pregnant!” Taylor beams, and ah! That explains Mom’s reaction, I was wond—oh, my god!
“You’re pregnant?” I jump off the couch and hug Taylor. “Holy shit! Congratulations!” I grabmy brother by the shoulders and shake him as he laughs. “You’re going to be a dad!”
“I’m going to be a dad!”
“Congratulations, you two!” Dad says. “This is the best news.”
Lucy joins in, hugging Taylor, then Landon. “Oh, my god, congrats! This is so exciting!”
“Thank you,” Taylor says. “But that’s not all.”
Mom’s eyes widen hopefully. “No? Tell me?—”
“We’re moving to Michigan!” Landon interrupts, and Mom screeches.
“You are?” I gape, so confused. He loves his job. Why would he leave it? And to come backhereof all places?
“We’re waiting till the summer,” Taylor explains.
“That way I can finish off the school year, and I should have plenty of time to find a new position here.”
“Oh, my god! Oh, my god!” Mom’s practically pacing. “This is the best Christmas surprise. I couldn’t dream of one better.”
“Congratulations, you both,” Harlow says.
Taylor beams. “Thank you!”
“Wait.” I’m still stuck on them moving. “Why are you coming backhere?”
“We want to be close to family,” Taylor says. “My parents are nearby in Ohio and …”
“Since you two are retired now. Or, at least Dad still is,” Landon says. “Well, we were kind of hoping you might be able to help?—”
“Yes! A thousand times, yes!” Mom covers her mouth with her hands, seemingly taken aback by the opportunity. She then gasps and looks at Harlow. “Don’t you worry, I’m a fantastic multitasker!”
Harlow waves her hands in the air. “No, you’re totally good.”
“I’m not leaving you high and dry, missy,” Mom says.
Harlow chuckles. “Never thought you would.”
There’s a quiet clearing of someone’s throat, and Greg stands up. “Congratulations, Landon. Taylor.”
“Thanks, man.” Landon takes Greg’s offered hand and shakes it enthusiastically.
“I need to step out for a moment, if you don’t mind?” he asks, voice curt.
I roll my eyes at the same time Lucy harshly whispers, “Greg, seriously? Now?”
Greg clenches his jaw and says in a forced, polite tone, “Yes,now.”
Lucy pinches the bridge of her nose but doesn’t respond as he leaves. I accidentally make eye contact with Harlow, whose eyes are wide, and she looks at me as if in question. I shrug because that whole situation wasweird. Lucy and Greg are college sweethearts and never fight. I’m not sure what’s going on with them lately.
After pressing Taylor and Landon for more details on their plans to move and how far along she is, Mom finally shares what was inside the gift box—ultrasound photos she reluctantly passes around for Dad and me to see. Once the excitement settles down, we pivot to opening presents.
We’re thankfully not one of those “only one person opens a gift at a time” kind of families, so in the organized chaos of flying wrapping paper and “What’d you get?” questions being tossed around, I discreetly slip my gift next to Harlow when I walk past her to throw my trash away. Harlow feels the small box hitting her leg and looks at it, then whirls around to look at me with a questioning glare. I pretend not to see her while I refill my champagneflute.
