“I know, but I’m excited, and we need some good news.”
“I swear, Ricardo Miguel Medina, I am going to kill you when we get home.” Christina’s blush flared to a deep crimson.
Caitlin’s smile nearly cracked her face it was so wide. “You know, sis, I hated to say something, but I have noticed you putting on a few pounds the last few weeks…”
Christina turned and slapped her sister on the arm nearly as hard as she had her husband. “Why you bi—” She glanced down at her son and swallowed her words.
Caitlin laughed so happily, even she couldn’t pretend offense. “What was that, sister dear?”
Cynthia leaned forward, eyes already moist with tears. “Really?”
Christina nodded.
Ricky leaned over, wrapped his arms around her head, and pulled her in for a loud kiss on the side of her face. “Yep! And baby makes three! Er… five!”
“That’s so wonderful, dear!” Mom reached over and grabbed Christina’s hand before she could swat at Ricky again. As she wrapped her fingers around Christina’s, she looked over at Ricky. “You’re right. We needed some good news, and I couldn’t think of anything better!” Glancing back to Christina, she lowered her voice, as if her question wasn’t appropriate for the entire table. “How far along are you, sweetheart?”
“A little over fourteen weeks.” Her free hand traveled of its own accord to rest on her barely noticeable belly. “We should be in the clear now.”
Cynthia broke in, “Do you know if it’s a boy or girl yet?”
“No. It’s too early to tell.” Christina shook her head. “I’m not sure I want to know. I knew with Peter and Saul, but I think I’d like this one to be a surprise. There’d be something so fun about—”
“It’s a girl,” Ricky interrupted, but he had the decency to look sheepish about it.
Christina turned to him. “How do you know? I thought we agreed we weren’t going to use our powers to find out!”
“I didn’t!” He raised his hand in surrender, then shrugged. “I just know. There’s a little girl in there.”
A loud elephant snort made everyone jump. The entire table turned toward the source of the outburst.
Christina gaped. “Dad! What are you doing? People have to use those!”
Dad blew his nose on his red cloth napkin. He swiped at the tears in his eyes and then gave another monstrous blow. “I’ll buy ya a new one.”
Mom leaned in and nudged him with her shoulder. “You big old softy.”
Dad blew his nose one final time in response.
I caught Christina’s eye as she smiled at our father. “Congratulations, sis. I’m really happy for you!” I looked over at Ricky. “And you too! Keep making me an uncle. I love it! Plus, maybe this one will like me best. Peter only has eyes for Cyn, and Saul thinks that Caitlin’s the next messiah. This one’s mine.”
“Don’t count on it!” Caitlin gave me a serious look. “This one’s mine too.” She turned her attention from me so she could pull Saul onto her lap and wrap her arms tight around him. “So, what do you think about all this? Are you excited to be a big brother?”
Saul looked up and glanced around the table at his family, then returned to his coloring. “I guess.”
Christina mock whispered, “I don’t think we’re very excited about not being the baby of the family anymore.”
“Oh. I see.” Caitlin sent her voice up in conspiratorial timbre and kissed him on the top of his head. “I think you’ll be a great big brother!”
Saul kept coloring the dancing tacos purple. “Dad said I could name her.”
Christina shot a look toward Ricky. “Oh, did he now?”
Ricky raised his hands in surrender. “I said you could help.”
Caitlin bent close to Saul. “What are you going to name her?”
Saul traded the purple crayon for a green one. “Frog.”
