As we drive, I call Addison and put her on speakerphone. She answers after the first ring.
“If it’s a boy, that’s okay,” Addison blurts out, excitement in her voice. “I’ll live. Plus, you can try again to give me a little sister. Ugh. Enough with the silence, just tell me already.”
I laugh and say, “I’ll let Mei tell you the good news.”
“I’M GETTING A LITTLE SISTER, OH MY GOD!” Addison shrieks, all of her words running together.
The next few seconds are of Addison screaming and telling her brothers. I take hold of Mei’s hand and give it a squeeze. Addison finally stops hollering and demands to know what we’ll name her.
“We have to think of two names,” Mei says. “We’re having twin girls.”
If I thought the screams were loud before, they have nothing on how my daughter loses her ever loving mind over this news. Most of it is incoherent. I’m also pretty sure Cason is in the background telling his older sister to shut the fuck up already.
I’m going to have five children soon.
Holy shit.
“Love you, Adds,” I say, still chuckling at her antics, “but we just got to Carol’s. See you soon.”
“Love you, Dad. Also, I’m using your credit card because I need to buy all the things for my baby sisters.”
She hangs up and I wonder what this is going to cost me. Addison knows how to spend money. And the “emergency” credit card of mine she keeps in her wallet is about to catch fire from all her swiping. The bill I get later, though, will be worth it.
“Ready?” I say to Mei as I shut the car off.
“Yup. But, if Carol is cooking something that makes me sick, I’m out of there.”
It wouldn’t be the first time Mei’s had to run off and puke over food smells. Or, smells in general. Cason farted the other day and Mei got sick. She’s that sensitive.
Thankfully, when we walk into Carol’s house, it smells like cinnamon and Mei doesn’t turn green. Penny calls out for her sister and immediately wants to “pet the baby” in her sister’s stomach. Though Jin’s reaction to the news isn’t as insane as my daughter’s, I know she’s pleased. Her eyes are brighter these days than I’ve ever seen them. Happiness really changes a person.
“Two,” Carol says in awe as Jin inspects the printed photos with narrowed eyes.
“Auntie Penny’s going to have playmates soon,” Christopher chimes in. “Great news, right, Jin?”
Jin nods and she reaches for Mei’s hand. “You’re going to be the best mother.”
“Takes one to know one,” Mei says back.
The mending of their relationship has been worth all the chaos it took to get here.
“Your momma has her own news,” Carol chirps, mischief in her eyes. “Tell her, hon.”
Jin groans and sighs before blurting out, “He got me pregnant again. Bastard.”
The next several minutes are filled with laughter, a few tears, and too many people talking over one another. Babies are never a bad thing. Soon there will be three. Mei, who’d been showing signs of fatigue, has found a little extra pep in her step.
“We’ve decided that when the lease is up in a few months, I’m going to let the practice go,” Jin says with a lifted chin. “The past ten plus years haven’t been what I wanted them to be. I’ve missed out on a lot with my children. Being pregnant again got me thinking I didn’t want to miss out this time.”
Mei scoots over to her mother and takes her hand. “You sure? You worked so hard to become a doctor.”
“I’m tired,” Jin admits, the tough exterior showing signs of rare vulnerability shining through. “With Carol getting older, it makes sense for me to be around her anyway.”
Carol rolls her eyes but doesn’t argue.
“We won’t be rich by any means,” Christopher says with a chuckle, “but we’ll make do. I know me and Penny both will be happy to see more of Jin.”
“And I’m going to teach her to cook,” Carol sasses. “When I’m dead, someone has to carry on all the family recipes.”
