“About the baby?” Nova asked in her little voice.
Rylee smiled to herself as her eyes scanned the road in front of them. Nova was always so sharp. Nothing ever got past her, so although she’d shown no indication she was listening at the Daniels’, she was definitely tuned in.
“Yes.” Rylee nodded. “Mommy is gonna have a baby with Uncle Xander.”
The words felt so weighted on her tongue. So unreal, too. But it was happening. And she was excited about it… finally not feeling guilty for being excited.
“Cool,” Nova said, a smile playing on her lips.
“Yeah,” LJ echoed, looking to his sister and then to Rylee. “Cool.”
Rylee figured that was it and knew it would be the first of many conversations. And she was ready… and nervous too.
Nova was too young to understand when Rylee was pregnant with her baby brother. With this new baby, Rylee knew there would be talks to have. Probably even questions the children would ask the more she started to show.
Rylee pressed her hand to her belly and smiled.
She paused near the entryway, taking a moment to let it all settle in.
She was going to have another baby. And for the first time since the test… it felt good.
She had so many questions. So many curiosities. The one she couldn’t wait to answer was… how would a new baby fit into the lives she’d already created for her two children?
“I hope you two washed your little hands,” Rylee called as she started ascending the stairs, en route to Nova’s room where she figured they’d be. “Because germs justlovewaiting for the right time to escape into tiny little bodies of children who didn’t wash their hands after coming in from outside.”
As soon as Rylee reached the top stairs, she heard Nova speaking. Instead of walking naturally, she tiptoed to the room, pressing her back to the wall that separated Nova’s room from LJ’s.
“I’m gonna give the baby my dolls,” Nova revealed, placing a few of her dolls onto her bed. “Then I’m gonna make room on my bed so the baby can sleep with me.”
“I want the baby to sleep with me, though,” LJ pouted.
Rylee snickered to herself. In that moment, she didn’t interrupt. She just listened to her babies discuss the baby who wasn’t even here yet. Already accepting the idea of a new sibling.
“I have to show you how to hold the baby before the baby comes.” Nova scooped up one of her dolls and motioned at LJ to move closer to her. “Sit like this.”
Nova held her arms in a cradle, encouraging LJ to do the same.
All Rylee did was smile as she peeked inside, watching them.
Nova placed the doll in LJ’s arms, adjusting the position of his little hands.
It wasn’t the right way to hold a baby, at all, but Rylee knew they had time to practice. Plus, she was too busy enjoying watching her children be so open to the idea of a new baby entering their lives.
“Good,” Nova approved with a nod.
Rylee had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing too loud. Nova was already a big sister, but clearly working on being the ultimate big sister in training.
In the next breath, Rylee’s eyes welled up. She instinctively pressed her hand to her stomach, knowing that her decision was now grounded in love and reassurance.
The baby was already so loved.
She stepped forward and into the room, going straight for LJ. She lifted him up and sat him on her lap while reaching for Nova.
Rylee pressed a big kiss to Nova’s cheek and then to LJ’s, hugging them tight to her.
“You’re gonna be agreatbig sister. You know that, right?”
“Yup!” Nova said. “I know.”
