“We haven’t chosen a name yet.”
After that, the questions came fast.
“Will I be a big brother?”
“Will I still get all my toys?”
“Can I help take care of the baby?”
Josh answered them all to the best of his ability.
And then Shane said, “You know what, Dad? I think Dillon should come over because we got a lot to talk about.”
Josh chuckled at that. “I’ll bet you do. And I think talking with Dillon and Riley about the new baby is a good idea. Riley thinks so, too. She’s invited you and me to come to their house.”
“Now?”
“Well, I would need to call her first.”
“Okay, then. Call Riley so we can go.”
* * *
Riley would always remember that day.
It was pretty much perfect. The boys asked an endless series of questions about the sister they would finally be meeting in the fall. They both got to feel Riley’s tummy and look over the pictures from back when Riley was pregnant with Dillon.
“Wow!” Shane exclaimed. “Riley, you got as big as my mom got when she was going to have me!”
By noon, the kids had asked all their questions—at least for the moment. They were ready to move on, to get back to their usual Saturday activities.
Riley served lunch. The boys and Roger played in the backyard for a couple of hours and then went upstairs tobuild a Lego monster truck, a Harry Potter flying car and a city rescue boat.
Josh had hung around through all of it. Riley liked having him there—probably too much. But so what? It was a special day, a sort of celebration of the big news that the boys were going to have a sister.
Josh ordered pizza for dinner. Then the four of them and the dog watched a couple of kids’ movies together. Riley loved every minute of it. Josh seemed happy, too. Each time she glanced his way, she caught him grinning and dared to hope he’d gotten over her refusal to marry him.
The day went by too fast. All of a sudden, it was time for the boys to get ready for bed—and yes. Shane was staying the night. Dillon had asked so sweetly, and Shane was always easy to have around.
At ten that night, Riley and Josh sat on the sofa in the living room. Roger snoozed on the floor near the fireplace.
“What do you think?” Josh rested his elbow on the back of the sofa and leaned a little closer—close enough that she could see the gold flecks in his hazel eyes. “Are they asleep?”
“They have to be. It’s much too quiet up there for them to be awake—you want to go check?”
He stood and held down a hand. “Let’s go together.”
She knew that she only had to hesitate, and he would drop that offered hand.
But she didn’t hesitate. Instead, she set her hand in his. He clasped it firmly and pulled her to her feet. They ascended the stairs side by side.
At Shane’s shut door, she put a finger to her lips. Josh nodded to let her know he wouldn’t make a sound. Silently, she turned the doorknob and pushed the door halfway open.
Dillon’s airplane nightlight cast a muted glow on hissleeping form. He had the lower bunk. On the bunk above, Shane was sprawled on his back, his face turned toward the light and visible through the safety railing.
“Sound asleep,” she whispered to Josh. “Both of them.” With great care, she pulled the door shut again.
Josh kept hold of her hand as they returned to the bottom floor. She should probably have pulled away. But no. It felt too good, the connection, the warmth of his skin pressed to hers.
