His smile is as wide as his face in pure joy. “Juliette’s in Labor.”
35
Maddie
“I’m so excited.”Claud is holding mine and Nate’s hands, swinging them back and forth. “I hope it’s a girl.”
I glance at Nate and Seb over Claud’s head, widening my eyes.
This could get bad really soon.
We’re here to visit Juliette in the hospital, and Claud still doesn’t know the baby’s gender.
She’s been asking for a baby sister for some time, not coming to terms with the fact that it could be a boy.
Which…it is.
In her mind, that’s the worst-case scenario.
“I love your shirt, little one. Did you make it?”
She hunches her shoulders excitedly. “Yep. Mom helped me, but I did it almost all by myself.”
“I bet,” I say, and Seb suppresses his chuckle.
The shirt says “big sister” across the chest, but the paint splatters and swipes all over it screams, created by a seven year old.
“Do you know what color your shirt is?” Nate asks.
“Blue and purple.”
“It’s actually called blurple.”
“Blurple?” She laughs. “What’s a blurple?”
“It’s Aunt Maddie’s favorite color.”
“The best color.” I squeeze her hand and giggle alongside her.
What a blast from the past.
I haven’t thought about Blurple in ages.
“Well, pink is my favorite color, but maybe blurple will be my sister’s favorite color.”
“Claud,” Seb says softly, “remember Mom might be having a little boy.”
“Uncle Sebby.” Her face falls. “I don’t want a boy.”
Shit.
“You know what’s fun about having a brother?” I reach over and playfully pull her pigtail. “You get to boss them around.”
“You do?” She’s suddenly excited. “When they’re older, of course. But you’ll be the older sister and can tell him what to do.”
“Hmm.” She thinks about that. “That does sound like fun.”
“Did you name the puppy yet?” I ask to distract her, and her face lights up, nodding.
