He leaned over and kissed my nose.
“I cherish you,” he smiled.
After day six I was totally over it. I wanted them out of my house. I needed space. I couldn’t keep going with this. They needed to leave. When we returned that evening from a day of paintball, bowling, and pizza I stormed in ready to snap. I tossed the front door open prepared to scream at the first person in sight. However, the house was quiet.
Looking around I saw no one. This was suspicious. I called out and heard a rough, yet distinctly feminine voice.
“Up here.”
I paused, glancing at Mark. He was just as confused as I was. We took the stairs together and stopped when we saw tiny little Cleo standing in front of the baby’s door, arms behind her back.
She had a small smile on her face but didn’t move. I glanced past her and saw the lock was still firmly on the door. She brought an arm around and revealed a plain white envelope. Reaching forward I grabbed it and opened it slowly, almost nervous about what was in it.
Reading the thick card stock paper, I let out a breath of relief and then a small chuckle. It was an invitation.
“You are formally invited to the gender reveal of little Tot Lesley, tomorrow afternoon. Lunch will be served after the news. BYOB,” she tagged on the end joking. I quickly embraced her.
“Thank you. I can’t wait.”
“Me either! I’m having Ethan record your reactions,” she said as we walked her downstairs. Giving us both one final hug she left.
That night I had a hard time falling asleep. Mark was watching a movie while I tried to close my eyes, but finally I sat back up.
“What do you think it is. Like really?”
He looked over and thought for a moment.
“I don’t know, girl?”
“Why, is it a feeling or did you see something?”
He rolled his eyes.
“More like I didn’t see anything. You were looking at the same screen I was. I couldn’t tell his hands from his lips. It was all a bunch of squiggles.”
I got out of bed and went to the book where I had placed the pictures we had been given last week.
“Let’s look again. Maybe we can figure it out.” He sighed but reached for one of the pictures.
“Well this one is clearly his face,” he said. “I think it has your nose,” he reached over and pinched the tip of my face. I sighed, realizing that we really wouldn’t know for a few more hours.
“I can’t wait. Mark, I need to know. Call her and tell her the party is off,” I pouted.
“I love you, but I am not doing that. If you just go to sleep, we will know in no time.”
I don’t remember falling asleep, but I was able to finally manage getting a few hours in. I woke up to the twins’ distinct screams of joy. I leapt up and practically ran to the shower. Remembering that I would be photographed I took care to curl my short locks and get my makeup right. I had plenty of time, I might as well take advantage of it and look nice. Mark waited patiently with me while I got ready for the day.
“Wear that light purple dress. It goes good with the dark purple hair.” I thanked him for his suggestion and slipped the sundress on. When I was finally ready mentally and physically, we stepped out together.
We stopped short at our door. Everyone was waiting at the staircase, looking at us. A camera snapped loudly, and I looked to see Ethan holding a large black camera up at us.
“Are you ready?” Cleo asked. My eyes went to the smallest adult in the center of the group.
Squeezing Mark’s hand, I looked up at him for reassurance. He looked down at me and then nodded.
“I think so.” Cleo stepped forward, producing a small key from behind her back. She winked at me as she went to the door right next to ours and unlocked it. She stepped back and looked at us.
“Go in when you’re ready.”
