"Deep breaths, okay?" Kit said as we stood outside her parents' house for the traditional lunch-after-Thanksgiving leftover feast. It wasn't enough that the entire clan had spent all day together the day before, no. Thanksgiving was a two-day holiday for the Monroes. By day two of turkey and mashed potatoes, everyone was generally completely mellowed out, and I figured it was the safest time to finally tell them about my pregnancy. I’d been avoiding everyone for the last two months, because the scent was too distinct if you knew what you were looking for, and my family was very familiar with pregnancies. The scent of food and so many people should cover things up long enough for me to share my news on my own terms.

"We're just a little late, so the mimosas should have already made their rounds. I'll slip in and pour you a flute of orange juice so no one latches on right away. Once the uncles go back for seconds, that's when you'll tell them. Don't chicken out and wait too long, though, or we'll interrupt their TV time, and it'll cause an even bigger uproar." 

"Stop! I know, I got it. We've been planning this for weeks." I knew Kit was just repeating the plan to calm herself, but it was making me edgy. I felt like an ass when her face fell, though, and I pulled her in for a hug.

"I'm sorry. I'm just nervous."

"Me too," she admitted. Her fresh thyme beta scent was soothing. Kit had been there every day of the last two months. She'd been with me two weeks ago when her cousin—from her mom's side of the family—who was a midwife saw me for my first pregnancy visit. I'd been surprised that she had an ultrasound, and even more so when she printed out pictures for me. They were tucked into my pocket even now. I couldn't stop looking at them. It made everything seem more real.

Not that the last two months of near constant nausea hadn't felt real enough. I'd had to quit work and avoid more concerned inquiries from the family than I could count. But the nausea had waned in the last few weeks, and I'd gotten through Thanksgiving without any incidents. 

"Okay," I said, letting her go. "On the count of three. One... two..." 

She turned the handle and pushed the door open to chaos. One more deep breath, and we dove in. 

Our plan to arrive in the middle of things was strategic. Any earlier, and I wouldn't have been able to avoid the numerous Bloody Mary and mimosa fueled toasts. We split, me to scope out the best position, so that I could make sure everyone heard me, and Kit to grab drinks for us before anyone else could offer.

Kit had been against announcing it to everyone at once. Her argument was that it would cause less of an uproar if I just told one or two people at a time. She was completely right, but I couldn't handle the thought of going through this stress over and over again, even if it was on a smaller scale. I wanted it one and done.

I slid into the melee, keeping an eye on her in the kitchen through the breakfast bar, 

"Did you hear Cara and Tom are finally pregnant?" one aunt was gossiping to another.

"Molly! Cara said they didn't want to tell everyone yet!" another aunt admonished.

Aunt Molly sniffed. "This isn't everyone. Jaqui and her crew couldn't make it because Sarah got sick, and Lionel's still in the hospital."

The admonishing aunt—I couldn't see her, just hear her—seemed to find this a fair enough answer, but wasn't willing to admit defeat. "Well, it's just not done to mention their difficulties."

The general hubbub faded a little, attention turning to the aunts. 

"Difficulties? Did I mention their difficulties? You're the one who's bringing it up."

I turned away with a hidden smile. Maybe my announcement wouldn't be the biggest news of the evening. No sooner had I thought those words than I heard Uncle Toby's boisterous voice carry over even the Aunt's argument. "What are you pouring just a straight glass of orange juice for? Have some champagne! You're not pregnant, are you?" His loud laugh trailed off into awkward silence as she froze, her eyes flying to mine. "You're pregnant?" His incredulous statement cut through the noise and everyone began to turn around to see what was going on.

Kit's eyes begged me to say something. I moved my lips, but no sound was coming out.

"Who was it?" Uncle Toby demanded. "Tell me now, and I'll rip him limb from limb. I thought you were better than that, Kelly. Thought you knew better than to let some fool with a sly smile and a kiss have his way and then leave."

His words stung, mostly because that's exactly what I had done. Kit tore her eyes away from me and pressed her lips together, her eyes flashing in anger. Uh oh. I knew that look. It was the look any Monroe got right before the gloves were about to come off. I pushed forward, struggling to reach Kit through the crowd, my voice still inconveniently missing. 

"First off, Dad, I'm not pregnant. And even if I was, what of it? It's my body. My choice. It's my say what to do with it."

Red crept up Uncle Toby's neck. "Not while under my roof!" 

I finally reached Kit and grabbed her hand, pulling her behind me, hopefully out of his wrath, and I finally found my voice. "It's me that's pregnant, not her." There was a murmur of surprise from the rest of the family, but Kelly shoved me out of the way and got up in her father's face. 

"If that's the way it is, then I certainly don't need to live under your roof anymore."

Uncle Toby's mouth gaped for a moment, and then he really let loose. "No daughter of mine is going to live like some hussy. You'll live under my roof until you've found an acceptable mate who can take care of you and keep your wild ways in hand!"

I didn't need to see Kit's flashing eyes or the set of her mouth to know that was the exact wrong thing to say to her. She tossed her hair over her shoulder, uncrossed her arms, leaned forward and said, "Watch me."

She grabbed my arm and dragged me out the door after her.

"Well," she said when we were a couple blocks down the street. "I think that went rather well, all things considered."

"Kit. You just basically disowned yourself all over the imaginary problem of you being pregnant. Which you aren't."

She relaxed her grip on my arm and linked hers with mine. "Oh, it's been a while coming. We've been arguing about me finding a mate for six months. I've been stashing stuff at Carol's for whenever it happened. He's determined to see me mated off, and I'm just as determined to do nothing of the sort."

"Were you planning on picking a fight with him to distract everyone?" The wind changed directions, blowing directly at us and cutting through my shirt. I shivered and zipped up my coat.

"No, but if I'd thought of it, I might have. The timing is a little problematic, since I don't exactly have a place to stay lined up. But I'll manage."

It took me no time at all to figure out the perfect solution. "You'll stay with me, of course."

Kit shook her head. "Your couch is nice and all, Nick, but I really do need my own space. And on the cheap. I kinda doubt I have a job after that blow up."

"We'll find a new place together. My lease is up at the end of January, we both need new jobs, and I doubt either of us wants to be that close to the bar after this whole fiasco. What do you say?" I tugged on her arm excitedly.

Kit smiled. "You're just doing this so I'm around to feed you more often and to help change diapers, aren't you?"

I laughed. "Not going to lie, those sound like amazing side benefits."

"I'll think on it," Kit promised. "The answer is probably yes, but I don't want to rush into anything yet. Again."

I threw an arm around her. "It's going to be great, I promise. And we'll go pick your stuff up from Carol's this afternoon."