Georgia decided to smile on our Family BBQ tonight. It’s one of those days where it’s not too hot and no chance of rain. Well, there’s always a chance of rain, but at least for the next hour we can dream.

Charlie and I are slowly making our way down my grandparents’ hallway when my dad appears at the bottom of the stairs and bellows a fake-angry, “Finally decide to show your face, Ethan?”

Chuckling I head down the steps and give him a bear hug. “Hey Dad.” We pull away as I tell him. “I was just showing Charlie the pics of you guys growing up.”

“Ah, she doesn’t want to see those. C’mere you!” he grins at her as she hurries over. Dad spins her around, setting her in front of Max and Caden on their way to the backyard.

Moving aside they joke, “Watch out, Ethan! Charlie’s going to trade up and get Uncle Jake instead!”

“Keep walking!” I shout at them.

“Jake Cocker,” Mom says, appearing at his side. “Should I be worried?”

Dad looks around before he grabs her ass.

Charlie is still getting used to us, but she’s got a huge smile on her face.

Mom whispers, “Did you see that? He had to look around to make sure that Michael wasn’t here to witness, and have another heart attack.”

“Mom!” I laugh.

Dad slides an arm around her. “When I met you, you didn’t have this sick sense of humor.”

She kisses his nose, murmuring, “I learned it from you, don’t be so proud.”

“Oh, I’m very proud.”

She laughs like they’re alone, like we’re not standing here watching them. My parents are still happy after all these years. I’ve seen them fight plenty of times, but they seem to enjoy battling it out… and making up.

Mom points between me and Charlie, a sort of lazy index finger floating through the air, Southern style. “You know what I thought of the other day, Charlie? You have a boy’s name like mine.”

Charlie glances to me. “Ethan thought I was a man, at first. Surprised him to find out I wasn’t.”

“Really?” Mom smiles knowingly, kissing Dad’s cheek. “Isn’t that interesting, Jake? Leaf doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

I have no idea what they’re talking about so I ask, “Wait, is there some story you guys never told us when we were kids?”

They give me this fake-innocence look, shaking their heads, both mumbling, “No, I don’t think so.”

To be even more mysterious, Mom excuses herself by saying, “Nancy needs help in the kitchen.”

Charlie gives my hand a firm squeeze.

“Mom, wait. We have something to tell you guys. But I need to find Emma and Eric first so…meet us by the fountain in about five minutes?”

They nod, eyes darting between me and Charlie as we excuse ourselves. I call over my shoulder to my mother, “See how I left there? Before you?”

“You’re hilarious, Ethan,” she dryly says.

“I win!”

“Oh stop.”

As we search for my brother and sister we almost get sucked into the party. The kitchen is swarming with cousins who want to talk. My aunt and uncles and grandparents are mostly outside save for Uncle Jeremy who’s lifting one of two enormous chili pots to carry it to the long buffet-style tables waiting on the grass. “Hey Ethan! Charlie! Good to see you!”

Below the growing smattering of stars in a clear night sky, rows of twinkle lights hang over the folding tables that are shaped in an L since there are so many of us. It gives us a chance to see more people if we need to call out to a family member and ask a question.

No need for heat lamps today, so they’re stored under the house where we keep all the party supplies.

“I normally get here early to set up but since this is the first time I’m bringing a date, I’ve been let off the hook.”

Charlie pulls my hand to stop me from walking.

“I’m the first person you brought here?”

I pull her to me. “You’re the first woman I ever said I love you to.”

“Really?” she whispers.

“No, I’m fucking with you.” Her eyes go wide and I laugh, “NO! I mean, yes, you are the first. I’m sorry, it was just too easy.”

“That’s not funny, Ethan!”

“It so is.” I kiss her, but that can’t last long here.

People start shouting and clapping and we have to break it up when Uncle Jason yells, “Stick it in!”

Over the uproar of laughter Grams shouts, “Language!”

Jason balks, “That wasn’t a swearword, Grams!”

“It’s the same thing,” she cries out, waving her old hand.

People go back to what they were doing, some pouring the fresh ginger ale that’s so popular it’s in at least eight pitchers spread throughout. When I was a boy, Uncle Jason hoarded it so Grandma Nance finally gave in and began making more as a preventative.

Under the mosquito-tents that protect the food from bugs, others are sneaking deviled eggs, bacon-wrapped prawns, cucumber feta toast, any nibble they can snatch without anyone spotting them. I know for a fact they want that corn on the cob but chowing down on one would be way too obvious.

And everyone’s engaged in easygoing conversation.

Finding Emma with Gabriel I say to him, “Have to talk to my sister a sec. Where’s Eric?”

“What am I, his keeper?” Gabriel smirks to me, adding a friendlier, “Hi Charlie.”

She waves, “Hi. I love your new song.”

“Tell my mom. She thinks it’s too sappy.”

“I will. No, I won’t. But I’ll think it.”

He laughs, “Ethan is rubbing off on you.”

Spotting my brother by the storage door hauling chairs I call out, “Eric! Meet us at the fountain.” He nods and keeps on with his mission.

Emma, Charlie and I head down one of the paths deeper into the backyard. It has a slight declining slope the further you get. An outline of trees was planted ages ago that tower above us now, and they serve as a fence bordering the property.

A Rottweiler comes bounding toward us and I bend over to give him a rub down. “What a good boy! This is my Uncle Jeremy’s dog, Aslan III. He’s only one year old, can you believe it?”

“He’s huge!” Charlie smiles, bending to pet him, too. “Oh my God, so beautiful.”

“Aslan, come!” Aunt Meagan calls, waving to us. “Hi Ethan! Hi Charlie!”

We wave as Aslan takes off.

Emma points to the faded dolphin just up ahead. “When our dad was little this fountain used to work, Charlie.”

“Did you know Ethan had us get him a replica of this for his office at Wyntech?”

Emma’s eyes go wide as she looks at me. “God, you’re so spoiled!”

“I am.”

“And such a sap.”

“Nah, it wasn’t sentimental. I was pissing off an old frenemy from high school. It was the most annoying thing I could make him get for my office. Here they come.”

Emma discovers that both Mom and Dad are approaching. “What’s going on?”

From a distance Eric sees it’s not just he and Emma I’ve asked to come over here, and he realizes something serious is happening. He jogs up and matches the pace of our parents.

I think the reason I saw him as a boy when Grandpa was in the hospital, was because when you’re faced with something huge in your life, like a family member’s mortality, or the birth of a child, things take on a brilliant light.

It’s like that again for me today. Eric used to be so tiny, the baby, and now he’s taller than Dad. Mom’s dark brown hair has grey in it now and her blue eyes have lines. Dad’s greying at the temples and his laugh lines are sharper even than Mom’s. But in this very moment I picture them all walking to me the same as how they were when I was kid.

Worried, Mom asks, “What did you want to talk about, Ethan? Are you moving away?” She hasn’t gotten over the purchase of my jet, and is convinced Georgia will become too small for me.

Charlie and I exchange a look and I bring her fingers to my lips. “I wanted you guys to be the first to know that we’re pregnant.”

Mom and Emma grab each other.

Dad is shaking his head, smiling and relieved. “You scared us there.”

Eric grins, “You virile sonofabitch.”

Mom smacks him. “I take offense to that.”

“Not you Mom!”

“He is my son.”

“You know what I mean.”

“Got you!” Her anger transforms into a smile. “I’ve been waiting years to pull one over on you.”

“Jeezus,” Eric mutters, running his hand through his hair.

Charlie is watching them, “I’m so glad my baby is going to be raised in this family.”

Mom’s hand floats to her chest before she comes over and hugs Charlie. “Oh, you sweet girl. I’m so sorry your parents aren’t here to get this wonderful news. But we are! And Nancy and Michael are! And you haven’t met my parents but you will next weekend when we all go down to Dublin, right? They will love you! And if you need anything, just let me know because I will be there faster than you can shake a lamb’s tail!” Clapping her hands Mom exclaims, “I’m going to be a grandmother!”

My Dad says, “Drew, I think they want to keep it quiet for now.”

“Oh no, sorry! Do you?”

Interlacing my fingers with Charlie’s I explain, “It’s only been a couple months, and we’re not married. We don’t want to rush that and lie later. So…”

“Ethan and I want people to get used to me. I really don’t want anyone looking at me in a weird way. This is too important.”

“We want to ease them into it.”

Emma starts to object but Eric blocks her. “Emm, it’s not your decision.”

“Grrrrr,” she mutters, then brightens up. “Oooooo, we have a secret. I can’t wait to see Gabriel’s face when he finds out! He hates being left out of things. This is going to be so fun.”

Uncle Justin calls out, “Okay everyone! Chili’s ready to eat! Try and line up like civilized people for once! Wyatt, only two pieces of garlic bread! Yeah, you heard me!”

Mom hugs me and whispers in my ear, “I love her, too, Ethan. Congratulations. Now fill up that house for me.” She pats my shoulder and gives me a look like she means it. “I want twenty.”

“Grandchildren??!” Charlie squeaks.

“She’s kidding,” I mutter as we all head back.

Mom gives me a wink, “Am I?”