“You ready for this?” Christine asks as she places the pan of oatmeal fudge caramel bars on the table. Our way of buttering up the kids.

“No!” I scoff. “The boys might be aware their dad is dating, but now they know all that it entails.”

She laughs. “You think I want Bri knowing? How am I going to convince her that she and Grady shouldn’t be having dorm room sleepovers?”

I wince. “We’re screwed.”

“Why are you guys screwed?” Bri asks, walking into the room. I didn’t even hear her come in, but it makes me happy that she’s comfortable enough in my house that she doesn’t knock anymore.

“My baby’s home!” Christine shouts and hugs Bri tightly before she releases her and I give her a small side hug.

“How was your drive?”

“Good. Easy, since Grady drove. I got your text to come here first, though, so my stuff is still all crammed in Grady’s car.”

“He didn’t want to come in?”

“Nah. I think Tess would flip if he didn’t get home as soon as possible.”

“Ready for a break?”

“So ready! I know it’s only a long weekend, but it will be nice to not think much for a few days.”

“Want a bar?” Christine holds up the pan right in her face, and I wince again.

It’s obvious she’s sucking up.

“What happened?” Bri asks, lifting a bar and biting off a chunk. She rolls her eyes and groans. “So good,” she mumbles. “You have to make these for me every time you give me a care package at school, okay?”

“Stop talking about leaving again! You just got home!” Christine cries.

I chuckle and pull her into my side, kissing her on the head.

Bri watches us and smiles softly. “Relax, Mom. At least you have Andy and the boys here for you.”

“I’m outnumbered by boys! Don’t you feel the least bit sorry for me?”

I roll my eyes and turn to the fridge, grabbing a few bottles of Gatorade and a water when I notice the time on the clock. The boys should be getting home from football practice any minute now. Since we live close to the school, they’re able to walk home.

Bri settles in at the table, tucking her legs underneath her.

“Head’s up,” I shout before I toss her a water, which she catches quickly with a smile.

“When do the boys get home?”

“Soon.”

And before she can respond, Reece and Aidan come storming in the house. Stinky and hungry.

They don’t even notice Bri sitting at the table. They have one thing on their minds. Raiding the fridge and pantry.

“Boys.”

“Yeah, Dad?” Reece asks, head shoved into the fridge. He turns around with some lunchmeat and cheese in his hands before he notices Bri.

“Bri!” he shouts, setting down the food, causing Aidan to stumble out of the pantry.

They both run over and give her sweaty hugs. “Holy crap!” she says, pinching her nose.

“Yup,” I say, nodding my head.

They both sheepishly apologize but grin while doing it.

“How was practice, boys?” Christine asks, setting a bar on a plate for each of them.

“Good. Kicked our butts tonight. So many up downs.”

“Coach Mac is tough.”

“Freshmen football a little different?” Bri teases.

They both just smile around a mouth full of food before it hits them. “Wait. Why are you here?” Aidan asks.

“Fall break.”

“You suck! I wish we got fall break!”

“So, why was it so important to come here rather than the house?” Bri asks.

“Andy and I have some news, but we wanted you three to be here together.”

“Okay?”

I clear my throat before launching in and gesture so the five of us are sitting in the living room. Once settled, Christine in the chair and me sitting on the armrest beside her, I take a deep breath. “You kids know that we’re close.” I pause and look around to see the kids’ faces masked in confusion. “What I mean is, when a man loves a woman…” The kids groan. “I guess what I’m trying to say…”

“Dad. Just spit it out.”

“Right. Well it seems that we’re going to be a family of six.”

“I’m sorry, what?” Bri asks.

“I, um. Yeah. So, I thought this would be easier to explain, but it turns out not so much. Christine hasn’t been feeling the best lately, and after taking about a dozen tests and going to the doctor, we discovered that she’s pregnant. In about seven months, we’ll be welcoming a little boy or girl into our family.”

“You guys are going to have a baby?” Reece asks, eyes wide.

“Indeed, we are.”

“Mom?”

Christine nods her head.

“Wow. I’m sorry, but… how?”

“Can you have a girl?” Aidan requests.

“Yes,” I say as Christine, so knowledgeable, points out, “I can’t really control that, kiddo, and it’s already been decided.”

“Well, I want a baby sister.”

“Me, too.”

“Bri? You okay there?”

“I’m just in shock. I mean — are you happy? I know that sounds mean, but are you okay? Will the baby be okay? You’re not…”

“Young. I know. And we’ll go to plenty of checkups, and so far, everything is good.”

Bri blows out a breath. “Wow. I so didn’t see that coming. I thought maybe you were moving in together and getting married.”

I know Christine wants that, and so do I. I just haven’t found the right ring or the right way to ask her yet.

“I’m happy, Bri,” Christine says, reaching out to hold her daughter’s hand.

“I’m happy for you guys.”

“Boys?”

“Yeah?”

“How you feeling about all this?”

Aidan, ever the smart ass. “It seems like maybe you two didn’t pay enough attention in health class. You know what leads to babies…”

“Aidan,” I growl, but he just smiles that cheeky smile.

“We’re cool. This is actually exciting. We’ve never had a little brother or sister.”

“So, you guys are all on board with this?”

“Well, obviously it wouldn’t change anything if we weren’t, but yeah. This is kind of amazing. I’m finally gonna be a big sister!”

“Hey!” the boys shout in unison. I notice how Christine gets tears in her eyes immediately. In technical terms, we aren’t a family of five or known each other too long. But the kids have embraced our relationship as if they were siblings.

She rolls her eyes and looks at them. “You know what I mean.”

“Still…” Aidan grumbles.

My heart feels like in the Grinch movie when it just keeps expanding and growing. I didn’t know that I could be so full of love until now.

“And then there were six,” Christine says wistfully, placing her hand on her stomach. I cover hers with mine and lean down to kiss her on the lips.

“Gross! That’s what got you two into this in the first place!” Reece laughs.