One Bride for Five Brothers

“Not today, apparently,” Tom quips, kissing her lips and chucking her gently on the chin.

“I'll try again later,” Tim replies as he sweeps in for a kiss of his own. She rubs his cheeks, smooshing his face playfully.

“Don't do anything to damage this perfect face, okay? I like it how it is.”

“I told you she likes me better!” Tim crows. He walks over to the sofa and jumps over it, landing on the cushions with a smug grin.

“So what are we doing?” Hank asks, walking toward Charlie. Charlie closes his laptop slowly, trying not to look like he's rushing it.

“Just business,” Charlie mumbles.

“Do you guys want some coffee or something?” I ask.

Vanessa glances at Hank. She presses her lips together and takes a deep breath.

“Actually, I was hoping to talk to all of you,” she announces in a raised voice.

I wince automatically. Here it comes. I know it.

“Guys!” I shout out. Tim and Tom are trying to wrestle each other to the floor. “Pay attention, would you?”

She waits patiently, bouncing up and down her toes. The V-neck of her pink dress scoops low and her boobs are straining against the fabric, billowing over the top. It's a gorgeous look for her.

“So, I have some news…”

My stomach is in knots. What is she going to say? My mind races over the possibilities. We could drive her back to college. We could drive her to her grandma's house. Oh wait, she's got her own car. I guess she could just leave whenever she wants.

“So… looks like I'm pregnant.”

The room goes silent. I think we’re all holding our breath.

She looks at each of us, her brow furrowing.

“Did you hear what I said?”

I clear my throat. “Um, no. Can you repeat that?”

She puts her fists on her hip and raises her eyebrows.

“Pregnant.”

“Are you sure?” Tim coughs. “Is it… for real? For sure?”

Hank nods, grinning broadly. “We went and got a pregnancy test and everything. Two bright blue stripes, guys! We done knocked this girl up!”

I hear the legs of my chair scraping on the floor and realize I'm standing up. Like sleepwalking, I stumble over to her, my hands out front of me. I slide my palms across her belly, trying to feel the energy inside her.

“You can't feel it just yet, silly,” she chuckles sweetly. “It's just a tiny little thing right now. Just like a little bean.”

“Oh, man. Oh, wow.”

“Like, we did this?” Charlie asks incredulously. “We're having a baby?”

My mind starts to spin. As I look up at her, I realize I'm kneeling in front of her. She's lit from behind and glows all around, a halo of light illuminating her features. Her fingers stroke my hair as I hold onto her wide, fertile hips.

I've wanted this so much, I can't even express it. Now I feel like I'm being shot out of a cannon, into the future. There's so much to think about. Where we will live, what will we do, how will we take care of her, not to mention names and bedtime stories and clothes and…

And a whole future, rushing on ahead of us, charging toward the horizon.