Triplets Make Five

“In this office? No,” he said.

“What do you mean, ‘in this office’?” I asked.

“It’s my parents.”

I felt myself release the breath I was hold as I relaxed back into the couch.

“Preston, you’re going to give me a heart attack. Why didn’t you just say that?” I asked.

“I didn’t want to give off any inclinations in case someone was walking up or down the hallway. I’m sorry,” he said.

“It’s okay. Just…yikes. Okay. What’s going on with your parents?”

“They want to throw us a baby shower.”

“A baby shower,” I said.

“Yeah. My parents aren’t the happiest about how this is all going down, but they’ll get over it. They’re getting grandchildren, and they’re ecstatic. They want to meet you and throw us a baby shower.”

“You told your parents,” I said.

“Did you think I wouldn’t?” he asked.

“I just…I don’t know.”

“Have you not told yours?”

“Um…well, I-”

“Your parents don’t know you’re pregnant?” he asked.

“Look, that’s cool if you have a great relationship with your parents, but not everyone does,” I said.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

“It’s fine. I-...well, my father. He-”

How did I start this conversation? A baby shower? This wasn’t something I had even considered. I had been so busy running numbers and doing calculations and working and trying to pay things off and set aside money that the idea of Preston telling his parents about us never even crossed my mind.

“If you don’t want to, then all you have to do is say the word. But they would still like to meet you,” he said.

“No, no. It’s fine. I mean, I’m not used to…being the center of attention,” I said.

“I know. It’s why I wanted to ask you before I answered.”

“But I guess one time couldn’t hurt. Are your parents…?”

“Upset?” he asked. “Meh they’re fine. Good Catholics, but fine.”

“Ah,” I said.

“It’s got nothing to do with you. My parents aren’t traditional by any means, but they’re having their fun little ‘I told you so’ moment.”

“What do you mean?”

“They warned me about my lifestyle. How it would eventually get me into trouble. It’s less of them shitting on us and more of them basking in the fact that they were right,” he said.

“Well…they’re not wrong,” I said.