They shake their heads.
“I’d do it, but I’m too old for it now,” she says sadly.
“Thanks, Mom,” Otter says. “That wasn’t weird at all.”
She beams at him. “My pleasure, dear.”
“I’m drunk,” Bear says to no one in particular. “How did all this wine get in my mouth?”
“Corey did it,” I say.
“I’m not sorry at all,” Corey says. “I’m probably going to do it again in the future. That was even better than I could possibly have hoped for.”
“You guys have to wait until we have our baby,” Creed says. “I want all the free stuff and money and attention when we have a kid. You doing it at the same time would be like having to share your birthday party with Jesus because it’s on Christmas. That’s no fun.” Anna slaps him on the arm. “I mean, because I want you to experience the joy all on your own.”
“When?” Stephanie asks him.
Otter shrugs. “We haven’t gotten that far yet. Bear’s got the teaching contract here with the Seafare School District for the next school year. Tyson is leaving in a few months. I’ll probably go with him to get him settled and then come back after a few weeks. I’m thinking of going back to school, but I don’t know yet. I’ve got a few more shoots lined up that I can spread out over the next few months.”
“You guys better hurry,” JJ says. “You’re getting pretty old.”
“JJ,” Creed scolds. “That’s not a nice thing to say to the elderly.”
“Otter just turned forty!” Bear says.
JJ shrugs. “I was talking about you.”
Bear glares at his godson. “I don’t want kids anymore.”
“Kids?” Otter says, going a bit pale. “As in plural?”
“Well, yeah,” Bear says with a drunken grin. “Isn’t having kids like Pringles and tattoos? Can’t have just one?”
“Yes, Bear,” Anna says. “Having children is just like having potato chips and tattoos.”
“I’m pretty sure it’s going to open the floodgates,” he says to Otter. “Aren’t you going to be sorry when we have, like, thirty. We could adopt half from other countries and have our own mock United Nations.”
“I don’t think that’s as good of an idea as you think it is, you wino,” Otter says.
“Why don’t you just start with one?” Anna suggests.
“What’s your position on breastfeeding?” Bear asks her. “Because I read this article that says—”
“You need to stop reading articles,” I say. “Now.”
He rolls his eyes. “I just wanted her opinion on nipple sensitivity.”
“Uh, Bear?” Anna asks. “You know you can’t breastfeed, right?”
“I would have made a good mother,” Bear says sadly.
“You would have,” Otter says, kissing his cheek.
“Who’s hungry?” Alice asks. “All this baby talk has left me famished.” She begins to cut the irradiated lasagna.
“I have a question,” JJ says.
“And what’s that?” Anna asks, putting the cloth napkin in his lap.