Only Tonight

“Trust me, I don’t think you’re going to be too far behind me.” I don’t say it a lot because my sister will burst into tears, but she’s almost as big as I am. I swear she’s growing a little linebacker in her stomach. As for me, I’m having baby girls. I would not be shocked if their combined weights were less than that nephew of mine that my sister is cooking up in her belly.

“It feels as though he’s never going to come out.”

“He’s just like his father. He always wants to be inside of you.” I make the terrible joke. Kennedy spits her drink out across the kitchen island we’re sitting at surrounded by food delivery from three different places. Our husbands are most likely in Gerrit’s office going over something they read on one of the many pregnancy blogs they follow. Who knows?

I giggle along with her. She grabs her stomach. “You can’t make me laugh like that. My bladder can’t take it.” She manages to get the words out through her laugh as she tries to slide down off the high-top chair. She manages to get to her feet even though she’s still laughing. As soon as she settles, a water-like substance hits the floor underneath her. She looks down. She’s in a dress because these days dresses are just easier. Her laughter comes to an abrupt stop.

“I don’t think that’s pee.”

I shake my head no. She grabs another piece of orange chicken, knowing they won’t let her have any more food when we get to the hospital.

Our husbands come strolling in seconds later. I swear they have some kind of sixth sense when it comes to us. “I thought you ladies would put a bigger dent in the food,” Luke says.

“We would have if she hadn't ruined it.” I myself grab a pastry because it’s going to be a long night, I’m guessing.

“What the hell is on the floor?” Gerrit asks.

“It was her fault.” My sister points an accusing finger at me.

“I can’t help it that I’m so funny,” I defend myself.

“Since when?” Luke teases me, and I slap him on the chest.

“I’ll show you funny.”

Kennedy puts her hand down on the counter as she lets out a small scream of pain. I brace myself on the counter with her. Is there such a thing as phantom sister labor pains? I’ve heard that husbands can get them, but I didn't think sisters could.

I gasp as a contraction works its way through me. I feel water gush from between my thighs too. Yeah, it’s definitely going to be a long night.

“It’s too early,” Kennedy says.

“You’re fine,” I rush to remind her. Her baby is giant. He was ready to come out. He probably didn’t appreciate my joke.

I wasn't wrong. That night I brought two baby girls into this world. Kennedy also ended up having a C-section. Her son came in a little over nine pounds. Both my girls weighed a little over five pounds.

I watch Luke hold our baby girls one in each arm. Kennedy and I may have had shit parents, but they led us to these two wonderful husbands. That was the silver lining when it came to them.

We are Kanes now. Our family will be nothing like the one we grew up in. Ours will be filled with love and happiness. What more could someone ask for? I knew we'd be getting our happily ever after. It didn't matter what bumps we faced along the way. This family will always persevere. Together forever. How a family should truly be.EpilogueMany years later“What the hell do you want me to do about it?” I ask my beautiful wife. She stands in front of me with her chin up letting me know she’s serious. I’m not sure I’m buying it, though. After we had our girls, our son came along rather quickly. Then my wife closed up shop. We had a full house when they were all little, and now they are teenagers. It’s still hard to wrap my mind around sometimes.

Our son Logan is only a year younger than my nephew DJ. Those two can be a handful sometimes when they are together. The only baby left in our family is Kennedy and Gerrit’s baby girl. They waited a few years before they had our niece. She is a little cutie pie that looks every bit like her mother. Thank God she doesn't look anything like my brother Gerrit. I inwardly laugh at my own joke.

“Why are you smirking about this? It’s not funny. At all.” I wasn't amused at what Kinley told me. I was laughing at the silent jab I’d given my brother. I’ll be sure to tell him to his face later. I never miss an opportunity to ruffle his feathers. It’s Friday night, and we all have dinner on Friday nights together. Hell, we have a lot of dinners together, considering we live next door to each other.