“It means I’m about seven weeks, just under two months along. I’ve not been sick, a little nauseous, but nothing otherwise. I was waiting for the right time to tell you. When we got our court date, I decided to wait. I wanted you to be here with your family when you found out.”
“You’re my family.” I place my hand on her belly. “All three of you. We’re having a baby,” I say, pressing my lips to hers. “I love you, Larissa Monroe.”
“I love you too, Easton Monroe.”
I hear the door open behind us, and then my daughter says, “They do this all the time,” causing everyone to laugh.
“Come here, princess,” I say, and she doesn’t hesitate to rush toward me. I step away from Larissa just in time to catch her in my arms. I reach for Larissa’s hand, and we walk back inside. “Can I have your attention,” I say to the room. It’s packed full of family all here for us. “We have one more surprise for P, all of you, really,” I admit.
Mom gasps and covers her mouth with her hands. Dad puts his arm around her, pulling her close. My eyes dance around the room, watching my little sister, my aunts and uncles, my grandparents, and cousins, all of them smiling as if they know our secret. I turn to Larissa. “Did you tell them?” I whisper.
She shakes her head, too choked up with emotion to speak.
“Paisley,” I focus on my daughter, “today is a really special day,” I tell her.
“I know. You and me are Monroes on the same day.”
“That’s right, we are. You know what else?”
“What?” Her eyes are wide with excitement.
“You’re going to be a big sister.” The room is silent, unbelievably so, as we all wait for her reaction. She looks at me then to her mother then back to me. “You better not be joking,” she warns us.
“It’s true,” Larissa says, finding her voice.
“Yes!” She throws her arms in the air and cheers.
The room breaks out in celebration, and we receive hugs and well wishes. Paisley is so excited she talks about all the things she’s going to do with her new baby brother or sister, including teaching them baseball. That has us all smiling. She runs off to play, and Larissa gets swept away by my aunts asking how she’s feeling. That leaves me to sit back and soak up the moment. Life and family are what you make it. You love with all that you have, and live each day like it could be your last. That’s exactly what I intend to do with my wife and children. Live each day with them as if it could be my last. I want to cherish their smiles and the sound of their laughter. My dad sweeps Paisley into his arms and sits her on his lap. Mom joins them, and they give her their full attention as her hands are flying this way and that, telling them a story. It’s hard to figure out what she’s saying; my girl has a vivid imagination.
Mom smiles over at me, and it’s the same look she gave me earlier. The one that says she’s proud of me and the man I’ve become. The one that tells me that to this day, I’m not the only one grateful that Jeff Monroe came into our lives. For so many years it was just us, quite the same way as Larissa and Paisley. Never again will they be alone. They’ll be swarmed with love because that’s what you do when you’re a Monroe. You rally around those you love.
Paisley stands from my dad’s lap and walks toward me. I bend down to greet her. “What’s up, princess?”
“I knew this was going to be the best trip ever.”
“Oh yeah? Why’s that?”
“Because, Daddy,” she says like I should know the answer.
“Because why, P?” I counter, tickling her side.
“Because you’re my daddy and my Easton,” she says, bringing me to my knees.My husband is driving me crazy. Exactly three weeks ago today, we brought our baby girl, Parker Elizabeth, home from the hospital. Easton has been amazing, fussing over all three of us, not letting me lift a finger. The first week or so, that was appreciated more than he could ever know, but today, today his hovering is driving me mad. It’s the offseason, which means the four of us have been holed up in the house. Paisley is loving all her attention from Daddy… Mommy, not so much. I love my husband with all my heart, but he has to let me move, give me room to breathe.As I finish feeding Parker, I stand to take her upstairs to change her diaper. “Sit, babe, I’ve got her.” He holds his arms out, but I don’t release my hold on our newborn baby girl.