I laugh at her dramatics. “Come on, let’s go inside,” I say in a coaxing voice. “We can talk about it more in the house, where it’s warm.”
Grudgingly, Mindy opens the door and gets out, fixing us with a look.
“No more secrets,” she says.
“No more,” Rob and I agree before sharing a smile because little does my friend know, but the biggest secret is still coming.
Once inside, I take off my coat quickly and step into the kitchen. I do a quick check to make sure we didn’t leave anything incriminating around like lube or even the pregnancy indicator. Thankfully, there’s nothing. The house still smells of coffee, and suddenly, I want something warm to drink.
“Mindy, do you want some hot cocoa?” I ask, opening a cabinet.
“God, yes.” She sits at the dining table and unzips her coat.
“Rob?”
“Nah. I’m good with coffee.”
I find some hot cocoa mix in the pantry, and get the milk out of the fridge, keeping myself busy. We’ll need to tell Mindy, but how do we broach the news that she’s going to be a big sister for the first time?
“So how long have you two been dating?” Mindy asks, her eyebrows up. “I know you said a few months, but is that two months or five?”
“It’s been three months,” my man grins. “Give or take a day or so.”
I mix the cocoa into the hot milk and head with the mugs to the table. They steam deliciously as I pass one to my best friend.
“Wow. I bet things are getting pretty serious,” she remarks before taking a sip. “Oooh, this is hot! Watch out.”
I nod, blowing on my cup before I take a sip. Meanwhile, Rob stands behind me and puts a big hand on my shoulder. I look up at him with a smile and our eyes meet. We know that this is the time and place, and I place my hand on top of his.
“Mindy, we’ve got news,” he begins slowly.
“Oh, yeah?” she asks, still focused on her cocoa. “What’s going on? I mean, what could be more newsworthy than the fact that my dad and my best friend have been dating in secret for three months?”
Rob manages a smile.
“Well, we have been dating, yes, but it’s more than that. You see, you’re going to be a big sister soon, sweetheart. Pepper’s pregnant.”
My best friend’s jaw practically drops to the ground and her cocoa sloshes a bit. She looks from me to Rob, and then back to me. “Are you serious? You’re pregnant?”
I nod, and feel myself begin to tear up again. I put my hand on my belly. I’m not showing yet because it’s still early but I already feel incredibly protective and maternal.
“Yes, Mins. I’m having a baby with your dad, and I hope you can be happy for us,” I say. “I can hardly believe it myself, to be honest.”
With that, Mindy screams with joy. She hops out of her chair and all but pushes Rob out of the way so she can hug me. “Pepper, I’m so glad for you! Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!”
I laugh, wiping away a stray tear. “Thanks, Mins. I found out this morning and rushed over here first thing, so actually your dad just found out too.”
Mindy hugs me again and pulls away, sniffling. “You know what? I have news as well,” she says, dabbing at her eyes with the sleeve of her sweater. “I’m pregnant too.”
“What!?” I gasp at the same time that Rob exclaims, “Again?”
She laughs and nods. “I found out last night. Our babies are going to be born around the same time! We’re going to be mommies together!”
This time I’m the one screaming, and I pull Mindy in for another tight hug. We spend the rest of the time planning a joint baby shower while Rob wraps his head around the fact that he’s going to become a father and a grandfather at the same time. It’s mind-boggling but it really is happening. My handsome man is going to be both a daddy and a grandaddy at once, and it’s a tsunami of good news.
But then Mindy stops.
“Did you plan on getting pregnant?” she asks, one eyebrow raised in curiosity as she surveys me and her dad. “Or was this just an accident?”
I smile.
“It’s no accident,” I reply, taking Rob’s hand in my own. “You know how my parents are so pushy about me finding a guy, settling down, and having kids right? Well, let’s just say they pushed me a bit too far, and now I’ve decided to do things my own way.”
My man’s arms slide around my waist protectively as he smiles at his daughter.
“With my help, of course,” he adds.
Mindy merely shakes her head at us, taking in the loving scene.
“Well, well, well,” she says. “There’s clearly a lot I don’t know, but Jake and the babies are waiting for me at home, so I have to go. But don’t think you’re going to keep any more secrets from me!” she calls while heading to the front door. “I know everything!”