She chuckles. “I can’t believe I’m over halfway through this pregnancy. It’s flying by. What if we aren’t ready by the time they arrive?”
“Don’t stress about that. We will be,” I try to reassure her. My goal is to have the house move-in ready by the end of August, which gives me another month. The upstairs is finished, and I plan on surprising her this weekend with the bassinets I built.
“Okay, you’re right. It just feels like I’m starting all over again as a brand-new mom.”
“It’s my first time, so I expect you to guide me through this whole parenting thing,” I tease.
Katie snorts, sliding on her shoes. “I’ll give you the CliffsNotes as soon as I figure it out myself.”
“Mom!” Owen yells from the living room. “Memaw is here.”
“Crap, where’s my purse?”
“You left it on the counter. I’ll grab it,” I tell her, rushing to the kitchen.
“Hey, Noah.”
“Hi, Mrs. Walker.”
She flashes a warm smile. “I think you can call me Dianna since we’re family now.”
“Alright, sure.” I grin.
“Can I call you that? I’m your family,” Owen asks.
“Absolutely not,” Katie interjects. “She’ll always be your memaw.”
“You’ll always be my little jelly bean.” Dianna boops his nose.
“I’m too old to be called that.” He groans.
“Okay, I’m ready to go. I’ll drive,” Katie says, grabbing her keys.
“Everyone excited to find out what the twins are?” Dianna asks cheerfully. “We should all take our guesses.”
She sits in the back seat next to Owen, who looks less than thrilled about going to the appointment, but Katie wanted him to experience it.
“I think it’s boys. You’ll get two brothers,” I say, looking at him over my shoulder. “Wouldn’t that be cool?”
He shrugs, staring out the window. “I guess.”
“I have a feeling it’s girls,” Dianna says.
“I think it’s one of each,” Katie chimes in. “But I’ll be happy either way.”
“Me too.” I smile.
“Have you thought of any names yet?” Dianna asks.
“A few but nothing that has stuck,” Katie admits.
“Maybe Owen has some name ideas he likes?” I say, hoping to engage him.
He ignores me and continues gazing outside.
Katie squeezes my hand and gives me a sympathetic smile. I know Owen will eventually come around, but it kills me that he’s feeling left out and isn’t the same bubbly kid as before.
He opened up a little when we worked on the house a few weekends ago and mentioned his dad when I asked him what was wrong. Instinctively, I froze but just listened so I could support him. He mentioned how many of his friends have their dads at baseball games and to practice with and how he wishes he had that. It makes him feel left out. Then he said he was jealous the twins would have a father. I almost told him I’d always be here for him in the same way, but I chickened out and didn’t want to overstep my boundaries.
The sad way he looked broke my heart, and I didn’t have the courage to tell Katie about our little chat. I told him he can always talk to me about anything and that I’ll keep it between us unless he says otherwise.
The situation with Anthony being at his mimi’s has been confusing for him too, and I wonder if it’s time we tell him that Anthony is his half brother. Surely, he’ll have more questions, but if I were him, I’d want to know.
Brittany was charged with attempted murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy to commit murder, so Loretta and Elliot have full guardianship rights. All Owen knows is Anthony’s mom got into a lot of trouble and has been in jail.
We arrive in Mobile, and soon, she’s parking at the clinic. I take her hand as we walk inside and sit in the waiting room.
“Did you know I was going to be a boy?” Owen asks Katie.
“Sure did, and I couldn’t have been more excited about it!” She beams at him.
“What about Daddy? Was he happy too?”
Katie cups his face. “Of course he was. He even picked out your name.”
Owen’s eyes light up. “He did?”
“Yep, and when you were born, I chose his name for your middle name so he would always live with you.”
Owen squeezes his eyes as if he’s trying to hold back tears. I remember when I lost my mother around his age and how devastated I was, knowing I’d never see her again. I have ten years' worth of memories, though, where Owen only has the stories other people share.
I try hard not to get choked up, especially since today’s already an emotional day, but luckily, Katie gets called back before that happens.
After Katie gives Owen a hug, we all follow the ultrasound tech to a dimly lit room. I can tell Katie’s getting anxious by how fast she talks and nods at the instructions.
Ten minutes later, she’s lying on the table with her shirt up. The tech explains all the measurements she needs to get and says she’ll print us some pictures. The two babies on the screen already have my whole heart, but the love I feel at this moment is so damn intense.