Series: Lee Savino
Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 63295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
“I did ask the doctor to give us some pictures of the last ultrasound,” Lana says. “We haven’t seen them yet.” She holds up an envelope. “Teddy, will you do the honors?”
He takes the envelope and lets an accordion of black and white images unfold almost to the floor. It takes a few seconds for us to parse what we’re seeing.
“Baby one,” Lana reads the label on the top image. There’s a set of images and then another label. “Baby two.”
Teddy’s hand starts shaking. Lana grabs the lowest set of pictures. We all stare at the third label.
“Baby three,” Darius reads.
Teddy’s eyes are wide, and his lips are frozen. Darius takes the pictures and lays them out on the table. Lana leans in, her hands on her stomach.
“Does this mean…?”
“It means,” Matthias says, with impeccable bedside manner, “you’re having triplets.”
There’s a stunned pause.
“Yeeeah,” the triplets whoop. Axel starts slow clapping.
Sadie has her hands over her face, laughing helplessly.
“Congratulations, brother.” Matthias claps Teddy on the back. Teddy staggers a little, and Axel steadies him.
“Don’t worry.” Darius steps in to hug his twin. “We’ll all babysit.”
“Yeah!” agree the triplets.
Teddy looks like he’s about to pass out. “I don’t know whether to thank you or to tell you to stay the hell away from my kids.”
“Come here.” Lana waves to him, and he goes to her. He sinks down to his knees in front of her armchair and lets his forehead fall against hers. We all look away to give them a private moment.
“It’s okay, Papa Bear,” Lana murmurs. “We got this.”
“I love you, babygirl.” Teddy’s voice is all choked up.
After an extended minute of kissing, Matthias clears his throat. “Come on, brother. Let’s get a drink. And then maybe all of us uncles can practice putting on diapers.” He and Darius lead a shell-shocked Teddy away.
Lana claps her hands. “Who wants a tour of the nursery?”
“I take it back,” I whisper to Wren as we follow Lana inside. “If twins and triplets run in the family, I might just keep my legs closed.”
“Good luck with that,” Wren cackles.
It’s afternoon before we wrap up the party with the final activity.
“The brothers had a pumpkin pie baking contest,” Lana announces. “The winner gets to make the pies for Thanksgiving. Adele, will you judge?”
“Of course.” She leads the way back outside to a table decorated with pumpkins to showcase eight pumpkin pies.
Matthias jogs up the path toward the tables, a wide smile on his face. “Brothers–and sisters–gather up. Come here, all of you.”
I get to Darius, and he loops an arm around my shoulders and pulls me close. Together, we walk toward Matthias.
The triplets ignore him until he puts his fingers to his lips and whistles, and then they all jerk their heads up to look. He beckons to them.
Axel, Everest, and the triplets all join Darius, Teddy, Lana, and me around Matthias.
“I have some news,” Matthias says, his voice strong but gentle. “I just came from Mom’s cabin.”
“Mom?” Teddy asks.
“Yes,” Matthias says. “That’s what I’m here to tell everyone. Mom’s awake.”