After Connor learned about Rose’s pregnancy on the road trip, my sister announced the news to the family and subsequently the world.
Television networks have been proposing a new reality show that focuses on the days leading up to the birth. They’ve turned them down, but the excitement from fans, family and friends is palpable.
I just have a strong feeling my news will have the exact opposite effect.
“I’m barely warming to the idea that I’m breeding,” Rose says, pinching the stem of a wine glass, water only, “so can you please not talk about baby toys? The last thing I need to think about is a toddler smacking me with a rattle.”
“The best part,” Lo says, “those toys have my last name scribbled on the side.” He gives her a signature half-smile. Rose’s baby playing with a Hale-monogramed toy—that’s a picture she would not accept in any universe.
Rose’s eyes narrow icily. “I’d like to see the reviews on those plastic rattles. I bet twenty kids have choked on them already.”
“That insult died in your womb.”
Rose rolls her eyes. “Your insensitivity isn’t anything new, Loren.”
“I’m sorry,” he says flatly, “I didn’t realize that witches had feelings beyond satanic anger.”
Okay, this is heading in dangerous territory. I pinch Lo’s arm, and he takes the hint, grabbing his water to stop himself from going on.
“What happens if you have a boy?” Daisy asks from the other end of the table, with Ryke, Sam, Poppy and my dad. Ryke has his arm around the back of her chair, which may or may not be a good move. I can’t tell where my father is concerned. He cuts his prime rib with a steak knife, looking to Ryke every so often in stiff warning.
Rose silently fumes at the question, her knife ripping into her salmon. She demolishes the tender piece of fish, and Connor rests his palm on Rose’s hand. She slows down her jerky knife movements.
Rose says, “Then I’ll try to get pregnant right afterwards, just so I can have a girl.”
Connor grins, a blinding one. “I don’t pray to anyone but myself, but I may make an exception, just so we can have a boy first.” He wants lots and lots of kids, so Rose’s proclamation is like his heaven right now.
“Your prayers won’t work against fate,” Rose retorts.
“There’s a fifty percent chance I’ll win over you.”
“It’s not fate. It’s science, darling.”
“We’ll see then,” she says.
Connor’s grin stretches across his face, and he says a word or two aloud in French and then stops himself. He rarely looks irritated, but on account of a certain someone lying about their foreign language knowledge, it has induced a Connor Cobalt scowl.
“What other languages don’t you know?” Connor asks Ryke from across the table. All this time, Ryke has understood what Rose and Connor whisper about in French. So unfair. He’s fluent in French and Spanish, for sure, from studying as a kid, per his mother’s strict request.
“Why?” Ryke asks. “Is it that important that you talk in code with your wife?”
I raise my hand sheepishly. “I just want to add,” I say to Connor and my sister, “that I don’t understand some of the things you say in English. That is all.” Everyone stares at me for a hot second, and I kinda slump in my seat, regretting that interjection. There are just way too many people at this table.
Connor tells him, “Rose only knows French, so that’s really not the point.” He goes off and adds a couple words in what sounds like Italian.
Ryke absentmindedly replies back in the same language, just as fluent.
Connor looks amused, like he’s playing with a new toy that’s built to test his wits. He switches to German, which sounds pretty on his tongue, but Ryke has enough of this game that Connor wants to start. He shuts it down with a middle finger.
My father looks ticked off, wiping his mouth with his napkin. I’m sure he wanted someone less vulgar for Daisy.
But my little sister hardly cares about my dad’s feelings.
She pushes her food around on her plate, more sullen since the jail incident.
She just hasn’t forgiven our parents yet.
Lo asks the nearest server to bring out coffee, and I realize it’s for me. I’ve been yawning more than usual, and on the plane ride from California to Pennsylvania, I basically passed out from exhaustion. He’s catching on. Yesterday he said that he’d take me to the doctor, but I mumbled a no thanks and distracted him with sex. Not one of my most noble moments.