Tessa Teevan - Inflame

My eyes are brimming with tears as she smiles at her son, who smiles right back. I can feel the love between them, and I’m wondering when the hell these emotional waterworks are going to cease.

“That’s a beautiful story, Ginger. And I agree. It’s a perfect name for a perfect guy.”

Kale leans over and places a kiss on my cheek before his lips come up to my earlobe. “Told you, babe. Kale does a body good.”

I’m about to answer when Kalli interrupts the moment. “All right, now that the name story’s over with, it’s my turn. Oh, I have a good one. Lucy, has Kale ever told you about the time he let us dress him up as a Cabbage Patch doll?” Her eyes are gleaming with excitement as I tell her no. “Perfect! Oh, wait! I think we even have pictures. I’ll be right back.

We all watch as she leaves the room to search for the evidence of Kale’s dress-up days, and he groans next to me. Ginger gives me a knowing smile as her daughter exits the room.

“Don’t worry about her, Lucy. She’s just excited to see her big brother home and happy. We all are.”

“Oh, I don’t mind her. Now I know Kale’s always had a thing for role-play,” I blurt out, immediately covering my mouth, unable to believe what I just said. He chuckles beside me, and I look around the table as Ginger and Kaylie both try to cover up their laughter. “Can I blame pregnancy brain on that one? I sooo didn’t meant to say that out loud.”

Kalli chooses that moment to return to the room, and I could kiss her. “I found it!” she says, stopping when she sees my red face and the others laughing. “What’d I miss?”

Kale shakes his head and motions for her to sit down. “Nothing, Kall. Picture time can come later. I’m starving, and all this talking is putting me in a bad mood.”

I laugh as Kalli starts to pout, but he stops her.

“Later,” he says firmly before turning to me and pointing at my plate. “Eat. Now.”

Biting my lip to keep from giggling at his forcefulness, I dig into my plate as Kale takes control of the conversation, keeping both of his sisters busy by asking questions about what they’ve been up to. They’re both all too happy to be getting attention from him, and Ginger and I eat in silence as we watch them. When she sees my empty plate, she nods her head towards the kitchen, and I follow her there, leaving Kale deep in conversation with the twins.

“There’s plenty more, so help yourself. Those two can keep him entertained for hours if they get the chance. Feel free to relax or steal him away whenever you want.”

“Oh, I’m fine. I know he doesn’t get to come home all that often. I’m okay with hanging out in the background while he spends time with his sisters. In fact, it’s fun just to sit back and watch. You did a great job raising them. I hope I’m not out of bounds by saying this, but from what I can tell, I hope I’m half the mom you are.”

Ginger’s eyes well up and she pulls me in for a hug. “That’s a sweet thing to say, Lucy. And I have no doubts that you will be. If you love this baby as much as you love my son, there’s no way you won’t be a great mother.”

She lets go of me and moves around the kitchen, refilling her plate. I’m frozen at her words, and I have no idea where she got that idea. “We’re not. I mean, I’m not…” I start to stutter, not sure how in the hell I’m supposed to tell my unborn child’s grandmother that I’m not in love with her son. I can’t get the words out, and she gives me a small smile.

“It’s okay, Lucy. You don’t have to say anything. Neither does Kale. I know what I see when you two look at each other. I see how tender he is with you, how you pull strength from him. You might not know how you feel yet, but the rest of us can see it. You’ll get there. And don’t let an old woman rush you. It’ll happen sooner or later, but let it happen naturally. Anything forced is just a disaster in the making.”

Swallowing hard, I can only nod. Do we really give out the vibes that we’re in love? I can’t deny what she said. Instead of dwelling on it, I push it aside and move to get some more turkey as I change the subject.

“Where did you get this turkey, Ginger? It’s so freaking good. I’m usually not even a big turkey fan, but I can’t get enough of this stuff.”

Ginger’s about to answer when I feel strong arms wrap about my waist. Kale’s chin falls to my shoulder as he studies my plate. “Umm, babe, which plate are you eating your turkey from?” he asks, and I wrinkle my nose as I point to the only plate with turkey on it.

He begins to chuckle and Ginger’s trying to hide a smile.

“I may convert her yet, Kale,” she tells him, laughing as she leaves the room.

I turn in his arms, and he’s grinning down at me. “What’s so funny?” I ask, having obviously missed out on a joke.

“I’m pretty sure you just made my mom’s day. That turkey you were just raving about? Yeah, totally vegan. You remember me mentioning the Tofurky, right?” he teases, and I turn around to snatch another piece from the plate, eyeing it suspiciously.

“Seriously? I did think the texture seemed a little off, but I just figured it was how it was cooked. Wow. I had no idea just how good that stuff could be.” And I mean it. I make a note to look it up at the grocery store when I get home because it’s really that good.

“Yeah, the real turkey’s over there,” he tells me, pointing at a plate next to the stove I obviously bypassed earlier.

Ignoring him, I pile the Tofurky on my plate and cover it with his mom’s to-die-for gravy. “Hey, I like it, and I’m sticking with it,” I call to him as I leave him in the kitchen and join the rest of the women in the dining room.

As soon as I sit down, Kalli comes at me full force with questions. “So, Lucy, what do you think you’re having? Do you want to find out the gender? I hope you have a girl. That’d be hilarious. All Kale’s dealt with all his life are females and I’d laugh my ass if he has a daughter.”

Meeting her eyes, I give a slight shake of my head. “I know it’s cliché to say, but I don’t care what the gender is as long as the baby’s healthy. But I think Kale would be perfectly fine having a little girl. Think of all the experience he has growing up with all women. I think he’d be able to handle it just fine.”

Kale walks in just then and gives me a quizzical look. “Handle what, baby?” he asks as he takes his seat next to me.

“Oh, Kalli’s wishing a little girl on us so you continue to be outnumbered, but I told her I think you can handle it.”

“Kall, have you forgotten about Lily? I’m practically her second father. I don’t care if I’m outnumbered or not. I just want Lucy and the baby to be healthy,” he tells her, echoing my own sentiments.

Ginger interjects before Kalli can argue with him. “And I’m sure you’ll make sure that they’re well taken care of, just like you did for the three of us all those years.”

Kale’s face softens and he nods, indicating that he’ll do just that.

I take a moment to look around the table, overwhelmed with how right this seems. Rubbing my belly, I silently let my baby know that he’s going to be so loved. Kale must notice my movements, because a moment later, his hand’s covering mine. When my eyes meet his, I see the love in them, and once again, I know Sprout’s going to be the luckiest kid in the world.

Lucy

IT’S BEEN five days since we got back from Alabama, and as I get out of the shower, I smile as I recall the time spent there. The rest of the weekend with Kale’s family was comfortable as I got to know them better, and Kalli didn’t let me leave without agreeing to let them throw a small baby shower in the spring before the baby’s born. She was so excited, practically bouncing off the walls at the idea of being aunt, and I didn’t have the heart to tell her no, especially since Mom lives only any hour away and would be able to make it.

Kaylie was slightly standoffish all weekend, and I just figured she was the more reserved of the twins. I could tell she’s the protective one of the bunch, whereas Ginger and Kalli both wear their hearts on their sleeves and love easily. She wasn’t rude or impolite, but I caught her watching me, listening to the conversations rather than participating in them, almost like she was trying to get a good read on me. Normally I’d feel uneasy, but I know how I’d feel if Marisa—in ten years, of course—showed up at home with a stranger and announced that she was pregnant. I decided not to let it bother me and chose just to be grateful that Kale has someone who loves him that much to watch his back. I just hope I left her with a good impression. She did chime in and ask to help with the shower, so that’s hopefully a step in the right direction.

Warm hands slide around my waist and underneath my t-shirt, breaking me out of my thoughts. Kale’s hot breath is tickling my ear, and I can’t help the shiver that runs down my spine.

“You look gorgeous, babe,” he whispers as I watch him in the mirror behind me.

“You’re crazy. I just got out of the shower and haven’t done anything except get dressed.”

“Exactly. I like you just like this. Freshly showered, barefoot, in my bathroom.”

I turn in his arms so that I’m parallel to the mirror. Pulling my t-shirt up, I rub my belly, trying to tell if there’s a small bump there or if I just ate too much at lunch. At twelve weeks, I feel like I should be seeing the changes, but Ginger assured me that every woman has a different experience and it’s normal that I’m not quite showing yet.

“Yeah, you say that now, but just wait until I look like I have a beach ball under my shirt.”

“I’ll still think the same thing, babe. No matter how big Sprout grows, you’ll always be the most beautiful girl in the world to me.”

I blush at his words, and even though we’ve officially adopted Sprout as the baby’s nickname, my heart still flip-flops every time I hear him use it. Like each time the word is spoken, it becomes a little more real. While I may tease Kale about my impending growing belly, I can’t wait to have the physical evidence of the child growing inside me. My pants have been getting harder to button, but I guess I’m just anxious for a real bump to rest my hands on.

Glancing at the clock on the wall, I realize we’re running behind. “Okay, sweet talker, get out of here. If you wanna hear this baby’s heartbeat, I’ve got five minutes to get ready and out the door or else we’re going to be late.”

A huge grin spreads over Kale’s face and he’s out the door without another word, causing me to laugh behind him. His excitement is contagious, and I quickly throw on a little mascara and lip gloss before slipping into comfortable yoga pants and a sweatshirt before I walk down the hall, where I find Kale waiting by the door, anxious as ever. Ginger asked about an ultrasound, and I swear he paled before she could even finish the question. When I stepped in and told her that the appointment was this week, he looked at me with wide eyes, pulling me into a hug. Over my head, he promised his mom a copy of it as soon as possible. This, combined with the way Kaylie reacted when she found out about the baby, has me wondering if he’s hiding something, but he’s always been an open book. I shrug it off, assuming it’s just nerves.

When we get in the car, he tosses me a bottle of water, and I look at him quizzically.

“What’s this for?” I ask.

“Mom may have called earlier to tell me to have you drink a bottle of water before you go to the appointment. Something about how the water will help lift uterus away from the pelvis and it can help get a clear look at the baby.” He must see the weird look on my face because he’s quick to continue. “Hey, she had three healthy kids, and I’ll do whatever I can to make sure this ultrasound’s a success.”

I open the bottle and start drinking from it. “Whatever she says. That’s three more than I’ve had, so I’ll trust her advice. I guess it’s time we start reading those baby books that are stacked on the coffee table.”

He grins at me as he pulls out of the driveway. “Better late than never, baby.”

ONCE I’M situated on the bed in the doctor’s office, Kale begins pacing the room, causing my nerves to grow increasingly with each back and forth movement. I’m about to ask him what the hell is going on when the door opens and Dr. Foster walks in, greeting us both. Kale finally settles into a seat against the wall as the doctor begins her exam. I’m trying to focus on what she’s saying, but I can’t stop looking at him out of the corner of my eye. His leg’s bouncing up and down and his fingers are drumming nervously against his knee. He’s staring at Dr. Foster, hanging on to every word. I guess that’s a good thing since I’m too busy watching him, wondering why he seems so nervous now after he’s been the calm one from the very beginning.