Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
When she feels me watching her, her head snaps up. “Hey, you’re home,” she says with a huff, blowing the unruly strands of hair out of her face.
“I am.” I pull her into my arms and give her a kiss that’s far too short for my liking, but I’ll kiss her longer tonight once we’re in bed. “How’s my baby mama doing?”
“Feeling like a beached whale,” she says with a laugh. As if the baby can hear her, her belly erupts with kicks that I can feel since her front is pressed against mine. We weren’t planning to get pregnant so soon after she had London, but once again, fate had other plans. We’re excited to welcome this baby into the world soon, and London is excited to be a big sister.
“I told you to take some time off,” I say, even though I know she won’t listen. She’s due in a couple of weeks, but that doesn’t stop her from dancing and teaching classes at the studio. She did the same thing when she was pregnant with London—I literally had to pick her up from the studio when her water broke.
“I think this is my last week,” she says with a pout. “I spoke to Carmen, and she’s agreed to take over my classes. I’m tired, and she can use the hours.”
“Has anyone seen my pink leo?” Ellie asks, poking her head inside the laundry room. “I’m going to be late to class.”
“Maybe use a different one for today until you can find that one?” I suggest.
Ellie’s reaction is the same as London’s, so I close my mouth and start searching for a pink and blue leo in the pile of clean laundry, mentally noting to hire someone to come in to organize this place as soon as possible. Three girls in one house is insane, and if my guess is correct, another will soon be added to the mix.
“Mommy, blue leo?” London asks, joining us in the laundry room.
“I’m look—” Sienna’s eyes go wide. “Oh, God.”
“My blue leo?” London asks, hopeful.
Sienna looks down, and I follow her line of vision.
“Mommy, you go pee pee on the floor,” London says. “Gross! Use the toilet!”
“Oh, shit,” Ellie hisses. “You’re having the baby.”
Pink and blue leos forgotten, Ellie scoops London up while I help Sienna to the car. The ride to the hospital is quick, and so is her labor. Within a couple of hours, our newborn is delivered. Just as we had done with London, we chose not to learn the baby’s gender ahead of time, so we wait for the doctor to announce it.
“Congratulations, it’s a healthy girl.”
They clean up the baby a little and then place her on Sienna’s chest so she can hold her. She kisses the top of our daughter’s head and glances up at me, tears shining in her eyes. “You ready for another girl?” she chokes out, her voice filled with emotion.
Images of the clothes and shoes and hormones that have overtaken my home flash before my eyes, and I can’t help but smile. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Sienna
“There’s something I need to tell you,” Ellie says slowly, and I can already tell by her tone it’s not going to be good. I thought that once everything settled down and we were safe and no longer struggling to make ends meet, it would strengthen our relationship, but for some reason, Ellie’s shut me out. There’s something that’s eating away at her, but when I ask, she plasters on a smile and tells me everything is fine.
She still goes to school and dances, but she doesn’t hang out with any of her friends or show any interest in dating. And she rarely spends any time at the studio. She says it’s because she’s busy with school and her senior showcase, but something feels off. I try to chalk it up to her being a hormonal teenager, but deep down, I think there’s more to it. I just can’t figure out what it is, and Ellie won’t speak to me about it.
“Okay, what’s up?” I say, taking Brooklyn off my breast. Since London was named after the city where I fell in love with Micah, we thought it was only right to name Brooklyn after the city where we renewed our vows.
“I’ve received my acceptance letters for college, and I’ve decided I’m going to California School of the Arts.”
“California?” I say, confused. “But...I thought you were going to stay local.”
“Mommy!” London yells, running in and jumping on the bed. “I give baby kiss.” She leans over and kisses Brooklyn’s head.
“We can talk later,” Ellie says, but I shake my head.
“No, don’t go, please. You always said you wanted to go to New York.”
“I know,” she says softly, “but I think California is a better fit.”