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Wesley steps easily into the spotlight, grinning. “I’m just living a pretty boring existence. No new relationships or pets to speak of. Just working and surfing.”
“You surf too?” Ethan asks.
“Yeah, Madison is actually the one who got me into it. She picked it up in middle school maybe, and then, I was like, I can’t let my little sister be good at something if I’m not. So, I started. And yeah…it’s been fun. I’m not as serious about it as she is though.”
“I haven’t been serious about it lately,” I mumble, thinking about how long it’s been since I’ve actually been surfing. There was a while where I surfed every morning no matter the weather.
But now, it’s probably been since before I was pregnantthat I surfed. I need to go out there and surf. It would probably help me relax. I peek at Aurora to see how she’s taking the conversation. She’s examining her nails with an “I’m above this” look, but she’s not interrupting or being rude. I guess that’s a start.
Ethan looks at me with a pointed look. “Are you going to tell them?”
I frown, not sure what he’s hinting at. “Tell them what?”
They both know I’m pregnant and that we’re dating. I can’t think of any more big reveals I have. Ethan mouths the words “surf school,” and a smile fills my face.
I don’t want to tell them the details because I’m sure Aurora will have a fit if she realizes that her dad wouldn’t give me a loan, but he would happily outright buy the place I’m going to have the school.
Aurora and Wesley look at me curiously. “Oh yeah, I’m starting my surf school this spring.”
Wesley high-fives me, and Aurora nods in approval. I add a few more details. “I’ve got a couple of months to get the place ready, but it’s right on the beachfront, and once I finally decide on a name, any way you can spread the word would help.”
“Congrats, Sis! Maybe I’ll come take a lesson with you. You know, all it takes is people seeing you doing lessons with someone. They won’t want to miss out.”
“How are you going to do that if you’re having a baby?” Aurora asks with cold calculation.
“Well, the baby is due in August, so I’d have all summer. And I’ll probably try to hire another instructor too. I’m not sure about the logistics yet, but I’ll figure them out.”
Aurora nods. There is a moment of awkward silence, and then Ethan hops up. “Food should be cooled down now.Let’s go sit in the dining room and have this Christmas Eve dinner.”
I follow Wesley into the dining room. Aurora sits across the table from us, and I sit next to the head of the table where I’m sure Ethan will sit. Wesley is on my other side.
There are already a couple of dishes on the table. Ethan brings out two more then takes his place at the head of the table smiling happily.
We start serving ourselves and passing the dishes around, and no one speaks for a minute as the sound of clinking dishes fills the room.
I suddenly look up and see Aurora watching me. I set down the basket of rolls. I feel the need to apologize even though I’ve done nothing wrong.
“Aurora, I know this is a lot, and I understand if you’re still upset. I just… I want us to figure things out. I want you to be a part of everything.”
She meets my gaze, and for a moment, I’m terrified that she’s going to shut me out again. But then, to my surprise, she smiles. It’s tight around the corners, but it’s still a smile.
“It’s fine. I mean, it’s weird, but…it’s fine. You and Dad can be together. As long as I get to babysit my little half-sister.”
I blink, the words taking a second to sink in. Then I break into a laugh. “Orbrother,” I remind her. “But yes, I would love that.”
“If we’re getting babysitting dibs, I’d like to say that I’m going to be the funnest uncle this kid has so I should definitely get to take care of it.”
“Maybe once it’s walking and talking and there are no diapers involved.”
“I like that.”
Ethan and I share a smile as I realize that this evening isturning out better than I hoped. Then, once everyone has been served, and we are beginning to eat, Ethan reaches out and grabs my hand before I can pick up my fork.
“I have one more thing I’d like to say.” My stomach tightens. He mentioned something about a Christmas Eve surprise, but with everything going on, I haven’t thought of it.
Everyone looks at him. I search his face, trying to figure out what’s going on before he says it out loud.
“Madison, now that we are going to have a family together, I think it’s only right if you move in with me. Would you like to live here with me? Make a nursery for our baby down the hall?”