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Letting her deliver the news was the right call. I slip my arm around her waist and look down at her, this tiny, beautiful, wild little honeybee I get to call my wife.
“So,” she says. “It’s really early yet, but I wanted to let you all know I’m pregnant.”
I think Mom screams first. Are my eardrums still intact?
Juniper grins and Salem whoops, bolting up and doing a little dance.
“Knew it,” Dexter calls. “It wouldn’t be Arch if he didn’t upstage me.”
“Get moving then,” I call back.
Teary, arms open wide for a hug, Mom comes racing toward us.
“Oh, my boy. Oh, I’m so happy for you,” she says in a choked voice. “For both of you, really. Congratulations! I’m the luckiest grandma in the world.”
After Mom’s done, Winnie and I both look at Colt.
We told him a few days ago, when we decided we’d announce it to the family, but we’d discussed the idea of siblings with him months ago. He told us it was fine, just as long as he wasn’t expected to ‘change diapers all the time or clean up gross barf.’
He’s not wrong.
But Winnie promised he’d get to do the fun big brother stuff like story time and building castles and spaceships. His eyes lit up and he clammed up fast.
He sees us looking and rolls his eyes, but when I hold out my arm, he comes and joins in the hug.
I think Winnie might be crying the hardest as we fall into this big family group hug.
One big Rory tribe.
“Hey, Winnie,” I say after a second. “I think there’s a bee in your hair.”
“Bee still,” Colt snickers. “That’s the worst one yet. But I promise it’s real, not one of mine.”
Looks like it’s not too early in the spring for them after all.
I watch as the fuzzy brown bee wanders lazily across her glittering silver and diamond headpiece, its antenna waving.
I swear the little creepy-crawly looks right at me with its ten eyes or whatever the fuck. It looks so at home on her I should be jealous.
Only, Winnie looks up at me, her eyes dewy and glowing with happiness as the bee takes off.
“I think it’s a sign,” she whispers.
Against my better judgment, I smile and caress her cheek.
“You know what? I think you’re right.”