Page 28

The soft hum of the city stretched beneath her like a lullaby, twinkling lights flickering across the skyline as though the stars had spilled down and settled among the buildings. Karen stood on the balcony, the crisp night air cooling her heated cheeks.

Behind her, the faint echoes of laughter and clinking dishes were fading; the door now closed after the final wave of goodbyes.

The chaos of Thanksgiving, so full of warmth, noise, and love, had finally ebbed, leaving only the quiet rhythm of her heartbeat, the weight of her full belly, and the soothing touch of silence.

“Well, that went over better than I thought,” Karen admitted aloud, her voice barely above a whisper as she leaned against the balcony railing.

Her hand instinctively rested against the swell of her stomach, her fingers moving in slow, absent-minded circles over the stretched fabric of her dress.

Inside, the memories of the evening played like a favorite movie—plates stacked with more food than reason would allow, shrieks of laughter from the kids chasing each other down the hall, and Jett insisting on passing around a bowl of Tums with each serving of pie like it was a treat or some sacred family tradition.

Her heartburn had been relentless. Sharp, fiery bursts that caught her off-guard at all hours, making sleep elusive and meals feel like a gamble.

The doctor had reassured her—nothing to worry about.

The books she’d devoured said the same. And the old wives’ tales?

They claimed her discomfort was the sign of a baby born with a glorious mane of hair.

She chuckled to herself, thinking of Jett’s mother and her own story—that she'd endured the same searing heartburn only to deliver a perfectly bald baby boy with the roundest, softest head imaginable. That bald baby now stood tall and broad-shouldered in their kitchen, still the center of attention, still making her laugh even when she didn’t feel like smiling.

As if summoned by her thoughts, Jett appeared behind her, and she reached up, ruffling his thick, unruly hair fondly, the strands soft under her fingertips.

“Hey,” he laughed, pulling back with mock offense. “It takes a lot of hair product to look this good for you.”

“You always look good.”

“I know,” he replied with that signature grin of his, arrogant but never cruel.

“But if you wanted to ‘pet’ me, we could snuggle on the couch, and I would happily lay my head in your lap while I still can.

Just put some earplugs in while I talk to my boy about life stuff.

Gotta teach ‘em while they are young and malleable.”

Karen rolled her eyes, lips twitching. “And here we go with the ‘it’s a boy’ comments…”

They had made a pact—no gender reveal, no peeking.

Just a surprise when the time came, when they were both exhausted, euphoric, and changed forever.

They’d picked names for both possibilities, sealed them in quiet moments between baby kicks and whispered dreams, refusing to tell anyone.

Not even each other which name they secretly liked more.

“You should probably go check on your parents or E.J.,” she said gently, nodding toward the glowing interior of the condo. “I just needed a little air for a moment. Between the team, your family, the kids racing around— it was a lot tonight. I need small doses to build up an immunity.”

Jett chuckled, turning to look at her, amusement dancing in his eyes. “Kids aren’t a plague.”

“No, I know, but they also don’t pop out as mouthy children who argue and fight over the game controllers. Small doses.”

“Hmm… true,” he said, and his voice softened. He paused, glancing over his shoulder toward the warmth and movement inside, clearly torn between going and staying.

Karen’s heart swelled. She loved this about him—the way he cared so deeply, how his loyalty never wavered. “Go,” she urged softly, her eyes warm as they held his. “Spend time with your brother. I’ll be right in.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“I love you, Nutella… and you, Jett Junior.”

“Oh boy…” she groaned, unable to suppress her grin at the nickname that refused to die.

“See? I knew you’d come around someday. Smart, sexy, and so, so beautiful.”

His words melted into her like honey, sweet and sticky, lingering long after he stepped back. She laughed as he waggled his eyebrows at her with shameless confidence and pointed at her stomach.

“That’s a boy,” he whispered, backing away toward the door, his grin full of pride and mischief. “I make beautiful boy genes, you just wait and see…”

“I guess we’ll see – won’t we?”

“I guess so, Nutella.”

Karen watched him disappear into the glow of their home, the scent of pumpkin pie still lingering in the air. Her hand stayed on her belly, and she smiled to herself, heart full, breath steady.

Whatever the future held—boy or girl, sleepless nights or laughter-filled days—she knew one thing with absolute certainty.

They were going to be just fine.

“I love your Daddy so much… my sweet little Jett,” she whispered, rubbing her belly fondly and refusing to let her husband have the last word.

Again.

The Quebec Wolverines are proud to share that the newest ‘Kit’ has arrived.

On Monday, Jett Acton and his wife welcomed into this world a sweet baby boy.

The son, named Jett Elton Acton, weighed in at eight pounds and two ounces.

Below is a family photo of Jett, his parents, his wife, their son - along with the baby’s uncle.

Congratulations to the family!