16. Sasha Brings the House Down

SIXTEEN

SASHA brINGS THE HOUSE DOWN

I feel like I’m floating. It’s so warm and cozy that I don’t want to open my eyes. Instead I just snuggle deeper into the covers, lulled by the decadent softness of the sheets and Gabe’s soft snore from the other side of the bed.

As long as we stay here, we can pretend the rest of the world doesn’t exist. There are no announcements to be made, expectations to be managed or feelings that can be hurt. I pull the covers slightly higher. Maybe we can just stay here through dinner.

My stomach rumbles.

Yeah, this baby bump isn’t on board with that idea at all.

“Do we have to get up?” Gabe moans.

“No. I vote we stay right here. Let’s order in. This cabin is big enough to have Uber Eats, right?”

He snickers. “I wouldn’t be surprised.”

When he finally sits up, his hair sticks out in every direction and he has drool on his cheek. It’s so rare to see him looking disheveled that I wish I could take a picture.

“Do you remember the first day we met? When I left you in that parking lot?”

He tilts his head. “I think you mean the day I graciously offered to help you with your business forms.”

“You were such a show-off.” I laugh remembering how slick he’d been with his smooth lines and designer glasses. Glasses that he wore just to look more distinguished, by the way.

“Hey! I was trying to help a fellow business owner.” He winks. “The prettiest new business owner I’ve ever met.”

“Uh huh. I saw through your games from the very start, Mr. Marshall.”

He smirks. “Yeah, you did. That was so hot.”

He’d looked so confused when I’d walked away from him. Not many women turned him down, I’m sure. But after kissing too many frogs, I had been done with cocky men. Once I’d found out that we had friends in common, I had immediately put him in the look-but-don’t-touch category.

I put a hand on my round belly. That didn’t last long. To be fair, my husband is pretty irresistible.

Gabe yawns. "What time is it?"

My phone is on the nightstand next to me. I touch the screen to see the time. "Almost seven o’clock. We should get downstairs. I’m sure my parents have arrived by now."

He groans, an exaggerated sound that makes me laugh. "Can't we just stay here? No one will know."

“You don’t think they’ll come looking for us?” I give him a look like, really ?

“Maybe they won’t find us? It would take five to seven business days for them to search this whole house.”

I lean over, planting a quick kiss on his cheek. "I think the room they gave us would be the first place they’d look. Plus, I’m hungry."

Gabe sits up. "Well, we can’t have that. Let’s go.”

I roll my eyes, slipping out of the bed to start getting ready. "Of course. I forgot your obsession with feeding me. And please don’t ask if the food is organic!”

“What? I just like to check.” At my glare, he puts up his hands. “Fine. I won’t say a word about the possible dangers of pesticides.”

Once I’ve changed into a shirt that is slightly less wrinkled, we’re ready to go. As we walk out into the hallway, I feel the first flutter of nerves. We agreed earlier to tell everyone before dinner but now that it’s time, I wonder why we decided it had to be before dinner? Maybe we should have done it after?

Gabe puts his arm around my shoulders. “It’s going to be fine. We’ll make the announcement and then we’ll sit and eat. Everyone will be there which means your mom can’t corner you yet.”

“Oh yeah.”

Remembering the rationale for the timing does help a little. Hopefully, I can make an excuse after dinner and go back to our room. Then she’ll have to save her criticisms for another twenty-four hours.

"Hey, if you really don’t want to do it now–"

“No. It's Christmas Eve. If there's ever a time for good news, it's now." I give him a half-smile, trying to chase away the lingering doubts. "Besides, I'm pretty sure everyone will be onto us soon anyway since I keep taking naps and I’m constantly sweaty.”

"You do have a certain glow about you that's hard to miss."

I squeeze his hand as we walk down the stairs, the sounds of laughter and chatter growing louder with each step. "You are so sweet. Please keep lying to me."

He leans in and whispers, "You look radiant, by the way."

I’m still laughing when we enter the great room. Every eye turns toward us.

“Sasha! Gabe! There you are!” My mother walks toward us with her arms outstretched.

Before I can blink I’m pulled into a hug. Over her shoulder I see Gabe accepting a hearty handshake from my dad.

“Hi, Mom. I’m glad you could come.”

She turns to look over her shoulder and absolutely beams in Tank’s direction. “Your brother-in-law was so kind when he called to invite us. Your sisters are both spending Christmas with their husbands’ families this year. Your dad and I would have been rattling around the house alone.”

“Now we can all be together. Hey, baby girl.” My dad steps forward and kisses me on the cheek.

“Hi, Daddy. I’m so glad you’re here.”

“Oh yeah. We wouldn’t miss this for the world.” He leans closer. “Your mother has been dying to see this fancy place ever since we got the invitation.”

I squeeze his hand in silent appreciation. I am a complete Daddy’s Girl and having him here will make this so much easier. He’s the only person who can calm my mother down when she gets all riled up.

After a quick glance around the room, I decide this is probably the best chance I’ll get. I clear my throat gently, waiting until the hum of conversation dwindles.

"Everyone, we have some news." I hold out my hand to Gabe and he steps forward to take it.

Gabe grins. "The best kind of news," he adds, his thumb rubbing comforting circles on the back of my hand.

I take a deep breath. "We're expecting a baby!”

The reaction is instantaneous. Emma’s cry of delight mixes with several excited gasps. Finn slaps Gabe on the back so hard I'm surprised he doesn't topple over, and suddenly I’m being pulled into so many hugs that I can’t keep track of where I am.

My mother takes my face between her hands. “My baby is having a baby!”

After she gives me a tender hug, my father approaches. He has tears in his eyes. I put a hand over my heart.

“Oh Daddy. Don’t cry. You’ll make me cry!”

He pulls me into his arms and then rests his head on top of mine. “Let an old man cry, won’t you? I just found out I’m having another grandbaby.”

But when I look up, movement catches my eye. All I see is a flash as Josie rushes through the crowd toward the kitchen. The room's energy shifts from elation to confusion, as the sound of a door slamming echoes through the room.

Zack is already on his feet following. His eyes meet mine and he mouths “ Sorry ” before he runs into the kitchen. The door slams again and a hush falls over the room.

Tank runs a hand through his hair. “Oh boy. We're all genuinely happy for you guys. Josie is too, deep down. She's just dealing with a lot right now. But let’s toast to the newest Marshall!”

“Yes, let’s open some sparkling cider!” Emma squeezes my arm as she walks past and into the kitchen.

“Congratulations you two,” Seven whispers before pulling me into a hug. Over her shoulder, I see Luke giving Gabe a big hug.

The two mock wrestle before Gabe turns to accept a glass of cider from Emma. He brings one over to me.

"Maybe we shouldn't have said anything," I whisper quietly so no one else can hear.

Gabe sighs. "We couldn’t have known how she would react, babe.” The words are reassuring, but the crease in his brow tells me he doesn’t feel good about how this went down, either.

Tank holds his champagne flute high. As tall as he is, he doesn’t even have to speak to command attention. The room falls silent.

“To the newest Marshall,” he calls out before tipping his glass toward me and Gabe. “We can’t wait to meet you. I know you’re going to give your parents hell!”