A Baby
894 Words
I woke up at 8 A.M. and took a shower. After blow-drying my hair, I let it fall on my back. I wore black pants and a simple cropped top. I inspected myself in the mirror as I adjusted my outfit. My breasts weren't large like Beth's or Begonia's, or that waitress from the cafe, but they were round enough to give me a feminine look. I put on my house shoes and headed downstairs.
To my surprise, Tate was in the kitchen, cooking.
"Good morning, my only favorite brother," I said, wrapping my arms around his waist and kissing his back. A chuckle came from his chest.
"Good morning, my most beautiful sister. You seem to be in a pleasant mood."
"I am!"
He turned to me, and I peeked at what he was making for breakfast. He had prepared a variety of foods.
"Breakfast!" I beamed as I sat at the table. He loaded my plate with pancakes, sausages, and eggs and made me a tall glass of orange juice.
"I freshly squeezed it," he grinned.
"Good job,"
"Granny and Grandpa left last night for their trip in the mountains, and Mom has gone to help Luna prepare for a party. Manon is returning from university," he informed me. Manon was our Alpha's little sister and a year younger than me. She was studying abroad. I took a bite of my pancakes, half-expecting them to taste bad, but to my surprise, they were delicious! I was impressed. All these years, I'd never seen him cook anything.
"Delicious!"
We sat, chatted excitedly, and then I made him do yoga. I was thrilled to spend this time alone with him, without Cindy clinging to him like a lifeboat. Just then, his phone rang. Speak of the devil, and she will appear, or call in this case. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Tate didn't answer.
"Answer, or else she'll barge in here like a ghost is chasing her," I muttered.
"I don't feel like talking to her," he said. Who could blame him?
"Why?" I asked.
"She's just a little too much sometimes."
"Then why are you with her? She's a meanie, and you are perfect, my Tate. You deserve a woman who brings you peace."
"Cindy and I have been together for a long time, and she's not all that bad. Like everyone else, she has imperfections, and I promised not to leave her."
"I didn't hear love in that speech," I muttered
"Ruby…"
I lifted my gaze and looked at him thoughtfully. "Tatum..." We stared each other down, but then the door to the gym studio opened. We both turned to see Mom walk in, breathless, with a faint smile on her lips. Her eyes were red and puffy as if she had been crying. Tate and I stood and approached her urgently.
"Mom, what is it?" he asked.
"You were crying. Why were you crying?"
"Did someone hurt you?" my brother's tone promised death.
"No. I was just at the hospital and spoke to Dr. Patek," she said, taking a deep breath and holding my hand and Tate's. "I have some news."
"You're not dying, are you?" Tate looked panicked.
"What? Are you dying? No, Mom, please. I can't leave without you!" I cried, hugging her as tears filled my eyes.
"Tate!" Mom scolded. "I'm not dying." I pulled away with knitted eyebrows.
"Getting remarried then?" he asked. I gasped—getting married? It had only been two and a half months since Dad died. While I wouldn't judge any woman for moving on, I didn't expect Mom to do it so early, given their amazing love story.
"Tate, don't say anything else. You're stressing out your sister,"
"I don't know how you'll take it, but I'm happy about it." Mom took a big breath and announced, "I'm three months pregnant."
All the air left my lungs. Pregnant. Another baby. Another sibling.
"Oh, Mom!" Tears streamed down my face as I threw my arms around her in a fierce hug.
"Aren't you a little too old to be pregnant?" Tate said, and we chuckled. Mom playfully hit his shoulder. "But I'm happy for this blessing, Mom," he said. My heart was overflowing with love, and we all hugged each other.
I missed my dad more than ever. He would have been ecstatic to hear this good news. The door opened again, and we pulled away. Just as I predicted, Cindy walked in, sporting an awful tan that made her look orange.
"Tate! I was calling you! Why aren't you answering my calls?!" she said in one breath. Mom and I rolled our eyes and headed to another salon to discuss the baby.
Later that day, I received a message from Jay. He wanted to hang out, so I gave him my location, and he arrived in front of my house thirty minutes later.
He leaned against his car, wearing sunglasses, and waved at me. His gaze roamed over me and landed on my belly ring.
"I like it," he said as I stood in front of him. He kissed my cheek.
"Me too," I replied, touching the diamond stud in his ear. My wolf groaned. 'What do you think you're doing, Ruby?'
'Just having a little fun, Ria,' she replied.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
" My house,"
- Writer
