″How come she got to come when we couldn’t?” Sophie demands.
″Because she’s a baby and we’re not,” Ben explains to his sister.
″Did you hear we’re having a baby?” Lucy cries.
What?
″What?” My shock echoes in Morgan’s expression.
″No one is having a baby. The only thing happening now is that you three need to go to bed,” I say weakly.
″Wait, I didn’t get to say goodnight,” Lucy shrieks.
Three rounds of goodnights andI love yousto me, a round of good nights to Morgan and many blown kisses later, J.B. finally takes back the phone.
″I didn’t tell her to say that,” he says quietly.
″I’ll deal with youlater,” I threaten. “Good luck getting them to sleep.”
″Have fun whatever you do tonight,” he says. “Morgan, keep her out of trouble.”
″We’re hitting the town tonight,” Morgan promises. “But first, we’re going to have a little chat about this baby thing.”
“It’s not a thing,” I mutter. I say goodnight to J.B., and blow him kisses, as affectionate as the kids were. As soon as I end the call, Morgan is staring at me with accusing eyes.
″Are you pregnant?” she hisses.
″No.”
″But Lucy says–”
″Lucy wants a baby. Apparently, all the kids do.” I take a deep breath. “And so does J.B.,” I announce dramatically, with a glance over my shoulder at the door to make sure Brit isn’t within hearing distance.
Morgan leans forward. “When did this happen?”
″The day after Brit told us about this trip, so I’ve had a bit on my mind. I was going to tell you–”
″When we got home,” she finishes. “But J.B. wants one?Him,not you?”
″Yes,him. I’ve never even thought about it. Maybe I’ve thought it, but I’ve never said it,” I confess.
Morgan’s eyes light up with excitement. “Are you going to have another? Because then Carson will be the big girl to someone!”
This makes me instantly regret telling her. I want someone to tell me I’m crazy, not get me excited enough to toss out the birth control pills when I get home. “I don’t know.”
″It’s a no-brainer. You love kids, Casey, and if J.B. wants more too–”
“I don’t know. I’m used to three, but four seems a lot. And what if–?” I flop face-first on the bed.
″You have triplets again?” Morgan finishes for me.
″Exactly,” I say as I roll to my side. “It’s something I really have to think about because it’s a pretty good possibility that I’ll have more than one. I can’t say anything to Brit about it because she’ll have a fit and say my kids are ruining her weekend.”
″Then we better keep quiet because the water has stopped.” She beams at me. “Another baby.”
″You really think it’s a good idea? You don’t think I’m too old?”
″You’re not even forty-two. Gwen Stefaniwas older than that. And so was Halle Berry and…You’re notthinking of that book again, are you?”