Page 76 of Christmas Chaos
I stand and wipe my eyes. “Well, it’s about to get a whole lot crazier if you’re up for it.”
Jay says, “Is Auntie Elle pregnant again?” Warms my heart he called her Auntie Elle. That they feel connected to our world.
I laugh. “She is, but this is about us. And, get this, Auntie Ingrid has a boyfriend.”
“No way. She’s back from France?”
“Yes, but more importantly, how do you feel about a baby brother?”
Joaquin raises his eyebrows. “Holy shit. Tabi’s pregnant?”
I smile to cover up how much I wish that were true. I don’t want them to think we don’t want them just as much as a baby we’re unable to have. “No. But there’s a kid in Oakland who needs you guys and us. He needs a family. And I kind of volunteered you.”
Jay says, “Wait. Like this isn’t a foster thing?”
Joaquin looks at his brother. “No. I think they’re adopting us.” He looks at me, and I smile.
Jay says, “That fucking rocks.”
“Watch your language. And I’m going to watch mine. I make no promises for your mother. Now, we have to try to get to Oakland in like twenty minutes.”
“Wait, we’re getting the baby today?”
“Yup.”
Jay says, “Then let’s go.”
Joaquin flings open the door and looks in the hallway. Then gestures. “Let’s go, Auntie Becca, we have another brother to pick up.” Then he takes her hand, and they walk down the hall. Becca smiles warmly at him. That kid is fucking magic.
We’re walking to the car, and I know Tabi’s arriving at the hospital right now. We’re not going to make it even remotely. Glancing at my phone I see there’s an accident so we have to go around the long way through Richmond, then back through Napa and over to home.
“Tabi doesn’t know anything about you guys. You’re a surprise.”
“Good, cuz I didn’t get her nothing for Christmas.”
“I didn’t get her anything,” I correct Jay.
He repeats it back to me. Joaquin says, “Do we still call you Bax?”
“You can call me anything you want.”
“Dickhead?”
We all laugh at Jay.
“Funny, but not appropriate.”
“Dad,” Joaquin says. “That sounds weird.”
I say, “To me too. But know that we adore you both and we’ll just settle into it.” He nods. “I have to call your mother, so you bananas be quiet.”
Jay zips his lips and I grin at him in the rearview mirror.
“Hey.”
Her voice is panicked and adorable. “Hi. Are you here? Poppy just went to get the kid. I signed our life away. You have to sign stuff too by next week. And Becca’s not here. And I don’t know what I’m doing. They just handed me some spit cloths and bottles. And formula. Apparently, I’m going to feed the kid.” She says all of that in one breath. The boys stifle giggles in the back.
It’s killing me. “Mama, you’ll be fine. I love you. Take videos, so many videos. Can you kiss the kid for me? I’m not going to be there right now, but for the rest of his days, I will be. So, meet me at home. Hurry home to me. I have something for you that will complete your life.”
