Page 73 of 7+Us Makes Nine

“Okay, we’re here,” my mother said. “Now stop being so secretive. What do you need?”

“Don’t be so harsh with her,” my father said. “She’s going to hang up.”

“I’m not going to hang up,” I said with a sniffle.

“Are you crying?” my mother asked.

“Honey, what’s wrong? You’re worrying us,” my father said.

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to,” I said.

Jace took my hand and reached over to wipe some of my tears away.

“Where are you? We’re coming to you,” my mother said.

“I’m pregnant.”

The phone call fell silent until my father cleared his throat.

“Come again?” he asked.

“I know there’s a lot of history between all of us. And I know Hannah’s still struggling and I know I haven’t been the best daughter. I know our family isn’t… isn’t what it needs to be but…”

I looked over at Jace as he pressed a kiss to my forehead.

“You’re pregnant?” my mother asked.

“I am,” I said. “With quadruplets.”

“With what?” my father asked.

I heard my mother giggling in the background, and at first I didn’t recognize the sound. I furrowed my brow and put the call immediately on speakerphone as my eyes connected with Jace. My mother’s giggle grew to laughter, and soon my father followed suit.

Laughing.

For the first time in almost a decade, I was listening to my parents laugh.

“Quadruplets!?” my mother exclaimed. “How far along are you?”

“Who’s the dad?” my father asked. “Is it that Jace fellow?”

“Hello sir,” Jace said.

“Oh! We’re on speakerphone, too!” my mother exclaimed.

Never in my life had I heard her as joyous as she sounded over the phone.

“Son, are you the father of my daughter’s children?”

“I am sir,” he said. “And I can assure you she’s properly taken care of.”

“Well if it’s all the same to you, I’d rather come see that for myself,” he said.

“You’re more than welcome anytime into my home,” Jace said.

“How far along are you?” my mother asked. “Give me answers! Details! Do you know the genders yet? Oh, I need pictures. I bet you look adorable pregnant, Catherine.”

I smiled as I began to rattle off answers to her questions.

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