"I’m so excited you're back!" She exclaimed.
"Quit hogging her, squirt!" Dixon pulled Maggie away and lifted Lilli into a tight hug.
"Be careful!" Celia exclaimed, smacking Dixon’s arm.
"Damn, woman, I am!" Dixon scoffed at her playfully. "Like I'd hurt my future football star!" Dixon boasted, a wide smile spreading across his face.
"Football player?" Lilli raised one eyebrow "Your football player?"
"Uncle Dixon will be teaching the little one all of the necessary football skills." He beamed, proudly.
"No way!" Phoebe shrieked. "That’s a future fashionista in there, total supermodel material." Phoebe grinned.
"Aidan, dear." Viola moved in quickly, kissing my cheek before turning to Lilli. "Congratulations, Lilli." She whispered. Lilli gave a weak smile.
Her reaction to the pregnancy talk confirmed just how unsure she felt. Lilli didn’t seem excited or even happy, for that matter, when all things baby related were brought up in conversation. My heart broke for her.
"Okay, come on. It was a long flight. I’m sure Lilli is exhausted." Wrapping my arm around her waist, I pulled her toward the idling car.
When she leaned on me, I could only hope it meant that she knew I was there to support her, through anything and everything.
"Thank you." She said softly.
With a nod and a smile, I help her into the car before climbing in behind her. Though I'd rescued her from the welcoming committee for now, they were following us to our house.
We stepped into the house, the smell of Mexican spices filling the entry hall.
Viola entered the house right behind us. "I called Rachel and asked her to have dinner prepared."
Mrs. White, the housekeeper, appeared.
"Welcome home, my boy." She kissed my cheek. "I see you brought my girl back." She hugged Lilli and rubbed her stomach. "Look at you already." She smiled brightly. Though Lilli smiled back, it still wasn't genuine. "Dinner is ready." Mrs. White motioned for Lilli follow.
Just a few steps into the dining room and Lilli froze.
"How did you know?" Lilli provided us with her first real smile since arriving home. Her eyes moved over the large spread on the table. A large tray of rolled and fried tortillas, salsa, sour cream, tortilla chips, yellow rice and a large pitcher of lemonade.
"Oh, a little birdie gave us a heads up." Mrs. White looked past us and winked at Phoebe.
Lilli turned, her face flushed with embarrassment. "You told people about my cravings?"
"Of course." Phoebe shrugged, "you love them and it seems to be what you always want. Besides chow mien noodles." She giggled.
"What are they?" Liam examined the fried tortilla rolls.
"Those.” She pointed at the object in question. “Are called Taquitos.” Lilli giggled. “I became a fan of them a few years ago. For whatever reason, they’re all I seem to want to eat.”
"Holy shit." Dixon exclaimed, picking one up between his finger and thumb. "I remember the fridge being stocked with these things."
"Okay, enough talking about them." Lilli sat down. "I’m starving." She grabbed a plate and started to load up. I watched her dump salsa and sour cream on top of them before she picked one up and shoved it in her mouth. She closed her eyes and moaned.
She paused, mid chew, and looked around at everyone. "Okay, can everyone not watch me eat?"
"Sorry." Viola was the first to smile an apology, sitting down at the table. "You really looked like you were enjoying that."
Sitting next to Lilli, I realized I didn’t have one clue about her cravings. A part of me rationalized that it was because we'd been separated for so long, but the other part of me felt guilty for not knowing.
"So, Aidan…" Snapping out of my internal rambling, I looked up meeting Liam’s eyes. "Boy or girl?"
"I, uh, well…um…" I could feel everyone’s eyes on me, "honestly? I really don’t mind either way." I shrugged. Lilli stiffened next to me.
"I think a boy would be nice." Viola smiled, "another Aidan Iverson." Her smiled grew wider.
"Well, either way, you’ll get two of them, so…" Lilli stopped once she saw the look on Viola’s face. "What?"
"Two?" Liam questioned.
Lilli turned her wide eyes on me. "You didn’t tell them?"
"I really couldn’t get much out other than you being pregnant." Shaking my head, I took her hand.
"You’re having twins?" Maggie spluttered.
"Oh my goodness!" Viola place her hands over her mouth, tears forming in her eyes.
"I guess more congratulations are in order." Liam chuckled, looking between Lilli and me.
"Are you going to find out the sex before you have the babies?" Celia asked Lilli between mouthfuls.
Lilli shrugged and looked to me.
"It’s up to you." I said. "Whatever you wish." Squeezing her hand a bit tighter, I smiled.