I giggle and dismiss her worry. “Just stop. You know I only wear sneakers for gym.”
“It’s your funeral, sister. Now hurry up and eat and I’ll meet you there by eight!” She hangs up and I rush to get dressed. After putting on my bikini, I slip the white cover-up-dress over my head. It falls about mid-thigh, and once I step into my Steve Maddens, I’m almost as tall as my father. I arrange my curls to cascade around my face and grab my Chapstick. It drives Cassie nuts that I never wear makeup. I usually only use Chapstick and sometimes mascara for a special occasion.
“Sam, dinner’s ready!” Mom calls from the bottom of the stairs. I start to move toward the door when I slip and almost turn my ankle. I chuckle out loud and slide out of my shoes, bending down to swipe them from the floor.
“I think I’ll carry you guys downstairs instead of walking, okay?” I say out loud to my favorite shoes.
By the time I reach the kitchen table, my parents are already seated and have our meals dished out. It’s my favorite. My father’s ‘special’ chicken, steamed veggies and fresh berries. My parents have always insisted on a colorful plate full of food, no matter what meal it is. He’s been making this chicken for me ever since I was a little girl. I’ve always called it Daddy’s Special Chicken when I know that it’s really just breaded chicken cutlet. He loves making it for me, and I ate it practically every night for dinner for several years. I will never tire of it.
“Wow, dinner smells great,” I say and slide into my chair.
Mom and Dad have smiles ear-to-ear and I can’t imagine what has them so excited tonight.
“Okay, you guys look weird. What’s going on?” I ask as I cut into the first piece of chicken and chew it. It’s so good. It begins to melt in my mouth, and I savor the flavor from the breadcrumbs. “Can you pass the barbecue sauce?” Another one of my favorites.
My mother slides it across the table, and she drops her fork next to her plate.
“Your father and I have some really exciting news,” she says and can’t contain herself.
I look back and forth between them and my father’s eyes light up even brighter.
“You do?” I ask. “Don’t leave me hanging! What is it?”
Mom takes a deep breath and her eyes glisten a little.
“We haven’t said anything at all because at first, we weren’t sure. But it happened, and now we’re thrilled and we just can’t believe it!” She’s all over the place, and I have no idea what she’s talking about.
“What happened?” I ask and dunk a piece of chicken into the barbecue sauce and pop it in my mouth.
“Sam, we’re going to have a baby,” my father interrupts, and I practically choke.
“What?” I ask as I gulp down my chicken.
“Yes! I’m pregnant,” my mother exclaims, and I stare between the two of them and wonder how this is even possible.
“A few years after you were born, we tried for another and were told that I couldn’t have any more children. The doctors did everything they could, and we even went through fertility treatments. Nothing worked, so we decided we were happy with the family we had.”
I never realized any of this, and I suddenly feel sorry for my parents for what they went through when I was little.
“So about two months ago, I wasn’t feeling well, and I didn’t think anything of it. I thought it was the flu or something like that.”
I remember her being sick for a few weeks and she was constantly in the bathroom throwing up. I was thankful for not catching it. Now I know why I didn’t.
“Mom, Dad, this is so cool.” I think?