It was dark by the time I was done. I had avoided joining the others in drinking alcohol by claiming that it’d be dangerous whilst climbing on and off the stepladders, but since I finished, I was struggling for an excuse not to have a wine.
I actually didn’t mind telling Liam in front of Luke and Sash. They’d be the very first people we’d call anyway. So, I decided to just do it. I was gathering up the courage to turn to Liam and drop the news, when my brother cut me off.
“I’m still starving, we gonna order some proper food?”
I let out a deep breath and smiled in his direction. “If you wanna. What’s everyone fancy? Pick somewhere that delivers, you lot have all had too much to drink to drive, and it’s freezing out there now, so I’m not going to collect it.”
“Pizza?” Luke requested.
“Menus in the drawer.” I told him as everyone agreed.
Sash, who was standing in the kitchen, reached straight into the cupboard and retrieved a wine glass.
Liam attempted to pull me towards him, but I dodged out of his way and claimed that I needed to go to the bathroom before I could sit down.
I rushed up the stairs and into my bedroom, pulling out the Christmas cards I’d bought earlier from their hiding place. It only took me a moment to write in each card, and then I was making my way back to the kitchen. I moved much slower on the way back than I did on the way out. I was shaking with nervous anticipation, my mouth was dry, and my legs felt like jelly. I was scared, excited, and not sure if I wanted to laugh or cry . . .
“I know it’s a bit early,” I announced, “but I have Christmas cards for you all. I’d like you to each open them at the same time, but no one is allowed to speak until Liam has opened his.”
Liam smiled his crinkly eyed smile at me, and I wanted to cry. I was about to completely change his world and he had no idea. I swallowed down the nerves and tried to lock down my emotions as I handed out the cards with shaky hands.
“What are you up to, pretty girl?” He grabbed my hand and pulled me in for a kiss as I passed him his card. I wrapped my arms around his neck, kissed him quickly, and then stepped away. I wanted to be in a position where I could fully take in everyone’s reactions.
“Okay, open them.”
I laced my fingers together in front of me in a begging gesture so I had something to hang on to. I wanted to bounce up and down on the balls of my feet, and I might even have done that for a few seconds before I could contain my excitement.
Sash and Luke shrugged and looked totally confused as they opened their envelopes. Sasha’s mouth dropped open first, and her head whipped in my direction. She hadn’t even pulled the card out yet.
She knew.
She was my best friend for a reason, and if it weren’t for the fact that we had seen so little of each other lately, she probably would already have guessed.
Luke tore open the envelope and peered inside, but he only frowned before looking up at me glassy eyed, his mouth opening and closing like a goldfish.
My attention turned to Liam as he pulled the card from the envelope. I held my breath as I watched the varying emotions cross his face. He read the front, frowned, opened the card, read what I’d written inside, and frowned some more. I almost expected him to ask me what I was going on about, but then something must have clicked. His shoulders relaxed. A look of wonder spread across his handsome face, and he tilted his head back to stare at the ceiling for a second.
“Sarah?” he asked on a whisper while reaching for my hand. “You’re pregnant?”
I nodded.
His eyes met mine, and they were filled with tears.
“When?”
“Yeah, we don’t need to hear that,” Luke told him, but I ignored my bother.
“I think he’s asking when she’s due, not when did it happen,” Sasha told him.
“Oh.”
“C’mere.” Liam pulled me in closer, and I didn’t hesitate to step into his waiting arms.
“Thank you, pretty girl. Thank you so fucking much. I promise to be so much more to our baby than this card says.”
I looked down at the Christmas card that had “Merry Christmas to the Best Daddy Ever” emblazoned across the front.
One hand slid around to the back of my neck and his other held on to my hip as he pulled me in for a soft, gentle kiss.
“When did you find out?” He brushed his hand over my belly as he asked.
“I just took the test this morning, but I’ve had my suspicions for a few weeks.”
“This is the best present I’ve ever gotten. Well, apart from getting you back last year.”
“Do you know when you’re due?”
I shook my head. “Maybe June or July time. I’m not sure. I’ll make an appointment to see my doctor on Monday.”
“Congratulations, bro.” My brother’s hand reached out to Liam as he kissed the top of my head. “Well done, Sunshine. I can’t wait to be the best uncle to the little dude.”
“Could be a dudette,” Sasha chimed in.
“I’ll still be the best fucking uncle.”