“Alannah, I’m so happy for ‘er,” she beamed. “So, so happy.”
I smiled. “Me too, Bee.”
She sighed, long and deep.
“Nothin’ will top what ye’ just told me, but do you know that Alec has been trainin’ Tyson? Whenever liquid hits the floor, he has to come and find ‘im. He said he’s doin’ it so if Keela goes into labour around ‘im, he’ll alert Alec to the scene. Keela has been pupsittin’ Tyson the past two days because of it.”
“Yeah, I know. We made a bet about it.”
“I don’t even wanna know.” Bronagh snorted.
“Are you havin’ any signs of labour?” I asked. “If you were, it would be the cherry on top of a perfect day.”
“I felt some pains this mornin’, but nothin’ since, so I’ve no idea.”
I got excited.
“Do some jumpin’ jacks or squats. It might help.”
“If I squat around Dominic, he’ll get grouchy because he’ll want to touch me, but he knows we can’t have sex ‘cause he hurts me too much.”
“Tell the big baby it’s to get the little baby out, and he’ll just have to suck it up.”
Bronagh chuckled. “I’ll pass it on.”
My phone rang just as the kettle boiled.
“Hello?”
“Houston, we’re havin’ a baby.”
“What?’
“Me water broke.”
“Keela!” I gasped, startling Bronagh and Georgie. “Your water broke? Where is Alec?”
Bronagh clapped her hands together in delight, and Georgie copied her.
“He just got in from work. Me and Tyson were in the sittin’ room, and out of nowhere a huge gush of water that I couldn’t control just ruined the bloody settee. Tyson started barkin’ and ran from the room and got Alec who had just pulled onto the driveway. The man has unpacked and repacked the hospital bag twice just to make sure we have everythin’.” Keela chuckled. “He is in full-on daddy mode. I can barely get ‘im to focus on me for more than two seconds.”
“What will we do?” I asked, unsure. “I’m freakin’ out.”
“Branna is headin’ to the hospital to be the lead midwife on me delivery. I already called ‘er. She told us to come to the hospital and go from there. Aideen is meetin’ us there since she’s gonna be there for the birth as well. Alec will keep you all updated. I promise.”
“Babe!” I squealed. “You’re gonna be a mammy!”
“I know!” she said, her voice cracking. “I can’t believe it. I got some pains an hour ago, and now me water has broke. It’s movin’ so fast!”
“Wish ‘er good luck for me,” Bronagh said, gaining my attention. “Tell her I love ‘er.”
“Bronagh says good luck, and that she loves you. I love you, too.”
“I love ye’ both, too,” Keela said, then groaned. “I have to go. I have a pain, but Alec will keep you updated.”
After I hung up the phone, I looked at Bronagh and said, “Alec and Keela are about to have a baby!”
“I can’t believe it,” Bronagh gushed. “I can’t wait to see them with a baby of their own. They’ve been tryin’ since Aideen was pregnant with Jax.”
I covered my mouth with my hand.
“This is unreal,” I said. “I’m so excited.”
“This leaves Damien as the only Slater brother who isn’t a daddy.”
My smile slowly slid from my face, and Bronagh’s eyes widened.
“I didn’t mean it like that, I swear. I just mean it in a ‘four down, one to go’ kind of way.”
I focused on Georgie. “I know what ye’ mean. It’s okay.”
“Alannah”—she sighed—“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry,” I said. “I know Damien wants kids with me. It’s not news.”
“He just sees his brothers expandin’ their families and wants that experience too.”
“I know.” I nodded. “And it makes me feel like shite because I want that too, and I don’t know if holdin’ off is doin’ anyone any good. I mean, what am I waitin’ for?”
“You’re waitin’ for the right time.”
“I don’t think there ever is a right time to have babies.”
Bronagh didn’t reply, and she was saved by Nico when he entered the house. He was just as excited as we were when we told him Alec and Keela’s news, and he nearly squeezed me to death when I told him my ma’s news. He phoned Damien to let him know about their brother and Keela, and I felt even worse because I should have been the one to make that call. Bronagh went to take a nap not long after Nico came home, and Georgie went with her, rubbing her eyes with her tiny hand.
“What’s wrong?”
I looked up at Nico when he spoke.
“What?”
“Something’s wrong, so tell me what it is.”
I hesitated. “It’s nothin’.”
“Alannah.”
“It’s just this stupid fight I’m havin’ with Damien. It’s been goin’ on for two days. This is the longest fight we’ve ever had.”
I filled Nico in on what we argued about, and he remained silent as I spoke.
“He doesn’t get that I’m worried about rushin’ things.” I frowned as I picked invisible dirt from under my nails. “I just … I don’t even know what to think because I want to get married and have babies, but somethin’ in me mind makes me pause.”