Michael was startled. "What?"
Joshua laughed. "Michael, I have three children. I think I can tell certain things by now. Come on," he said, patting Michael’s leg. "Let’s join them."
Joshua’s children ran to him when he reached the water and attacked him until he fell back laughing. Miranda hugged Michael and laughed. He kissed the top of her head. "Maybe next summer," she said.
"I don’t think they walk that soon, do they?" But before she could answer, Joshua’s children ran over and knocked him down too.
Two days later, Joshua, Leah and Michael were waiting in Joshua and Leah’s living room. Michael was tapping his foot. Leah and Joshua laughed just as Miranda emerged. Michael jumped up. "Well?"
Miranda leaned in the doorway. "You’re a Scorpio, right?"
Michael thought for a moment. "Yeah, I think so."
"And I’m a Pisces," she said thoughtfully.
"And?" Michael asked, ready to burst.
"I just don’t know if this is going to work. Because if I’m doing the math right, the baby’s going to be a Leo, and I’m not sure either of us are a good match—"
"Baby?!?" He grabbed Miranda’s hands. "We’re going to have a baby?"
"That’s what it looks like."
"Ha!" Michael swooped her up and hugged her until she gasped. "We’re going to have a baby!"
Miranda laughed. "We’re going to have a baby."
"Oh my God," Michael said, putting her down and stepping back. "Okay, we have to be really careful from now on. You have to sit down—"
Leah laughed. "She’s pregnant, not made of glass." She kissed them both. "And besides, we have to celebrate now."
"By the way," Joshua said as Miranda kissed Michael, "when’s the wedding?"
CHAPTER 28
Zainab opened the door when Mitch, Emily and Hellie rang. Zainab grinned from ear to ear. "Hi!" she said, throwing her arms around all of them.
"Is that my favorite girlfriend?" Jessie called from the inside. Hellie ran into Martin and Jessie’s laps and immediately launched into a story about one of her friends at preschool.
Zainab held out her hand to Emily. "Come on, I need some help in the kitchen." Emily shrugged, so Mitch went to sit next to Martin.
"Are you ever planning on getting your BSG Season 4 from my place? Because if I have to ask you again, it’s mine."
Richard went to answer the next knock. It was Michael and Miranda, looking tan and smiling. They both hugged Richard before Miranda went to sit at Hellie’s feet. Mitch noted that Michael jumped when Hellie sprang into her lap, but Miranda laughed it off.
Zainab and Emily came out to greet and hug Miranda and asked about her trip. Michael smiled at her as he talked to Richard, and Jessie thought she saw Miranda wink to him at one point.
"Well?" Jessie said finally. "Are you ready to make your big announcement yet?"
"Just one more guest," Richard said with a nod.
Five minutes later, the doorbell rang. "Finally!" Jessie said, and opened the door before Richard could reach it.
"Hello, Dear," Lucy said, leaning in to kiss a shocked Jessie and strode over to Richard. "Thank you for inviting me, Darling."
Richard hugged his mother. "Of course, Mom."
Michael went to sit with Miranda as Richard held out his hand for Zainab, who came over to him. He beamed at her, and Emily realized she’d never seen the two of them like that before, not even when they first started dating.
"So," Richard smiled as he hugged Zainab with one arm. "I’m sure you’re wondering why we’ve asked all of you to come. I wanted to let you know that Michael and Miranda were able to finalize our partnership in Israel. It’s a better deal than we could have possibly hoped for—we get the money we need, and they’re going to produce our vehicles. Small to start, but it can only go up from there."
"That’s wonderful news," Lucy said. Then she looked at Michael. "Thank you." Michael nodded his head.
"And I care why?" Jessie asked impatiently.
"Because that means," Zainab said, wrapping Richard’s hands around her waist, "that Richard will be freed up to spend time planning our June wedding."
"It’s about time!" Jessie said, nearly knocking Richard over as she hugged him and Zainab.
"I thought you’d say something like that," Richard laughed.
"Yay!" Hellie clapped, and everyone laughed.
"So when’s the big, long-awaited day?" Michael asked.
"June eleventh. And you’ll stand up with me?"
"I’d be insulted if you didn’t ask."
"You’ll find something to be unhappy about anyway, I’m sure."
Michael looked at Miranda. "You never know."
"And Martin, Mitch—you’ll be my groomsmen, yes?" Martin gave the thumbs up sign.
"What are you thinking for the bachelor party?" Mitch said to Michael.
Michael looked at Miranda, who was rolling her eyes at Emily. "For starters, that I’d like to be able to come home that night."
Zainab looked at her friends. "And you’re all going to be my bridesmaids, right?"
"And which of us will be your maid of honor?" Jessie asked, looking down her nose.
Zainab looked at Miranda. "Richard and I thought that if Michael was going to be the best man, it would only be fitting—"
"Oh, thanks, Z, but I don’t think I’m a good choice right now," Miranda said, shaking her head.
"Okay, so not only do you and Emily go to great pains not to include me in your weddings, now you won’t be my maid of honor?"
Miranda looked at Michael, then blushed. "Well, for one thing, I think I have some planning of my own to do," she said quietly as she played with her ring. "Plus, I think I’m supposed to be pretty tired right around then. Planning your bridal shower and bachelorette parties might be a little too much."
"How do you know that now?" Jessie asked, while Emily just smiled.
Michael had a huge grin on his face. Miranda frantically shook her head, but by then it was too late. "Holy cow!" Zainab said. "Are you—"
"We’re having a baby!" Michael burst out.
"Honey!" Miranda exclaimed.
Lucy smiled. "That is wonderful news."
"When?" Richard gasped with delight. "And when’s your wedding?"
"The baby’s here in August," Michael said, patting Miranda’s abdomen. "But she won’t make an honest man of me until October."
"Huh?"
"I don’t get it either," Michael said with exasperation.
"Someone," Miranda said, tweaking Michael’s nose, "wants a formal wedding and it’s not like we could have one of those tomorrow."
"No, but you could have it before October—or August," Mitch pointed out.
"Yes, but I don’t want to be eight months pregnant when I walk down the aisle."
"I think you just don’t want the baby to have my name," Michael grumbled.
"The baby will have your name," Miranda sighed.
"Harel-Abbot is not my name."
"Abbot-Harel," Miranda corrected.
"I don't believe in hyphens."
"I offered to flip a coin."
"Wait a minute!" Hellie said
"Yes, Hellie Belly?" Miranda asked, grateful for the interruption.
"You’re going to have a baby?"
Miranda smiled and nodded. "Yeah. What do you think?"
Hellie looked at Michael very seriously. "And you’re going to be the daddy?"
Michael nodded solemnly. "I am the daddy." Then he smiled. "Is that okay?"
"Yeah," Hellie said matter-of-factly. "But you didn’t have a wedding?"
"Well, um, we did a while ago but we need to have another one," Michael hedged. "So everyone can come." Emily and Mitch giggled quietly.
Hellie thought for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah. Even the baby." Then Miranda grinned and kissed Michael as everyone else laughed.
"What’s so funny?" Hellie demanded, but Jessie scooped her up and gave her a hug before anyone el
se could say anything.
EPILOGUE
Michael smiled when he opened the door. "Oh thank God," he said to Hellie. "Do you think you can help Miranda with the little ones so we can try to control a temper tantrum?"
"Okay, okay," Hellie shrugged, as she pulled her seven-year-old brother Louie in.
"Thanks sweetie," Michael sighed as Emily and Mitch walked in. "I could ask one of the adults, but they seem to listen to you more." He patted the little boy’s head. "Hey, Louie—why don’t you go upstairs and play with Jude, Harry and Katy?"
"Do I have to?" Louie whined to his mother.
Mitch bent over and whispered something, then Louie broke out into a smile. "Okay!" he said as he ran up the stairs.
"What did you say Dad?" Hellie asked.
Mitch shrugged. "I just mentioned that Lucy was probably going to play in there too when she came."
The adults giggled, but Hellie frowned. "He can’t help it," she snapped as she walked in.
Emily waited until her daughter was gone to grin. "Now I wonder if she’d feel differently if it were Ash."
Michael scowled. "Anyway, I think the main attraction is in the living room."
When the three walked into the living room, they saw Miranda holding newborn Olivia while trying to comfort a tearful two-year-old Violet. "I’m not a big girl!" Violet kept screeching at Hellie. Michael tried to shush Violet, but she cried even harder and reached for her mother. Miranda sighed, and handed Olivia over to Michael. "Come on, Vi," Miranda said as she picked the toddler up. "Let’s go play in your room for a minute, okay?"
Michael kissed Miranda as she and Hellie lead Violet away, then nuzzled the nose of his newborn. "I guess now is as good a time as any to meet the newest little Abbot," Michael said with a weary smile. He tilted the little bundle until everyone could see her dark curly hair and bright blue eyes. "Olivia, can you say hello?"
Emily rushed over, and Michael handed her over with a smile. "She is so beautiful!" Emily gushed.
Mitch came over and gently stroked the baby’s head. "You say that every time there’s a new Abbot."
Olivia looked around, not afraid, but as if she were trying to figure out what was going on. Emily laughed. "I think she takes after her dad."
"What?!?" Michael exclaimed, and Olivia tried to turn her head when she heard her father’s voice. Michael came over and took his daughter back. "She’s the spitting of her mother, aren’t you? Yes, you are just as pretty as she is."
"Not that the others aren’t just as gorgeous," Emily said.
"Oh, they’re the most beautiful children in the world—excuse me, some of the most beautiful children in the world—but I really wanted to see a little Miranda."
Emily smiled and stroked Olivia’s cheek. "I guess that’s fair, since Harry is a little Michael."
"That was three babies ago," Mitch laughed.
"So?" Michael said with mock defensiveness. "Someone has to have a big family."
Mitch nudged Emily, who nudged him back. "No problem," Mitch finally said, "I just never thought I’d see the day when you were struggling to fit everyone into this house."
"Ash having to share a room with Jude is not going to break us." Michael jumped when he heard Violet’s shriek from her room and covered Olivia’s ears. "Much better than the alternative."
Emily answered the next bell. It was Zainab, Richard, eight-year-old Lucy and three-year-old Stevie. "Hello, Doctor and Mister Hendrickson," Emily said as she kissed them both.
"Alright," Richard snapped playfully. "That’s getting kind of old. We all know I’m Zainab’s trophy husband, but do you have to rub it in?"
"It’s the only way I can keep you in your place, boss," Emily said as she hung up their coats. "Hey Luce!" she said as she hugged the tall little girl. "You know who’s dying to see you?"
"Is it Harry?" she exclaimed before she ran upstairs.
Zainab bit her lip, but Emily burst out laughing. "I guess Louie’s going to learn early that love doesn’t come easily."
Richard and Zainab took turns holding Olivia. Stevie smiled at the baby and tried to hold her, which reminded Mitch of how Hellie had been with Ash when he was born. Stevie reluctantly agreed to play in Violet’s room, which seemed to calm her down enough to let Miranda join the adults.
"She is beautiful," Zainab sighed as she kissed Miranda on the cheek. "Another job well done."
"Don’t say that," Miranda said. "It only inspires Michael to see what else we can come up with."
"Honey, that’s not true—" But before he could finish, the doorbell rang.
"Oh, wow!" Jessie said in amazement as she hugged Miranda. "How come you never seem to gain any weight with all of these babies, and I’m still trying to lose the last fifteen pounds I gained from this little one?"
Miranda kissed Martin and then picked up two-year-old Josie. "Because your little girl is a sweet angel, and I have the neediest, most demanding children on the planet."
"That’s because all of them take after their fathers," Martin smiled as he picked up his daughter and walked into the living room.
"Hey, I was angelic!" Jessie said as she took Josie and brought her into Violet’s room.
"Wow," Martin said as he held Olivia, who was still looking around the room with bemusement, but always returning to the comfort of her father’s voice. "So you’ve got, what, four brunettes now? Are you going to go for another blonde or redhead?"
Miranda rested her head on Zainab’s shoulder while Emily rubbed her back. "So, Michael," Emily laughed, "what’s for dinner?"
"The avocado and pasta thing," Michael said in a monotone.
Emily snickered as she remembered the first time she’d made Pasta della California for Michael, when Miranda had been six months pregnant with Ash and had thrown a fit that Emily never made enough. She’d given Michael the recipe that night, and it seemed to make an appearance now every time there was a new little Abbot.
Michael smiled, because his memory of eating that for the first time was very different. Michael had grumbled yet again about the hyphenated name for his unborn son—Harel-Abbot? Abbot-Harel? He couldn’t remember anymore. While stabbing the last of her avocado, Emily had casually remarked that the baby should be an Abbot, since there were so many Harels and Michael was, so to speak, the last of his kind. Miranda had been shocked, and Michael kept his mouth shut while Emily argued his point for him. By the end of the evening, Miranda had agreed that the baby would be named Asher James Abbot. Now, as reluctant as he was to eat avocados with warm pasta, Michael still associated that dish with walking on air.
Jessie burst in a moment later. "Emily, what is your problem?"
"So many to choose from—you’re going to have to narrow it down."
"Hellie’s not going to college?!?"
The room went silent, and everyone looked at Mitch and Emily. "Have you lost your mind?" Zainab asked.
"She took the SATs, and she scored off the charts. But she doesn’t want to commit to any one place right now, and since she’s fifteen, we thought we’d let it ride for a year."
"Well, you’d better talk to her again," Jessie sputtered, "because she’s got in her head that she’s going to sign on with the nominee and campaign with him or her next year."
Mitch looked at Michael with exasperation. "Does this have anything to do with you, Mister Follow Your Dream?"
"I like that she’s so—"
"Committed," Miranda said dryly.
"Openly passionate," Michael said, but turned away from his wife. "Come on, what’s the harm? It’s not like college won’t be there when the campaign is over, and she’ll still be one of the youngest freshman in her class."
Richard shook his head incredulously. "Michael, don’t you understand? If Hellie doesn’t go, none of them are likely to go. If Lucy doesn’t go to college because of this, all three of you are fired," he said as he pointed his finger at Emily, Michael and Mitch.
"As your chief legal counsel," Mitch said in a de
ad-pan, "I can tell you right now that we'll have a case for unlawful dismissal."
Martin laughed and looked at Michael. "Dude, I can tell you right now, if Hellie really does campaign next year, she’ll have company."
Two minutes later, twelve-year-old Asher James Abbot, also known as AJ, also known as Ash, also known as Double A, bounded down the stairs. He was as tall as his father, though not quite as broad—yet. He was blonde with green eyes like the Hamiltons, but his face was the spitting image of his father’s.
"How nice of you to join us," Michael said drily. "I don’t suppose you heard Violet screaming her head off half an hour ago, did you?"
"Sorry," he said sheepishly. "I was downloading some stuff, and I had my earphones on." If he hadn’t inherited his mother’s effortless charm, Michael would have been upset. As it was, he was just annoyed.
"Uh huh," Miranda said, shaking her head and smiling. "Now that you’ve returned to the real world, do you think you can check on Jude and the twins? Lucy and Louie are over, and there are some things they don’t need to know about."
"Louie’s here?" Ash asked, trying to act casual. Mitch waved, and Ash smiled. "Oh, right—yeah. Sure. I’ll go check. Right now." Ash ran up the stairs, and Miranda turned red as she laughed.
"I’ve got two minutes," Richard said as he looked at his watch.
"Two minutes and fifteen seconds," Martin said.
"One minute fifty seconds," Jessie said as she leaned on Martin’s shoulder.
Jessie was the winner. "Mom!" Ash bellowed as he ran down the stairs.
"Yes?" Miranda asked, not even turning around.
"Ash, leave your mother alone," Michael said, then mentally kicked himself.
"Sorry, but I need some back up. Harry’s beating up Katy, Katy’s beating up Lucy, Harry’s beating up Louie—"
"So you just left them?" Zainab said calmly.
"Um, yeah," Ash said with a shudder. "Katy can be vicious."
Miranda looked at her lap, still unable to look at her son without bursting into laughter. "He has a point."
Let's Move On (The New Pioneers Book 4) Page 20
