“Seems that way. I did tell them we had big news before we got here. Maybe they were hoping it was an engagement and spread the word to my brothers that we might have a celebration. Baby was a bonus.”
Her eyes widen. “They were that confident we were engaged?”
“I’m guessing, but…”
There’s a knock at the door.
“That was fast,” Harper says.
“Could you get that?” my mom asks, gesturing to me.
“Sure.” I walk over and open the door. My oldest brother, Dylan, is standing there, holding my niece Olivia, who’s holding a bouquet of congratulations balloons. His wife, Ariana, is behind him, with a double stroller for the twins.
“Is this where the party is?” he asks.
I laugh and let him in. “What did Mom and Dad tell you?”
“Mom said you were crazy about Harper, and she felt sure an engagement was in the works. So here we are for your engagement party. We were next door. Give him the balloons, Olivia.”
She thrusts them at me, and I take them. “Thank you.”
He sets her down, and she runs straight to my mom in the kitchen.
“Be right back,” he says. “I’m gonna help Ariana with the twins and their gear. Congratulations, Harper.”
“We’re having a baby too!” Harper exclaims happily.
He smiles widely. “Double congratulations are in order then. You’ll love having kids. We do.” He leaves to help his wife.
“Can you watch Olivia?” my mom asks us. “I’m going to the basement to get the decorations.”
“Mom, how in the world did you know?”
She taps her heart. “Mom radar working better than ever! I know you, Garrett, and when I saw you two together for Olivia’s big-sister party, I knew it was just a matter of time.” She beams and rushes to hug me and then Harper. “Harper, any questions you have about pregnancy or birth, anything at all, I’m happy to share. I had six healthy boys.”
“I’d love that,” Harper says. “Thank you, Mrs. Rourke.”
“You can call me Mom if you’d like, or Tara.”
“Thank you, Mom.”
“Aww!” She hugs Harper again and kisses her cheek. “What a wonderful way to start the new year! A new daughter! Gosh, I never thought I’d get one.” She heads to the basement.
In no time there’s a full house. All of my brothers are here with their wives, even Brendan, who lives up in Massachusetts. He stuck around for the holidays. My dad’s back with the Bianchis—our neighbors and Dylan’s in-laws—since he married the girl next door.
Josie and Harper are talking excitedly about our new house right across the street from them in Park Slope. Sean let us know it was going on the market, so we put in a pre-emptive bid yesterday, and we found out it was ours today. We’re thrilled. The baby can get to know their aunt and uncle right across the street, and we’ll watch each other’s places when someone has to be away for work. Everything’s falling into place in my life. A new house, a wife, a baby. I’m going to be a husband and dad, something I’ve always wanted, with the most amazing woman.
I join them, wrapping an arm around my future wife.
She smiles up at me. “Josie says there’s a lot of new moms in the neighborhood.”
“That’s great. Our kid will have cousins and neighborhood friends to play with.”
“I’m so excited for you both,” Josie says. “I just knew right from the beginning that you two were a match.” She calls over to the kitchen. “Didn’t I say that, Sean?”
“What’s that?” he asks.
“I said they were a match,” she says.
He nods. “True. She desperately wanted Harper in the family.”