Tic-Tac-Mistletoe - N.R. Walker Page 0,54
jump? I don’t even— And I let you do all that food prep and cooking, and oh my God, Liv, you should have told me—”
She put her hand up. “And this is why I didn’t tell you straight away. I knew you’d freak out. I’m not incapacitated, Haims. I’m having a baby.”
“I’m not freaking out,” I said, trying not to freak out. “You’re having a baby! I’m going to be an uncle. Holy shit, I’m going to be an uncle.” I put my hand to my forehead. “An uncle to an actual human baby.” I was suddenly hit with a wave of emotion, gratitude and love, which just happened to come pouring out my eyes. “A baby . . .”
Liv put her hand on my arm. “And here comes the freak out.”
I wiped at my face, well, I tried to, almost gouging a trench in my forehead with the photo frame. Liv took the photo frame and I rubbed my stupid forehead. “I’m just so happy for you,” I said. “Tell me everything! Well, not everything. I get the basics, thanks. But due date? Do you know if you’re having a boy or a girl? We have so much to buy and get ready, and, oh hell yes, Liv, I have to take you to the baby section of every store we can find.”
She laughed. “We’ll have time for that. We’re due at the end of June, and we’re not going to find out if it’s a boy or girl. We want to be surprised.”
I nodded again, cried again, and hugged her again. “This is the best present ever.”
Ren was beside me then, shaking Josh’s hand and giving Liv a hug. “Congratulations,” he said warmly. “Such wonderful news.”
Then I gasped, putting my hand on Ren’s arm. “I need to open a trust account for them for when they turn eighteen. Actually, insurance bonds are better for tax purposes—”
“And here’s the finance-wiz uncle,” Liv said with laugh. “Hamish, just relax.”
“Finance management is very important, Olivia,” I said.
She rolled her eyes. “How about we compromise, and you can start making a list of what we need to do.”
She knew all my weak spots. “I love lists.”
“I know you do,” she replied. “Now, who wants a pre-dinner drink? And before you utter one word, Hamish Kelvin Keneally, mine is alcohol-free.”
Ren raised an eyebrow. “Kelvin?”
I sighed. “It was not my grandfather’s name. It’s a measurement of hotness.”
Liv snorted, and Ren laughed.
“Oh my God,” I cried. “We need to talk names! Come and sit with me,” I said, taking her hand and pulling her to the couch with me. Josh came back out with champagne flutes and Ren took his and sat on the floor, his long legs stretched out. Chutney quickly found his lap. Josh handed me and Liv our glasses and he sat on the single-seater.
“We’re not telling anyone our name choices just yet,” Liv said. “Sorry. But everyone has an opinion, and when Josh’s sister Tilly and her husband Scott told his parents the names they had picked out, his mom made some jokes and Tilly cried for a week, and the name was ruined and she was heartbroken.”
Josh nodded. “She was devastated, so we’re keeping our cards pretty close right now.”
I frowned at Liv. “That must have been awful for her. And I don’t mind, honestly. I’ll just call the baby Migaloo until you’re ready to announce it, and if that’s not until the baby’s born, so be it. Migaloo it is.”
Ren squinted at me. “Migaloo?”
I pointed to the photo frame. “For the sonar. You know, Migaloo, the famous whale.”
He chuckled and raised his champagne glass. “To the parents-to-be. It’s wonderful news.”
I squeezed Liv’s hand. “It’s the best news. Though I can’t believe you kept it from me all this time!”
“If you were staying in Australia, I would have told you before, but I really wanted to tell you face to face.”
“You’re gonna be the best mum,” I said, getting teary again.
She nodded. “And you’re gonna be the best uncle.”
“Gay uncles are the best,” I agreed. “All style and disposable income.”
Ren and Josh laughed, and something beeped in the kitchen. “I’ll get it,” Josh said.
“It’ll be the meat. Can you take them both out, please?” Liv smiled as Josh disappeared into the kitchen. “He’s been wonderful,” she whispered. “You should have seen his face when I told him I was pregnant, Haims. He was . . . just so in love. I can’t explain it any other way.”
I gave her hand