Jingle all the Mitchell Way: a holiday novella(32)

The room filled with congratulations. Everyone was hugging them and commenting on their good news. Just when I was about to do the same, I felt Reese’s hand lacing into mine. “Merry Christmas, Jake.”

“Merry Christmas, baby.” I reached into my pocket and pulled out a small box containing her gift. Reese opened it and looked up at me with a smile.

“It’s beautiful.” She pulled the necklace and turned around so I could put it on her. The large diamond lined M initial was centered against her chest when she swung back to face me. “I love it so much.” Reese kissed me and then ran over to fetch a small box for me.

“Did you get me an initial necklace too?”

“Open it up and see.”

While everyone in the room were paying attention to my brother, I lifted the lid to the box to reveal something I never expected. I looked up at Reese and saw tears falling down her cheeks. “I know it’s not as cool as a set of balls.”

I was still in shock. “Is this for real?”

“I took it this morning. We’re pregnant, Jake. We’re having a baby too.”

I pulled her into my arms, not noticing that all eyes had redirected to us. Jax came over and put his hand on my shoulder. “You better hope it’s yours, bro. The ghost could have knocked her up while you were sleeping.”

“You big idiot. The ghost isn’t real. It’s been us all along.”

“For real? You two suck.”

“I’m going to be a father,” I managed to mumble. It was surreal. I couldn’t believe it was true. I’d been hoping, but not wanting to jinx us in case we had a problem conceiving. “I’m going to be a father,” I repeated loudly.

I watched as Amber and Reese embraced. Jax tapped me on the back. “Our kids are going to be best friends.”

I put my arm around my twin brother and pulled him in for a hug. “Just like us, Jax. Merry Christmas, bro. I love ya.”

“Yeah, I love you too.” He pulled away. “Now pretend I’m a douche so they think we’re cool.”

I grabbed him again and kissed him on the cheek. “Don’t be ashamed of our love.”

Our dad came over and wrapped his arms around both of us, wedging us closer together. “I love you guys,” he said in a loud, obnoxious voice. “Thanks for giving me more grandkids. Let’s try for some boys this time.”

“Whatever we get will be fine,” Mom added.

We brought her into our group embrace and saw Isabella joining in. “Don’t leave me out.”

While in our family huddle, Dad said something none of us will ever forget. “This is what life is about. One day I won’t be around to carry on these family traditions. I need you all to promise you’ll teach your children how important this family is. We’re nothing without each other.”

He was right. At the end of the day it was our family that held us all together. Through good times and bad. Through holiday traditions, and road trips across the country, we were blood. We were stronger. We were Mitchells.

“Enough of the hugging. I need some pie.” And just like that, Jax was back to being Jax, while Dad egged him on. I looked around the room, so packed with family it was hard to move around, and I couldn’t remember ever feeling this happy.

I was going to be a father. New memories would be made. More pranks, and stories they’d grow to tell their own children. It was the circle of life, the beauty of it, the joy of the experience.

It was everything.