When (he)arts Prevail

15

It wasn't much longer until Johanna came from the kitchen with a huge pot of food in her hands and yelling at everybody to step away from her. Mike went rushing toward her to help her place the pot on the table.

"Let's go, kids," she called and everyone filled up the seats at the table.

And when they they were all settled, Johanna cleared her throat for attention. Kaylee caught the secretive smile covering her lips when her gaze met Mike's next to her. "I don't think I can wait until the end of dinner," Johanna confessed.

Kaylee's eyebrow rose even more in suspicion and by then confusion was clear in everyone's faces. Questioning glances were thrown among them, yet no one had a clue.

Mike and Johanna held a silent conversation with each other for a moment, where they only nodded their heads and beamed excitedly.

At last they both raised from their seats, Mike draping his arm warmly over Johanna's waist. "So," he began, throwing a last look at her, who nodded again in confirmation. "We are pregnant."

"Oh, my God—"

"Holy shit—"

"Mother of Jesus—"

Everyone spoke over one another, chairs thrown back as excitement kept them from remaining seated.

Brian was the first to jump into Mike's embrace as he was the closest, so Kaylee went to Johanna, hugging her with much more care now than when she arrived, mindful of her belly.

"Congratulations! I'm so happy for you! I knew you were glowing brighter today!" Kaylee said, which made Johanna and herself laugh. "I'm kidding, I have zero notions of what a pregnant woman looks like." That ripped another chuckle from Johanna and Alyssa, who was now in line behind Kaylee to congratulate the couple.

Kaylee finally managed to shoo the other boys away from Mike so she could offer him a hug as well. "Who would know?" she said.

"Uh— I would guess everyone," Brian mused next to her.

"I was being sarcastic, idiot," Kaylee said, lighthearted. If there was anyone who would get babies first among her friends, it was obviously Johanna and Mike. Kaylee was actually surprised it had only happened now.

"If it's a boy, you ought to call him Dennis Junior."

Kaylee often forgot Denny's real name was Dennis.

"Right..." Mike drawled. "That makes so much sense."

"Doesn't it?" Denny grinned, pleased with himself.

Kaylee grabbed onto Mike's arm. "Do you know already? How far long are you?"

Mike held onto his ridiculously flat belly. "I would say close to zero months, but what would you say?"

"Shut up!" Kaylee guffawed.

"Almost 3 months" he said more seriously now, yet still smiling tenderly. "Still don't know the baby's gender."

"Ugh, I hope it's a girl. I've had enough of you, boys."

Kaylee saw Johanna nod furiously at her statement and cross her fingers, which made Kaylee smile at her.

Festivities over for the moment, Johanna sat down on her seat with a heavy sigh and everyone followed suit. "Let's eat, Mamma is starving," she said.