Metamorphosis

To be Jolly

Chapter 27

To be jolly

Amazingly, dinner went well. Adam and Audrey were polite and civil with one another, the food was good, and the conversation was barely awkward at all. Matt, Marli, and Mira all got along. The family talked and laughed, and it felt like old times.

Like her pregnancy never even happened.

At the end of dinner, Adam suddenly asked, "Hey Mira, didn't you say that there was someone you wanted me to meet?"

Mira stared at her father in confusion for a second before she remembered saying that.

"Um yeah, you wanna do it now?" she asked as she handed her plate to Marli, who was on her way to the kitchen with the dishes.

"Who is this person? Do we need to pick them up?" he inquired. Mira shook her head and pushed her chair back from the table.

"No, I'll be right back." The teen jogged up to the stairs to her room and got the required item. She walked back down the stairs and held it behind her back. "Ok, daddy, close your eyes."

Adam smiled in amusement and did so. Mira took one of his hands and placed the most recent stack of ultrasound pictures in it.

"Ok, you can look now." She said nervously. He opened his eyes and looked at the pictures then back up at his daughter. "It's… it's your grandchild, daddy. I got the pictures about two weeks ago."

Across the table, Matt and Audrey exchanged glances while Marli grip on the cake serving platter tightened.

Adam held the photos closer to his face and began flipping through them slowly. When he reached the last one he looked at his family thoughtfully.

"Boy or girl?" he asked, his voice cracking ever so slightly.

"What?" Audrey asked.

"The baby," he paused to clear his throat, "is it a boy or girl?"

"Oh, we're not sure yet, I should be able to find out soon." Mira answered, visibly relieved that he had not gotten angry.

"When you do… can you tell me?" he asked almost shyly. She nodded. "And… and can I keep this one?" he held up the picture that showed the entire left side of the baby's tiny body.

"Of-of course." She breathed, tears brimming in her eyes.

The room sat in a content silence for almost a minute, before Marli breaks it. "So, who wants dessert?"

While the rest of the family began to head into the kitchen, Adam sat in his seat for a few extra seconds, staring at the picture.

After much begging, pleading, and many uses of the words 'Christmas spirit', Audrey finally agreed to let Adam stay for the night. But he slept on the couch.

Miraculously, everyone went to bed relatively early. They knew they had a big day tomorrow so they wanted to be well rested.

On Christmas morning, everyone was crowded around the over-decorated tree to open their gifts.

Matt, Mira, and Marli received clothes, books, and various gift cards from their mother. Adam gave Matt a watch, Marli a new pair of roller blades, and Mira a pair of fur lined snow boots.

Adam also shocked Audrey by presenting her with a diamond bracelet.

"Now what time are you going over to Seth's?" Audrey asked as she and Adam put on their coats in preparation to leave.

"I'm not sure, he said he'd call." Mira said.

"Ok, have a fun time sweetheart." Audrey leaned over and kissed her daughter's cheek.