Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Four: The New Addition
The call came on a Sunday morning.
Lina was in the kitchen, making pancakes. Ethan was reading the newspaper. The grandchildren were playing in the living room.
"Mama," Lily said, her voice different. Softer. "I'm pregnant again."
Lina sat down at the kitchen table.
"Pregnant," she repeated. "Again?"
"Again. We wanted to wait to tell you. Until we were sure."
Lina's eyes filled with tears.
"How far along are you?"
"Three months. Everything looks good. The baby is healthy."
Lina cried. Happy tears.
"Congratulations, sweetheart," she said. "I'm so happy for you."
---
The family celebrated.
The penthouse was filled with people—Victoria and Victor and Katherine, David and his half-siblings, Leo and Maya and Stella, Emily and Hope, friends and neighbors and the particular chaos of a family that had something to celebrate.
Lily sat on the couch, her hand on her stomach, her smile bright.
"I can't believe I'm going to be a grandmother again," Lina said.
Ethan put his arm around her. "I can't believe I'm going to be a grandfather again."
Lina leaned into him. "We're old."
Ethan laughed. "We're experienced."
Lina laughed too. "That's what old people say."
---
Grace was thrilled.
"I'm going to be a big sister again!" she shouted, jumping up and down.
Stella looked confused. "You're already a big sister."
"To a new baby. A different baby."
Stella nodded slowly. "Oh."
Clara climbed into Lily's lap. "Baby," she said, patting her mother's stomach.
Lily laughed. "Yes, baby. Soon."
---
The months passed.
Lily's belly grew. She was tired and emotional and hungry all the time. Jake took care of her, bringing her ice cream at midnight, rubbing her feet, reading to the baby.
Grace talked to her mother's belly, explaining the stars to the unborn child.
"She's going to be an astronaut," Grace said.
Lily laughed. "She's going to be whatever she wants to be."
Grace nodded. "That's true. But she's also going to be an astronaut."
---
The baby was born on a sunny Tuesday in June.
A boy. Small and perfect and beautiful.
Lily and Jake named him Samuel.
Lina held him in the hospital room, tears streaming down her face.
"He's beautiful," Lina said.
Lily nodded. "He is."
"He looks like Jake."
Lily smiled. "He looks like himself."
Lina handed the baby back.
"I love you," she said.
Lily hugged her. "I love you too, Mama."
---
Lina became a grandmother again.
She visited every week, holding Samuel, singing to him, reading him stories. She watched him grow from a newborn to a baby to a toddler.
Grace was a devoted big sister. She held Samuel's hand. She talked to him. She taught him about the stars.
"He's going to be an astronaut," Grace said.
Lina smiled. "He's going to be whatever he wants to be."
Grace nodded. "That's true. But he's also going to be an astronaut."
---
Stella was curious about the baby.
She sat beside Lina, watching Samuel sleep.
"Why is he so small?" she asked.
Lina thought about the question. "Because he's new. He hasn't had time to grow yet."
Stella nodded slowly. "Will he grow?"
"Yes. Every day. Just like you did."
Stella looked at Samuel. "I was small once?"
Lina pulled her granddaughter into her arms.
"Very small," she said. "Smaller than Samuel."
Stella's eyes were wide. "Really?"
"Really."
Stella leaned into her. "I love you, Grandma."
Lina held her granddaughter.
"I love you too, sweetheart. More than anything."
---
Clara was jealous of the baby.
She sat in the corner, her arms crossed, her lip pouting.
Lina walked over to her.
"What's wrong, sweetheart?" she asked.
Clara pointed at Samuel. "He's getting all the attention."
Lina knelt down beside her.
"Samuel is new," she said. "He needs extra help right now. But that doesn't mean we love you any less."
Clara's eyes filled with tears. "Promise?"
Lina pulled her into her arms.
"Promise," she said.
Clara hugged her back.
"I love you, Grandma," she whispered.
Lina held her granddaughter.
"I love you too, sweetheart. More than anything."
---
That night, Lina sat on the couch with Ethan.
The penthouse was quiet. The twins were grown. The grandchildren were asleep.
"How do you feel?" Ethan asked.
"Full," Lina said. "Not from the food. From... everything. From watching them grow. From seeing them shine."
Ethan put his arm around her. "They get it from you."
"Get what?"
"The shining. The confidence. The ability to love and be loved."
Lina leaned into him. "They get it from you too."
"Maybe. Or maybe they get it from themselves. Maybe they're just who they're supposed to be."
Lina thought about that.
She thought about Grace, the astronaut. Stella, the scientist. Clara, the dancer. Samuel, the baby. All of them perfect, just as they were.
"I can't wait to see who they become," Lina said.
Ethan kissed her forehead.
"Neither can I," he said.
---
End of Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Four