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Laura laughs. “We aren’t that old.”
I don’t say anything, but I have a lot on my mind. Do we have room for the baby? Where is it going to sleep? Is it going to share a room with Olive? What if they don’t want me to stay here anymore? Babies are expensive.
“Did you plan this?” Olive demands.
“It was definitely a surprise,” Rob says, eyes widening.
Laura squeezes his hand. “But we’re excited.”
Olive takes a giant bite of waffle and chews it loudly as she overthinks this new information. “Everyone is going to think the baby is mine anytime we go in public. What am I supposed to do about that?”
“Carry a sign that tells everyone you’re the sister,” Laura says without missing a beat.
Olive frowns. “Am I going to have to babysit all the time? I’m not good with babies.”
Laura smiles at Olive. “You’ll be just fine. You’re overthinking this. This is going to be a big change for everyone, but it’s going to be okay. We’ll navigate it together.”
I don’t include myself in the “we.” I’m not part of their family, and I probably won’t even be around by the time the baby comes. For all I care, they can turn the office into a nursery as soon as I’m gone. They don’t need me here. They took care of me because they pitied me, but once I’m old enough to live on my own, they won’t feel obligated to keep me here.
“What do you think, Daniel?” Laura asks.
“Oh,” I say, sitting up. “Congratulations.” That’s a thing people say, right?
“Thank you,” she says. “And don’t worry. I know our house is a little small for three kids, but we’ll make it work.”
I nod. Do I believe her? Not really, but nodding seems like the fastest way to get out of here. I don’t want to be sitting at this table talking about a baby that won’t show up for months when I could be with Margo.
“I need to get to school,” I say, pushing my chair back.
“You need to eat something,” Laura says.
“I’ll grab an apple.”
“I should go too,” Olive says. She jumps up and follows me out the door. She hurries in front of me and walks backwards. “I knew something was up!”
“Well, you were right.”
She furrows her brow, and her mouth twists. “They can’t be serious. What were they thinking?”
“It’ll be fine,” I say.
She huffs as she continues down the sidewalk. “By the time I graduate, that kid won’t even be in school yet. They’re practically starting over. What if they die young, and I’m left raising it? How am I ever going to get on Broadway if I’m taking care of a kid?”
“Olive?”
“Hmm?”
I stall as I reach the bus stop. “Your mom is right. You’re overthinking this.”
She crosses her arms. “Well, someone has to.” Her eyes bug out. “I’ve never changed a diaper. How can I take care of a kid when I don’t even know that? And are babies like dogs? If I accidentally give it chocolate, will it die?”
I can’t help but laugh.
“This isn’t funny,” she says.
“Yes it is,” I say, getting on the bus.
Olive sits next to me. “I’m not prepared for this. It can’t happen.”
