THE MORNING AFTER
The first sign that the pregnancy had become public was Pablo’s phone call.
The second was Justin screaming.
The third was the family group chat exploding so violently that Felip’s phone overheated.
He stared at the screen.
PABLO:WE NEED TO TALK.
JUSTIN:CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!
STELL:WAIT WHAT
JOSH:BABY FOUR???
JUSTIN:THE EMPIRE EXPANDS
PABLO:WHO POSTED IT?
JUSTIN:NOT ME
PABLO:THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT SOMEONE WHO POSTED IT WOULD SAY.
Felip sighed.
Y/N sat across from him at the breakfast table.
“What happened?”
He turned his phone around.
She read the messages.
Then laughed.
“You haven’t told them?”
“We were going to.”
“When?”
“I don’t know.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“So your plan was?”
“Eventually.”
“Very organized.”
“I had a plan.”
“What was it?”
“Tell everyone.”
“When?”
“Eventually.”
She laughed.
Felip smiled despite himself.
Then his phone rang.
Pablo.
He answered.
“Hello?”
“Felip.”
“Morning.”
“Is it true?”
Felip glanced at Y/N.
She nodded.
“Yes.”
Silence.
Then:
“Four?”
“Yes.”
“Four children?”
“Yes.”
Another silence.
“Felip.”
“Yeah?”
“I need a bigger spreadsheet.”
Felip laughed.
“You already have one.”
“It’s not big enough.”
Within an hour, everyone was at the house.
Pablo arrived with folders.
Josh arrived with coffee.
Stell arrived with food.
Justin arrived carrying balloons.
Felip stared at the balloons.
“Why do you have those?”
“Celebration.”
“You weren’t invited.”
“I invited myself.”
“You always do.”
Justin grinned.
“I’m an uncle.”
Pablo dropped a folder onto the table.
“Okay.”
Everyone sat down.
Felip stared at him.
“What is that?”
“The preliminary family expansion plan.”
Y/N blinked.
“The what?”
“Family expansion plan.”
Felip opened the folder.
There were charts.
Schedules.
Projected expenses.
Emergency contacts.
Potential bedroom arrangements.
A section labeled:
AURA MANAGEMENT
Felip stared at it.
“What is this?”
Pablo pointed.
“Your children.”
“I know.”
“No. You don’t understand.”
Pablo leaned forward.
“You already have three children.”
“Yes.”
“And now you’re having another.”
“Yes.”
“And every time your children interact with the rest of us, something happens.”
Justin raised his hand.
“Awoo.”
Pablo pointed at him.
“Exactly.”
The children were listening from the hallway.
The oldest stepped into the room.
“What’s happening?”
Felip smiled.
“Come here.”
The boy climbed onto his lap.
“We’re having a baby.”
The child’s eyes widened.
“A baby?”
Felip nodded.
“Our baby.”
The little boy looked at Y/N.
“Really?”
She smiled.
“Really.”
He thought for a moment.
Then whispered:
“Does the baby have aura?”
Everyone burst out laughing.
Felip hugged him.
“We’ll see.”
The boy nodded solemnly.
“I think yes.”
