Second Child

Kieran approached and sat down beside me. ‘Seems like Ken adores the baby girl. Maybe they really should get engaged,’ he suggested jokingly. ‘Marrying your childhood sweetheart is always a nice story.’ I looked up at him, shaking my head. ‘You are just as crazy as Conor. Ken’s in kindergarten, and Isabella can’t even talk yet.’ ‘It was just a thought. Forget it.’ Kieran got up and pulled Conor aside to share their third beer of the night. Just the men were about to sit down for a game of poker, Kingsley came over with Vanessa. ‘Can you help me keep an eye on her for a while?’ he said, guiding Vanessa to sit on the sofa. ‘Sure,’ I said. He bent down to look Vanessa in the eye. ‘Are you sure you are gonna be fine? I can stay here with you if you want.’ ‘I’m fine. Go play.’ Vanessa waved him off. Kingsley lingered for a while longer before joining the men at the poker table. I felt a twinge of awkwardness as I looked at Vanessa. I had promised her not to reveal her pregnancy to Kingsley,