Chapter One Hundred Forty-Eight: The Growing Family
Grace was five years old when she announced that she wanted a baby sister.
Lina was in the kitchen, making cookies. Grace sat at the table, a crayon in her hand, a piece of paper in front of her.
"I'm going to ask Mama for a baby sister," Grace said.
Lina looked at her granddaughter. "What if Mama says no?"
Grace thought about the question. "Then I'll ask Aunt Maya."
Lina smiled. "What if Aunt Maya says no?"
Grace thought again. "Then I'll ask you."
Lina laughed. "I'm too old for babies."
Grace shook her head. "You're not old. You're experienced."
Lina laughed again. "That's what old people say."
---
Lily was pregnant.
The call came on a Sunday morning. Lina was making pancakes. Ethan was reading the newspaper.
"Mama," Lily said, her voice high and breathless. "I'm pregnant."
Lina sat down at the kitchen table.
"Pregnant," she repeated. "You're pregnant again."
"I'm pregnant! Grace is going to be a big sister!"
Lina's eyes filled with 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."
---
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 constellations to the unborn child.
"She's going to be a scientist," 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 a scientist."
---
The baby was born on a rainy Tuesday in March.
A girl. Small and perfect and beautiful.
Lily and Jake named her Clara.
Lina held her in the hospital room, tears streaming down her face.
"She's beautiful," Lina said.
Lily nodded. "She is."
"She looks like Grace."
Lily smiled. "She looks like herself."
Lina handed the baby back.
"I love you," she said.
Lily hugged her. "I love you too, Mama."
---
Grace was a devoted big sister.
She held Clara's hand. She talked to her. She sang to her.
"She's going to be a scientist," Grace said.
Lina smiled. "She's going to be whatever she wants to be."
Grace nodded. "That's true. But she's also going to be a scientist."
---
Lina became a grandmother again.
She visited every week, holding Clara, singing to her, reading her stories. She watched her grow from a newborn to a baby to a toddler.
Grace and Stella were cousins and friends. They played together. They laughed together. They argued about whose turn it was to choose the game.
Lina watched them and felt her heart swell.
---
One afternoon, Lina sat in the garden with Victoria.
The sun was warm. The flowers were blooming. The birds were singing.
"Look at us," Victoria said. "Great-grandmothers."
Lina laughed. "I'm not a great-grandmother yet."
Victoria smiled. "You will be. Someday."
Lina looked at the sky. "Someday."
They sat in silence, watching the clouds.
"I never thought I would see this day," Victoria said. "I never thought I would be here. With you. With this family."
Lina took her hand.
"Neither did I," she said. "But we are. We're here."
Victoria squeezed her hand.
"I love you," she said.
Lina squeezed back.
"I love you too," she said.
---
That night, Lina sat on the couch with Ethan.
The penthouse was quiet. The twins were grown. Grace, Stella, and Clara 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 stargazer. Stella, the scientist. Clara, 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 Forty-Eight