Page 196 of Maple Mountain
“Won’t you be needing that for the nursery?”Mom asked.
“Oh.Well, yeah, but maybe you could stay with us and help me figure that out too?Or if you’d be more comfortable at The Regal Beagle?—”
“We’ll stay with you,” Dad said.
“Archer gets up at five for work,” I said.“And he’s not the quietest, even though he tries to be.”
They looked at each other.
“The Regal Beagle then,” Dad said with a smile.
There was a knock on the bedroom door before it opened.
“Wyn?”Lenni asked, poking her head in.
I waved at her to come toward me.“I just told my parents you’re going to be a big sister.”
“You excited, Lenni?”Dad asked.
She nodded and smiled.“Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas,” Mom replied.
“We’re getting ready to open presents,” Lenni said to me.
“I’ll come down now.”To my parents, I said, “Gotta go.Love you guys.”
“Love you too, Winnie,” Dad said.
Mom beamed.“Congratulations again.”
I clicked off with them and got up off the bed.
“Winnie?”Lenni asked.
“Don’t even think about it,” I warned.
She grinned.“I wasn’t gonna.”
“Liar liar, pants on fire.”
I followed her out of the room.
“Fine, I was ...but Winnie and Lenni, they have a nice ring to them.Don’t you think?”
“I agree.”
“We should keep the theme going for the baby.”
“Oh yeah?”
She hit the stairs first.“Gigi, Vivi?—”
“Bebe, Stevie—” I echoed.
Mildred greeted us at the den doors.Lottie and the other pets were roaming the room, looking for attention.
“There you are,” Muddy said.“You ready to open gifts?”
