Laptop in front of them, having made himself comfortable and made sure that the connection was working first, Ulric leans back and settles an arm around Mira’s shoulders. Joey is sitting between them, his Minion in his lap, and looking between both his parents as the sound of dialing starts.
“You ready Star?” The question is quiet, a worried look directed toward Mira.
Deep breaths.
She had to take deep breaths to try and calm herself down. This would be fine, she had to keep telling herself that. Even though she was already bracing herself for the worst. Mira sat back and snuggled next to Ulric for some comfort. She needed a lot of it. With one hand around Ulric, the other gave Joey’s head a soft pat. She had her family here with her, she knew she’d be okay.
But her heart was starting to race hearing the dial tones. Any minute Jack and Katelynn could pick up.
“Gonna have to be, won’t I?” Mira answered just as quiet. How on earth were they going to tell them their son and his fiancé are having a baby? Gail didn’t take it lightly. Mira supposed Ulric’s parents reactions would be worse.
So taking another breath in, Mira waited.
The image blipped to life before them, Katelynn’s chin taking up most of the screen as if she were checking on something above the monitor. “I wonder if I pressed the right button..?” she said softly to herself before leaning back and noticing they were visible. Her face brightened as her lips stretched out. “Hi honey!” She waved, eyes directed at Ulric. When she turned to see Mira, her smile became a touch more polite. “Hello Mira!
“Love! Ulric’s calling! Come say hi! Where’s your sister by the way?” Her attitude was bubbly, innocent eyes blinking at them.
There was the sound of something clattering over in the kitchen, and excited yapping. “H-hold on!” Jack called. “I just need to let the puppy out … !”
A few minutes later, a somewhat flustered-looking Jack Maple came into the living room to join his wife. With the special wheeled tray he’d set up, months ago, the two of them could sit on the couch together as they looked at the computer screen. The blue man smoothed his graying mustache and goatee, and scooted into view on the vidcam with a warm smile. “Hello, Ulric. And Miss Mira! It’s nice to see you back to normal,” he chuckled. “And hi there, you two,” he said in a softer voice, waving to Joey and Minion.
Jack Maple 