You better not! Josie said.

Roxie looked at Mrs. Needleman, who nodded for her to go next. Roxie sighed before she made her contribution. Okay, she said. I give my word to all of you that I'll refrain from bad-mouthing men during your pregnancies because, well, men are how you got that way in the first place.

Everyone snickered.

And if they turn out to be boys I'll love them anyway, she added.

Thank you for that, Rox, Josie said.

They all turned to Mrs. Needleman, who giggled again. Is it my turn? she asked.

Yes! they all said together.

Can I say anything I want?

Of course!

All right, then. She cleared her throat. I promise to watch over each and every one of you, forever. Mrs. Needleman's eyes sparkled. She took her free hand and placed it on Ginger's belly, bending slightly to address whoever lurked inside. And that means you, little one. Then she touched Josie's stomach. And you, too, my dear.

Mrs. Needleman straightened and her eyes filled with happy tears. You have no idea how much joy you've brought to this little old woman, she said. I treasure you all.

By the time the boys got home, Ginger had showered, fixed her hair, got something in her stomach, and made herself presentable.

The boys didn't notice that anything was amiss. Of course, they were distracted by the bag of Doritos, the leftover apple pie, the frozen miniature bagel pizzas, and the half a gallon of orange juice they were hauling out of the refrigerator.

Josh ripped the foil cover off the pie tin, perplexed. Hey, how many pieces of this pie did you eat last night, Fatty McFatface?

Shut up, Faggy McFagtard, Jason said. I had one piece last night, like everyone did.

But there's only one piece left! Who's going to get to eat it? Josh moaned.

Ever heard of fractions, President Pissbrain?

Ginger sat down at the kitchen table, putting her hands in her lap, thinking back to when her boys didn't insult each other twenty-four/seven, to when they didn't have armpit hair, or Facebook accounts.

She remembered when she was pregnant with them. She loved being pregnant. She'd been equal parts thrilled and terrified. She'd read everything she could get her hands on, and knew on any given day what exact stage of development the babies had reached. She remembered feeling as if she were the center of the universe, the only woman who had ever been pregnant. She'd felt more specialand more beautifulthan at any other time in her life.

This time around, she would be less terrified and more knowledgeable. She would savor it instead of wishing the time would race by. She would feel even more special, because this baby wasn't planned. This baby had arrived in her life unexpectedly, just the way his or her father had.

Suddenly it dawned on Ginger that Josh and Jason would be well over sixteen when the baby was born. She gasped. They'd be thirty-four-year-old men by the time the baby graduated from high school! And she'd be fifty-eight!

What are you thinking about, Mumu? Josh asked. You okay?

Yeah, Jason said, putting the pizza bites in the microwave. Dad told us you were going through the change and that we could expect to see you freak out on a regular basis. So is that what you're doing now?

Ginger laughed at the irony. Just a couple months ago she was worried about whether to get a glycolic acid facial. Now she was worried about getting enough folic acid. Back then she was booking appointments with plastic surgeons who could make her look younger. Now she had to book an appointment with an OB who specialized in older moms.

She smiled at her boys. I'm going through a change all right, but not the one your dad thinks.

Jason shoved a wad of Doritos in his mouth and looked at her for a minute, as if he were weighing her last statement. You know, Dad said he didn't appreciate all the time Lucio was spending with me. He said he thought Lucio was just pretending to like me and Josh so you'd let him move in here and sponge off your alimony.

He called him a freeloader, Josh said.

And a gigolo, Jason said.

And Dad said your work at Petography wasn't a real job, Josh said.

And he said he's going to come over here one day and kick Lucio's ass, Jason added.

Ginger began laughing in earnest. It was just too hilarious. Here she was, knocked up with the disingenuous, freeloading gigolo's baby and not even gainfully employed! Was Larry going to have a field day with that, or what?

She was laughing so hard she didn't hear the doorbell.

Piers stayed for a quick cup of coffee, talking with the boys about his work. Eventually he told Jason they should be going. Do you mind if I speak with your mom for a moment? he asked Jason.

Sure, he said. Let me get my backpack from my room.

Piers opened the patio doors and gestured for Ginger to walk with him outside. HeatherLynn was right at her heels. It was a cool October day, and Ginger pulled her cardigan close.

Is everything all right? she asked, noticing a nervous energy in Piers.

He laughed a little. That's what I wanted to discuss with you.

Ginger stopped walking, and placed her hand on Piers's forearm. Is it Lucio? Is he all right? She couldn't prevent the horrible thought from racing through her headsomething had happened to him before she could tell him about the baby!

He is fine, physically. That's not it. Piers pulled out a chair for her at the outdoor table. Maybe you should sit down.

She did, yanking the sweater tight across her chest, suddenly shivering. HeatherLynn put her paws on her shin, whimpering to be picked up.

I don't know you very well, Ginger, but you seem like a very nice woman, and so I believe it is my duty to tell you that Lucio may not be exactly what he seems.

Ginger's heart thudded. For a second, the blood pounded so hard in her head that she couldn't hear.

I don't understand, she whispered.

Piers looked racked with uncertainty. I love him. He is like a brother to me, he said, now near tears. But I can't just sit by and watch him do this to you, the way he's done it to so many women.

Do what? Ginger asked, her head suddenly clear, the blood rushing to her limbs. She knew she would have to fight the instinct to run awaythat was how much she did not want to hear what was coming next.

You know, Lucio is not very good at keeping relationships going. He left his home in Spain and has had no contact with anyone in his family. It's sad.

I knew that, Ginger said.

And he's walked away from every woman he ever professed to love. One of them was so mad she had him tossed out of China and let go from his Geographica contract as her way of getting revenge.

He has told me all about this.

And my late wife, Sylvie? He crushed her heart into a million pieces.

Ginger didn't like how this sounded. It was as if Piers were trying to poison her view of Lucio.

Unfortunately, that approach even spreads to his friends, Piers went on. When Sylvie died, he didn't even bother coming to the funeral.

Despite the fact that her hands were tucked under her arms, she felt them begin to shake.

What I need to tell you is that Lucky has taken an assignment very far away and plans to leave any day.

No.

He wouldn't do that.

HeatherLynn suddenly jumped from her curled-up position in Ginger's lap, letting loose with a string of high-pitched yips. Ginger's throat tightened. She began frowning. She ripped a hand free so she could tap her brow.

The assignment is in Mauritius. Are you familiar with it?

Did it matter where the hell it was? she wondered. If the man was leaving for Sacramento it would be a deal-breakersimply because he hadn't told her in advance.