Chapter 34

Three months later

"Tell me, you want a girl or a boy?" Gabby asked Matt while he was shaving his beard.

That morning they were going to the doctor's appointment, and they were ready to find out the gender. Gabby would be happy with a boy or girl, having a baby with the man she loved was the most important for her. Having a baby with her and Matt's features was something that she was envisioning.

Matt didn't answer Gabby, he thought wasn't fair for Gabby to say what gender he wanted more. If in the end, they found out the baby wasn't what he expected she could be sad and it was unacceptable for him. Today would be an amazing day for them, so he chose the easier way. "Matt, I'm waiting..." she said impatiently as she rubbed some lotion on her arms.

"Sorry..." he turned in her direction..." I don't have a preference, I'll be happy whether is a girl or a boy...," he smiled at her. She stared at him for a few seconds.

"You want a girl..." she told him. He was caught off guard. How did she know that? He never told to anyone.

"What? I- I don't... I mean...," he stuttered. Matt has known that Gabby sometimes could read him like an open book.

"Matt, be honest with me... you want a girl and I understand that...," Matt cut her off as cradled her face in his hands.

"Look, I never told-," and then something hit him.

Last week he was chatting with Herrmann in the locker room. Herrmann was telling him about the behavior of his two sons and how was difficult for to him discipline them. If Matt remembered it right he told Herrmann he loved being a girl's father, it wasn't easy, but what he most loved in it was that Anna was so caring. Besides she wasn't a difficult baby, she showed him the beautiful things of life. Being a father to a boy would be a big adventure for him and he was a little scared about that.

Matt narrowed his eyes at Gabby. "You heard Herrmann and me talking in the locker room."

Gabby opened her mouth and shut it quickly. She didn't intend to hear their conversation, that just happened and only listened to the last part, she thought. As soon as she heard he was scared she went back to the common room.

"Gabby?" he insisted. Her reaction was to step back and Matt lost his grip on her. He followed her steps. "There is no problem if you heard us talking..." he reassured her. Gabby sat on the bed and put on her earrings, she didn't seem interesting in what he had to say. Matt kneeled before her and put his hand on her knees. She sighed looking at him.

"Forget what I said, know that I had no intention to hear you guys talking, just happened..." When she tried to stand up, he held her by her knees.

"You are important to me, Gabby, and what you think matters to me. I didn't say to Herrmann that I wanted our baby to be a girl, I said that I love being Anna's father, cause I know one or two things about taking care of a girl. Having a boy would be a challenge, but a challenge that I would be experiencing with you, we would be together in this amazing ride..."

Matt stood up and sat by her side on the bed. He saw when tears started rolling down her face. "I can get a little scared, but I'm not going anywhere. You, Anna, and this baby are my entire world. I love you deeply Gabby..." his lips were almost touching hers. "Every morning when I wake up and look at you by my side, my heart swells and when I look at your belly growing, I think I can't be happier than I am right now..."

"I'm sorry..." she said crying even more.

"Hey, hey... no sorry here..." he hugged her and kissed her head. "Don't cry..." she pulled away.

"I love you and I want you to love this baby as much as I do...," Gabby avoided looking at him.

"Gabby, I love our baby, girl or boy, I've imagined our family activities with him or her, all the great things he or she will add to our little family..."

Gabby gave him a half smile, "Have you...?" she asked excitedly.

"Yes...," his smile widened. He rested his forehead on hers. "I love you..." he kissed her on the lips and she kissed him back.

"I love you, Matt..." they kissed for a while. Matt gave her a few minutes to get ready, then they left their apartment.

Two hours later

"I think I have an idea to tell Anna the gender of the baby..." Matt said when he was getting in the car to back home.

"Yeah? What is it?" Gabby put on her seatbelt.

"With all the changes, we have to find a way for her not to feel left out...I think it's the right time to give her a puppy..." he was looking at the road.

"Are you serious?" Gabby was surprised by his decision.

"Yes... I know I gave you a hard time refusing to do that...," Matt glanced at her.

"For sure, even seducing with a new lingerie hasn't changed your mind, " she said seriously.

"You know, that night was crazy... you were hotter...," he looked her up and down.

"Matt...," she blushed. He stopped the car because of the red light.

"What? Don't be shy... Baby, you are hot...," he said with a husky voice.

"How did we change the subject all suddenly?" she crossed her arms.

"You started it..." he had a point. The light turned green.

"Okay... but now let's talk about the newest family member... We go to the shelter I've visited before, we can adopt the puppy there... I made some research a few months ago..."

"Alright." They took only one hour to feel in love with a little white dog, it had the same color as Matt and Anna's eyes. Next, they bought the dog food and went to Christie's house, where Anna was. They would save time and tell Matt's sister and niece the gender of the baby as well.

"Hi, Christie...," Gabby hugged her sister-in-law.

"Hi... so... I am having a niece or a nephew?" Matt hugged her sister.

"Just one minute and you will know. Where is Anna?"

"She is upstairs with Violet, they are playing..."

"Great...," Gabby said excitedly. "Baby, you can bring the dog, Christie, can you bring the girls, please?" Christie looked at them a little confused.

"Dog... what dog?" Matt walked out of the house and closed the door behind him.

"You will see...," before Christie could go upstairs the girls were already descending the stairs.

"Mom...," Anna exclaimed.

"Hey...," Gabby hugged Anna. "Were you a good girl for your aunt?"

"Yeah... I missed you, dad, and the baby. Where is he? The doctor said it is a girl or a boy?" Anna looked around.

"First your dad is outside," Gabby knelled, choosing to be on the same level as Anna. "Look, we have a surprise for you, but you have to be a big girl and take care of it..."

"What is it?"

"Open the door... your surprise is outside waiting for you...," Anna strode to the door opening it widely.

"I can't believe it...," she said smiling. Matt was holding the puppy. Anna stretched her arms to take the dog in her arms and Matt gave it to her. Violet got closer and started to caress the puppy. They stayed looking at the girls interacting with the dog for a few minutes...

They walked into the house... The adults sat down on the couch in the living room. Violet and Anna were sitting on the floor playing with the puppy.

"So Anna, you still want to know the gender of the baby?" Gabby asked.

"Yes, I would like to know..."

"Then the clue is the dog collar's color..." Anna's eyes got wide.

"I'm having a sister?" Matt and Gabby smiled at each other.

"Yes, you are..." Gabby said. Anna stood up and started to jump.

"A sister, we getting a baby sister..." everyone snickered at her antics.

"Come here..." Matt asked and Anna was engulfed by her parents' arms.

"Congratulations, guys..." Christie said.

"Thank you, sister... we are really happy," he kissed Gabby on the cheek while she was hugging him.