Avery arrived at Marie and Mick’s place for Christmas that year. Austin, Alex and Emily were already there, as were Zoe, Chris, Sarah, Jim, Nadine and Elijah. The family gathered around the table and enjoyed lunch together.
“So, next month, huh?” Avery asked Sarah.
“Yes and thank goodness,” Sarah said. “I can’t imagine giving birth to twins. I have no idea how Babsie did it five times.”
“It is mind boggling,” Zoe agreed.
“Well...” Marie spoke up nervously. “July next year your twins are going to have a new cousin.”
Avery looked up, startled. How did she know?
“You’re pregnant?” Sarah asked. “Congratulations!”
“Thank you.”
It took Avery a moment to register this, then started laughing.
“What’s so funny?” asked Mick.
“Oh just... ahh...” Avery blushed a little. “Marie’s not the only one expecting in July.”
This took a moment to sink in.
“You too?”
“Oh wow, how? When? Who?”
“Does anyone else know?”
“Congratulations, Avie,” Zoe said firmly.
“Thank you,” Avery replied, smiling at her. “And as for who... well, Dylan? From Monkey Business.”
“I’d forgotten, you guys had been seeing each other.”
“Wow. I can’t believe...” Sarah began.
“You should. You managed to keep both marriage and Nadine quiet for two years.”
“True, true. Point taken.”
“Oh wow, two cousins for Zoe’s twins,” Sarah mused.
“Well, except Avery’s would be a first cousin, and mine will be a first cousin twice removed,” Marie nodded.
“Oh, you know what that stuff means?”
“Yeah sure. Umm... well, okay, You, Sarah, and Mom – err, Jess are – were – sisters right? I’m her daughter and Nadine is you daughter so that made Nadine and I first cousins. My Elaine will be second cousins with Nadine’s future children.”
“She’s like, 6, I’m not sure if I want to think about her having children just yet.”
“Ahem, that’s not the point. My Elaine’s children will be third cousins with Nadine’s grandchildren so on and so forth. Follow me?”
“Yes..”
“Where does the removed stuff come in?”
“I’m getting to that. Okay, now Nadine and Elaine are cousins, but they’re different generations – branch of the family speaking, so that makes them first cousins once removed.”
“Oh!”
“So Elaine’s children will be first cousins twice removed to Nadine, and second cousins once removed to Nadine’s children.”
“Okay see, there was a reason why I could never understand this before. Way, way too confusing.”
Marie laughed.