Camden nods his head. “That’ll work.”
“Plus, you’ve got that kid you need to frighten over in Drexel Village,” Stone says with a smile.
“Shut up.” I laugh. “You’re getting as bad as they are.”
“Feels almost like old times.” Cutter laughs. “Welcome home, Rome.”
Yeah… I guess I am home.
9
ELIZABETH
“Where’s my grandbaby? Mimi Juliette is ready for some serious face time with her baby today.”
My aunt glides through the doorway and into our living room, dressed as always in effortless glamour. She’s wearing a pair of breezy wide-leg khaki slacks, a crisp white T-shirt, her hair is smoothly pulled back in a low bun, and gold hoops adorn her ears to finish the look.
Excited energy is practically humming off of her. She’s never been able to have children of her own and so being a hands-on grandmother (fondly known as Mimi) to Knox has been like a dream come true for her.
“I’m super glad to see you but I didn’t know you were coming. I’m afraid I have plans today.”
“I know you do,” she says, as she playfully raises and lowers her eyebrows. “That’s exactly why I’m here.”
“I’m sorry, but I think you and I may be talking about two very different things. What plans are you talking about?”
Aunt Juliette walks over to the high chair and picks up a very overstimulated Knox. I sat him in the chair to calm him down, but he’s been banging on the tray table ever since I placed him there. She struggles to lift him free from his seat because of his height and girth. They definitely build these chairs for the average-sized baby and not a child as large as Knox.
“He isn’t buckled in but let me pull out the tray for you. That’ll make it easier for you to lift him out.”
“No, hun, I’ve got him.”
Knox is as solid as a rock and I can practically feel a twinge in my own back watching Juliette continually try to lift him free.
“Got him! Ooh, he’s getting so chunky. I love it!” she exclaims, as she pecks a kiss on Knox’s cheek. “He’s the most scrumptious baby ever.”
Knox babbles several strings of nonsense words in what I believe is an attempt to have a full-blown conversation with her.
“And then what?” she says to him with bright eyes.
He babbles some more and she laughs in response.
“Is that so, Knox? You are so smart.”
The two of them are definitely in love with each other. It’s actually really sweet.
“So, Auntie, what plans are you referring to?” I ask again to get the conversation back on track. Knox has a way of distracting everyone who comes across his path. He definitely possesses a magnetic energy that draws people in. He reminds me so much of his father in that way.
“Don’t you and your husband talk to each other? He told me to be here today at five on the dot.”
I purse my lips.
“Five o’clock for what?”
“Obviously, for whatever you’re doing this evening. Isn’t it date night?”
Roman and I haven’t had date night in weeks, but I get why he’s trying. We’ve been out of sync lately. I work and take care of Knox all day, and now he’s back at the club all night.
“He really should have checked with me first before he made any plans.”
