“Oh my God,” Blake breathed with excitement, clutching her father’s hand in one of hers, and reaching out for Dair with her other.
“It’s time for some good news,” Rix said when he had everyone’s attention. “And that good news is, I knocked up my wife.”
Trust Rix to put it that way.
Dair laughed while others did the same, while clapping or crying out, and everyone got up to rush them with hugs and kisses and good wishes.
If Ned was troubled before, there was nothing left of it. He was beaming, proud and happy, as he gave his youngest a long hug and turned to his son-in-law to do the same.
“How far along are you?” Genny asked when they settled back down.
“About ten weeks,” Alex told her. “It’s a little early to share, but we thought everyone could use some good news.”
“Och aye, and that’s the best news ever,” his mum called out.
“This deserves champagne,” Blake decreed, pushing out of her seat. “I’ll go talk to Christine.”
And off she went to do that.
This left Dair sitting on a sofa with Ned.
He scooted into the spot Blake left and said, “I ken ye didnae miss it, but she’s worried about ye. And she’s keen to meet Marlo.”
“No, I haven’t missed it. She hasn’t made a secret of it either,” Ned said on a sigh.
“You’re correct, now isn’t the right time. But I think she’ll settle having met the woman.”
“This isn’t Helena’s place anymore, it’s Blake’s,” Ned replied. “And Helena is put to rest. Marlo is in Paris. I’ll see if she wants to swing a trip to the UK before heading home.”
“I think that’ll be good for all of you.”
Ned nodded.
Blake came back.
Champagne was served.
Ned’s attention was taken with something Elsa was saying.
“Everybody is going to start leaving tomorrow, and that sucks,” Blake complained in between sips of champagne.
“We can stay as long as ye like.”
“But you have matches to call,” she reminded him.
“Aye, and I can journey to them from here just as easily as I can do it from Edinburgh.”
That statement was as profound for her to hear as it was for him to say, and she didn’t hide it. She just added a kiss to the hinge of his jaw to punctuate how it made her feel.
When she sat back, Chloe was there with JT.
“Can you take him?” she asked Dair.
“Absolutely,” Dair replied instantly, setting his glass aside and laying claim to the precious wean.
He vaguely noticed Chloe smirking knowingly at Blake, but he was mostly busy bopping the baby’s nose so he’d giggle.
“I want two,” Blake announced.
