They all raised their glasses and sipped their bubbly.
Meg poked her head into the room. “The dining hall is ready, Miss Keely.”
“Thank you.” I looked at my family. “Come. We are to enjoy quite the feast.”
Hugh and I led the way to the dining hall. On entering, even I gasped as I saw the beautiful table setting.
“This is so pretty,” Susan said.
“Can I take a picture?”Holly asked.
“Sure.Go ahead.”
She took out her phone and took a quick picture.
The long table was set with large red charger plates trimmed in gold on which sat white plates also trimmed in gold.On each plate was a linen napkin held by a red and gold napkin ring. Bouquets of beautiful white Christmas roses and holly lined the center of the table. In the very center of the table was an arrangement of poinsettias.
Ayra and Jai had really gone all out to help me create the festive mood I wanted for this special evening.
Hugh and I took our seats at either end of the long table while each couple sat one across from the other.
“I assume you brought us all here to discuss the upcoming movie a bit,” Abbie ventured as we enjoyed our first course of smoked salmon.
“That is a large part of the reason,” I said, deliberately vague. “As always, there’s so much to talk about. The cast, working here at Moon Manor, the necessary changes to be made and of course re-working the script. After all, Mansfield Park is a difficult book to bring to life. Though Fanny Price is the main character, she tends to take a backseat to much of the happenings in the book.”
“Do you have an actress in mind for Fanny Price?”Penny said.
I simply smiled but then sucked in a heavy sigh.
“What is it?”Ayra said.
“I wanted to wait until after our meal.”
“Wait for what?”Abbie said.
“I have a little announcement to make.”
“I knew it,” Ayra said, her eyes filled with concern. “I knew there was more to this dinner than a pre-Christmas celebration.”
I looked across the expanse of the table to lock eyes with my husband. With only the slightest nod as indication that I needed him, he understood and quickly got up to walk the length of the table and come stand behind me.
Everyone set their silverware down and looked at me, their eyes wide with anticipation.
“You’re making me nervous,” Holly said.
“This is indeed a major announcement,” Hugh began. He put his hand to my shoulder, and I reached up to grasp it.
“Are you cancelling the production?”Ayra said.
“First things first,” I said. “As I’ve said, you are all like family to me and it was important for me to celebrate the upcoming holidays with you.”
After a dramatic pause, I stood up, shrugged off the long lace shawl I’d draped over my shoulders and pressed the fabric of my ample empire dress against the slight bulge of my belly.
“Oh, my God,” Abbie instantly cried as she jumped out of her seat.
A second passed before the other women all exclaimed with words of surprise and congratulations.
“When are you due?”Penny said. “You look to be what? Five months? Six?”
