Chapter one
Please, for the love of God, send me a server with a glass of bubbles in his hand before Blanche says anything else about shades of pink.
“Yes, but dear, don’t you think that cherry blossom is a little toobabypink? Rose shadow has that hint of peach in it that should pair beautifully with the cream roses.”
“Well, it needs to match the actual cherry blossom sprigs, too, Mother. I don’t think we can base the pink entirely on the cream—”
“Hello, ladies. Can I start you off with anything to drink this evening?”
Thank you, Universe. I owe you one.
“We’ll have a round of champagne, please, minus one.” Blanche beams at Kat, who still looks a little green after walking past a street vendor selling something spicy a few minutes ago.
“A teacup of hot water for her as well as a glass of cold water, with no ice, please.” I dig in my purse for a sachet of ginger tea I’ve learned to keep on hand since Henry and Kat’s pregnancy announcement. Sasha sobbed like a baby, and it was so cute towatch him spin her around before Henry growled at him to put his wife down. The four of us have been spending quite a bit of time together since things have settled down, and we live the closest to them of all the Sinclairs. Getting our home decorated and enjoying being a couple has been amazing, but witnessing Sasha and Kat’s sibling love has been extra special.
After we got legally married at the courthouse, soaking wet and completely high on life and each other, we decided to have a ceremony but keep it small. Sasha’s beach house was such an oasis for us that it was the natural choice for a destination wedding. Exchanging vows on the beach during sunset was idyllic, and everyone was able to travel up with us for a long weekend.
I’ve never been more glad that we had our small, simple event than I am today. We’ve been shopping as a group for Margot’s upcoming wedding-of-the-century to Jack, and it’s exhausting. Luckily, there haven’t been any major disagreements, but it’s wild how many details people have questions about. Vendors have asked about things I’ve never even heard of, like the color of the ribbon on the ring pillow, with no decision to be left to chance. Blanche and Margot are still discussing shades of pink when the server brings our drinks and takes our orders.
“I’ll have the pan-roasted salmon—”
Sloane’s cut off by Kat gagging and rushing out of her seat toward the bathroom.
“I forgot about the fish thing,” she says quietly, as Blanche grabs a glass of water and follows Kat.
“It changes every week, so I’m sure she won’t hold it against you. Besides, after that taco cart earlier, it was only a matter of time before she hurled,” I reassure Sloane as we order steaks for everyone and a plain baked potato for Kat.
Margot looks toward the bathroom with pity. “I donotmiss that at all. Jack’s been acting all broody with me now that they’reexpecting. He told me that their baby needs a cousin close in age to grow up with, like the other four. I toldhimif he wanted to carry the next two, he was more than welcome to!”
Sloane commiseratesabout Ledger wanting more babies now that LJ and Gisele are older, and I easily get lost in my memories of Sasha playing with all the Sinclair babies. Along with spending more time with Henry and Kat, we’ve also made a huge effort to bond as much as possible with Margot and Jack. Finding out that Jack and I share a father was life-altering, and we’ve become good friends. Having a protective half brother has already been everything I’ve ever wanted, and the Sinclairs have fully welcomed Sasha and me into the family.
It’s been overwhelming at times to haveso manypeople around, not only for holidays and special occasions but also for regular family sleepovers and game nights. It was always just Mom and me growing up, the two musketeers, but I don’t think I miss the quiet. Something about the chaos of the Sinclairs is perfect for Sasha and me, even if it did take a little while to believe that this much family happiness was actually meant for me. He found me having a full breakdown in front of the fireplace in Blanche’s living room at Christmas when I saw she had added two new stockings to the mantel for us. Holding me on the floor and telling me that our children would be up there too someday healed something within my soul, and I’ve felt lighter and happier since.
“Oh, there she is! I’m so sorry, Kat. I forgot about the…you know. We ordered steak and a potato for you!” Sloane stands to hug the tiny pregnant lady as she waddles back to the table with Blanche nowhere to be found. There are bags under her eyes, but she’s a little less green-tinged, so hopefully she can make it through dinner without vomiting again.
Accepting her apology, Kat sips the ginger tea I’ve steeped for her and sits back in her chair with a relieved sigh. Before she can get too comfy, her phone rings.
“Hi D…dear. Yes, I heard one of the forbidden words, and it triggered it. No, I feel better now, and I think I’ll be okay. I’m sipping the tea Lucy made me, and I’m going to eat a potato. No, I was hoping you’d grill a steak for me tonight, and that could be my protein. I really don’t want one right now. I’ve had two glasses already today, but I’ll drink another. Okay, I love you too.” She rolls her eyes but smiles wistfully after hanging up on who can only be her husband. He’s taken being protective to a whole new level since Kat got pregnant even though, from what I’ve heard, Ledger was also a world-class hoverer over Sloane.
“Did you lose Blanche in the bathroom?” I ask, hoping she feels alright. The woman seemingly never sleeps and is always on the go, and after my mom’s illness, I feel a responsibility to worry about her as if she were my own mother.
My question brings a wide smile to Kat’s face, and she gestures with her thumb to a back corner of the room. Squinting, I finally see Blanche, and she’s not alone. There’s a very tall man in a sharp suit laughing at something she’s said. His body language is flirty, which would be less surprising if he didn’t look at least thirty years Blanche’s junior.
“He stopped her as we were coming out of the ladies’ room and asked if she played pickleball because he thought he recognized her from a tournament. I told her I could make my way back to the table by myself, and it looks like he’s making his moves fast.”
Indeed, it does. He’s not crowding Blanche, necessarily, but he is doing the hot guy thing, leaning on the wall and looking sinful yet casual. She seems smitten with him, and to anyone else, it looks like she might give him a shot.
“Oh, he’shot! I hope she gives him a chance. I’ve been telling her she should find herself a male model to be her date to thewedding…oh! Here she comes.” Margot finishes her champagne and swaps the glass for her mom’s full one just as she reaches our table, but Blanche plucks it out of her hand and drains it.
“Well, ladies. What did I miss?” She sits primly and eyes us all as ifshe’snot the main story of the moment.
Rolling her eyes, Margot cuts straight to the chase. “You didn’t miss anything, but clearlywemissed something. Who was that? What’s his deal? Did you give him your number? He was hot!”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake! He was just a pickleball player with many mutual acquaintances. Actually, his aunt was one of my—”
“Mom! He was totally flirting with you! No way was he chatting you up like that because you know his aunt. He wants in your panties, for sure!”
Blanche shrugs, but clearly the Sinclair women are all in on Operation: Get Blanche Laid.
