“No, we haven’t heard from him,” Lucas comments.
She looks between all of us then straightens her posture. “Well, think I’ll go see the birthday boy.” Jess gives us a weakened smile and then heads off through the kitchen doors to the backyard.
Lucas turns me around to pull me close.
“Something tells me that she’ll be feisty when it comes to the labor,” I tell him with a laugh.
The back of his hand caresses my cheek. “It is amazing that you’re being her birthing partner. You will love it. A birth of a baby is a special experience. I still sometimes replay Theo’s birth in my head,” Lucas admits with a special look only reserved for his son.
It touches me in corners of my heart that I think are yet to be discovered.
“Lucas… are you sure you’re okay with only having Theo?” I have to ask yet again. I don’t want to break his heart if I never change my mind.
He moves so his head is lower, and our eyes align. “Hey. I’m okay.” His look is confident. “I just want you, that’s all that matters. Everything else would be a bonus.”
Our moment is interrupted by the sounds of Sofia in the doorway.
“Bonjour, children, I’m here,” she chimes. Her appearance is like she is lounging in the Riviera.
Lucas and I give each other the look that we know the next hour is going to be entertaining.
And it is.
Lucas is busy at the BBQ, while Jake, Nate, Max, and I sit on lounge chairs and talk as we watch Jess play in the pool with Theo, and Romeo is swimming. A few other neighborhood kids are swimming in the pool too.
“This place turned out really good, Lucas,” Jake admires the backyard as he looks around.
“Thanks. But aren’t you going to design your new house?” Lucas replies.
Jake nods as he takes a sip of beer. “True. Jess and Max found me a nice piece of land and the architects are working on the designs. I guess it’ll be awhile before the house is ready, though.”
“It’s a nice piece of land, but I wouldn’t expect anything less from the best real estate agents in the state,” Max says proudly and would love to say he is being modest, but he’s not.
Sofia comes to sit down next to me. “Abigail, I brought you a gift.” She smiles and hands me a bag with perfect tissue paper, I know the store already.
My eyes turn to Lucas who is gently shaking his head in amusement. “That’s uh… sweet of you. I will open it later,” I try to stave her off.
She shoos a hand at me. “Don’t be silly, open it now,” she insists.
Reluctantly, I open the bag and very slowly pull out a bright red lace nightie. I give her a tight-lipped smile.
“Andthis is why I don’t have a girlfriend. I know my mother would do this,” Nate comments as he leans back in his chair, clearly amused.
Max and Jake just have an uncomfortable look yet can’t help but laugh.
“I think this will look wonderful on you, especially with your breast size—” She’s interrupted by Lucas.
“Think we got the message,Mother. Let’s maybe move on,” Lucas suggests, and I try to keep my smile tame.
“Why don’t you two go out tonight? I can watch Theo. Your father is only watching golf in the living room anyhow,” Sofia suggests.
My head bobs side to side. At last it feels like she’s on to something. “That is perhaps a good idea.”
“Bon. Then you two can go, and you come back and, well, you know…” She winks and points the bag at me, and everyone bursts into laughter.
“Lucas, I amnevergoing to let you two forget this scene.” Nate gives Lucas a satisfied grin.
Luckily, Theo comes running to us, dripping in pool water with Romeo in tow.
