“It is. Yeah, it really is,” Taryn said after everyone else at the table had made the appropriate noises that were expected when someone announced that kind of news.
She got up and went around the table, and Ralph stood to envelop her in an embrace that went on for so long that Cassie almost felt like she was intruding on an intimate family moment. The others around the table sipped their drinks and looked everywhere but at the sister and brother hugging it out.
When they eventually parted, both had glassy eyes, and they swiped them away in unison as if were swatting flies from their face. Standing side by side, the resemblance was so striking that they could’ve been twins.
Ralph patted Taryn on the shoulder. “I wanted you to know first.”
Taryn retook her seat and frowned. “You haven’t told Mom and Dad?”
He shook his head. “No. Jessica hasn’t met them yet either. I wanted you to be the first to meet my future wife too.” He nudged Jessica gently, and she placed her right hand on the table.
Cassie hadn’t realized Jessica had kept her hand hidden until she saw what was on her ring finger—a huge diamond ring set in a white gold band that she wouldn’t have otherwise missed. “That’s beautiful.”
“See, sis? Nothing to worry about.” Ralph ginned widely. “Good family news, yeah?”
Taryn nodded. “Great family news, bro. I’m really happy for you both.”
Taryn’s sentiment sounded genuine enough, and from the look on Ralph’s face, he heard what he needed to hear, but she still seemed to be radiating a slight discomfort, like she didn’t know what to do with the news other than say what was expected of her. She’d promised Cassie they’d talk about it later, but her reaction was intriguing, because Cassie couldn’t think why Tarynwouldn’tbe happy for them.
Bernice had another bottle of Dom Perignon brought to the table, along with their version of a non-alcoholic champagne for Jessica, and she switched out her untouched glass from the first bottle. Conversation flowed as easily as the wine, and Cassie settled into the evening, taking time to get to know Ralph and Andi in particular, both of whom had seemingly endless embarrassing stories of Taryn. Though she had plenty to retaliate with, and the laughter emanating from them all warmed Cassie’s heart. She’d never been part of a large group of friends, not even in medical school; her focus had been solely on completion and success, to the detriment of fostering any lifelong friendships. But she’d been on a full-ride scholarship and could ill afford to blow it. That and her guilt drove her to eliminate anything and anyone that might distract her from her goals.
“Do you have family close by?” Jessica asked, looking at Cassie.
She half-smiled and nodded, the warmth in her heart chilling instantly. “My mom lives in Henderson.” She could see Jessica waiting for more, and she also caught Taryn’s wide-eyed glare at Ralph, who placed his hand on Jessica’s.
“Taryn said you’re an ER doctor. Do you think it’s good to know the gender of the baby before it’s born?” he asked.
The subject change was far from subtle and still potentially incendiary, but Cassie appreciated it, nonetheless. “That depends on your expectations and motivations, I suppose. Does the gender matter to you?” She couldn’t help asking the question even though she knew she probably shouldn’t. What had so far been a rather pleasant evening could turn on a dime depending on Ralph’s or Jessica’s answer, especially iftheyhadn’t talked about it yet and had differing views.
The look the two of them exchanged said more than words could. Ralph’s behavior was the antithesis of how Taryn had described him, and Cassie wondered if that might be the crux of Taryn’s low-level consternation. Did it bother her that he seemed to be in love when she was used to him being such a player?
Ralph and Jessica shook their heads and smiled. “As long as it’s breathing and its heart is beating when it pops out, it doesn’t matter,” Ralph said.
“And we don’t want to put any societal expectations on a little human. I think Ralph’s question should’ve been more about the tests you can have to check our baby is healthy,” Jessica said.
“I’m sure your gynecologist will be the best person to ask those questions. I know how to put people back together in an emergency. That’s always been my area of interest.” And that was for reasons she didn’t want to discuss with a group of strangers. Cassie looked at Bernice and then Andi, eager to turn the conversation away from herself. “Have either of you ever wanted kids?”
Andi half-choked on her champagne and had to slap her own chest. “Never. I’m too big a kid myself to be responsible for a tiny, defenseless person.” She gestured toward Taryn. “She was as close to me having children as I ever got, and thankfully, she was big enough and ugly enough to take care of herself when she came into my life.”
Taryn scoffed. “You were more like an older sister who led me astray than a nurturing mom-figure.”
“Ingrate,” Andi said. “I nurtured you plenty, but you were always more of a tough love person.”
Taryn inclined her head. “Fair. What about you, Bernice? Have you ever been tempted to make a mini boss?”
Bernice laughed. “I don’t have a maternal bone in my body. But in almost every business magazine interview I’ve done, I’ve been asked if I sacrificed having a family to be as successful as I am.” She rolled her eyes. “No matter how many times I told them that children were never in my life plan, that same question kept coming.”
“And we’re back to gender expectations,” Jessica said.
Taryn raised her glass. “Here’s to people being people and doing whatever andwhoevermakes them happy.”
“I’ll drink to that,” Andi said, raising her glass in one hand and bringing Bernice’s hand to her lips with the other.
They all clinked their glasses, and Cassie met Taryn’s intense gaze before they thankfully moved on to less sensitive topics. Cassie smiled and engaged in the group conversations, careful to keep quiet at any mention of family. But as the evening wore on, she became more relaxed. Part of that was due to the champagne that never stopped flowing, but mostly it was due to Taryn’s attentiveness. Her gentle looks and tender touches were so unfamiliar and unexpected, but Cassie absorbed each one of them like they were water for an unquenchable thirst. A thirst that had crept up on her while she’d been busy just having fun.
Chapter Fourteen
Gwen tightened the final bolt on the seat adjustment and stepped aside. “She’s all yours.”
