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Just then, Sophie joins our circle, standing next to me and holding her daughter. I can’t help but smile at Samantha’s cute little face. I wasn’t so sure about becoming a dad, but now that I am one, I love kids.
Dr. Pham looks at Sophie and then back at me. “Oh, this must be your wife! You two make such a beautiful couple.”
Sophie and I look at each other, our eyes wide. Diane bursts out laughing and Ted scoffs and says, “Ha! Don’t be ridiculous. They’re not married. This is my daughter, Sophie.”
I glance at her, and her cheeks are flaming. Everyone chuckles awkwardly and Dr. Pham apologizes for her mistake. I’m left wondering why Ted and Diane would think the idea of their daughter being with me is so laughable. Of course, we’re not together, and we never will be … but I am a successful surgeon.
My jaw twitches in annoyance at the thought of not being good enough. Maybe it’s because I wore shorts.
Sophie shakes the hands of Dr. Pham and her husband. “Nice to meet you both! Mom, do you mind watching Samantha while I get some food?” Sophie sets Samantha down and she runs to her grandmother.
“I’d be happy to! Come here Sammy girl!” Diane smiles and reaches out to embrace her granddaughter.
Penny finally runs back over to me, a pink balloon pig in hand. “Daddy, I’m hungry.”
The Windells are back in conversations with the Pham’s, making it easy to duck out and take Penny to get some dinner.
“If you’re so hungry, why don’t you eat some of that pork you have there?” I wink at my daughter while gesturing to her pig balloon animal.
She raises one eyebrow and looks at me like I’m a complete moron. “People can’t eat balloons, Daddy.” She shakes her head and runs ahead of me toward the buffet table.
Look at me, making dad jokes. Not bad for someone who unexpectedly became a father not quite seven years ago.
After filling our plates with corn on the cob, ribs, and potato salad, Penny and I see two seats left on the patio. Consequently, it’s the table Sophie and two of her brothers are sitting at.
“Drew! My man, have a seat!” Brooks gestures to the seat next to him, clapping me on the back once I’m seated.
David gives me a brief head nod. “Drew, good to see you.”
He and Brooks couldn’t have more opposite personalities, even if they tried.
“Where are Madden and Odette?” I ask, realizing Madden is the only sibling not in attendance.
David answers since Brooks is distracted by a girl seated at the table next to ours. “They had an event to attend in D.C.”
“Oh, that’s right. I remember him talking about that during our golf game.”
Sophie laughs. “Yeah, Odette has been dreading it.”
David smirks. “Odette definitely doesn’t enjoy the spotlight as much as Madden does. But they’ll be back in town in a few weeks.” He shrugs.
“I can’t wait for them to get home. I already miss Oliver!” Sophie says with a frown.
David rolls his eyes. “Yeah, so does Mom. Why do grandparents like their grandchildren so much more than they do their actual children?”
I laugh along with the three siblings to disguise the jealousy I feel over the Windell children having parents to spoil their own kids. My daughter will never have that.
Brooks turns his attention to Sophie. “Speaking of grandparents being obsessed with their grandchildren, Mom has been whining incessantly about you wanting to take Sammy away from her.”
Sophie throws her head back in aggravation. “Ugh, nothing is private in this family, is it?”
Brooks speaks around a mouthful of potato salad, an act that would most likely warrant some harsh words from his mother. “What would be the fun in keeping things private?”
Sophie rolls her eyes. “I’m not taking Samantha away from anyone. I just want to have my own place again. I don’t have to move out right away.” She stirs the food around on her plate. “I’m just thinking about it.”
“Why don’t you just buy a place with your trust fund?” David asks, sitting back in his seat and crossing one foot over his knee.
She takes a deep breath and looks around the table nervously. I feel like I’m in the middle of a private family conversation, so I look down at my potato salad.
