Part 21 (1/2)
”You bet I can.”
Once again, Honor ate and finished with equal parts cereal and milk. Her guy had talent. Twenty minutes later tangled in the sheets on her bed she finished with Bryce deep inside her and his name on her lips.
Really excellent talent.
”Have I told you how fantastic you look?” Bryce whispered, his mouth taking a little tour behind her earlobe as they sat at a table waiting for Zane and Sophie on Friday night. Sophie had chosen the Italian restaurant just outside White Strand claiming a craving for pasta with scallops.
Honor craved privacy, so it was perfect. The White Strand rumor mill had her practically engaged to Bryce and the less they were seen together in public, the better. Not only was the deceptively sweet sixty-something club texting updates to each other, but Mrs. Jamison had not so secretly taken a photo of her and Bryce as they'd left her house tonight.
Then she'd smiled like she'd just snapped the cover shot for People magazine. Seriously, these ladies needed something better to do.
”Yes, you have.” Honor lifted her shoulder and dipped her head to nudge him away, a ticklish giggle escaping her lips. ”Now stop.”
”Mommy, what is that man doing?”
Bryce must have suspected 'that man' meant him because he pulled back. Sure enough at the table next to them a little girl sat swallowed in the big wooden chair with her eyes on him. He mouthed 'sorry' to the mom. She gave a tiny smile before turning her attention back to the infant in a car seat. Her husband had his attention on another infant in a car seat. And holy family of six, a little boy stood on his big wooden chair, about to tip the seat over until Dad shot his arm out and settled the boy back down.
Bryce waved to the little girl. She waved back.
”Twins. Twice,” the mom said.
”It's our anniversary and we thought we'd give this a try,” the dad said.
”Happy anniversary,” she and Bryce said in unison. ”Oh my Lord,” Honor whispered. ”Could you even imagine?”
Bryce didn't answer. He was smiling at the little girl now and she was smiling back. Adorable with a capital A.
”Hi guys!” Sophie said with Zane in tow.
”Glad you could join us,” Zane added as the newlyweds sat down across the table.
A second later a spitball nailed Zane in the cheek. He swiped his hand across the side of his face and turned to the culprit. ”Good shot, bud.”
The little boy grinned.
”Oh my G.o.d. I'm so sorry,” the mom said. ”Nicholas, you apologize right now.”
”Sowwy.”
”No problem,” Zane said. Then he put his arm around Sophie and brought her close. ”You ready for that?”
Sophie glowed when she looked up at him. ”So ready.”
Honor's eyes widened. ”Is there something you need to tell us?”
Sophie and Zane broke out huge smiles. ”We're having a baby,” Sophie gushed.
”Congratulations,” Bryce said. He reached across the table to shake Zane's hand.
”Thanks, man.” A hint of worry flashed in Zane's eyes and Honor guessed it was because of the relations.h.i.+p Zane had had with his own father. A father who had verbally abused his son until he'd pa.s.sed away. But the way Zane loved Sophie and the way he interacted with kids-who were his biggest fans-left no doubt in Honor's mind he'd be an awesome father.
”Soph!” Honor jumped up and went around to hug her friend. Zane got one, too. ”Huge congratulations. I'm so excited for you.”
Bryce leaned across the table and kissed Sophie on the cheek. ”Congratulations.”
”How are you feeling?” Honor asked, settling back in her chair.
”Some days good. Some days not so good.”
”Well, you look amazing.”
”More gorgeous every day,” Zane said, putting his hand on Sophie's flat stomach. ”I can't wait to watch you grow.”
Wow. Sophie a mom. The waiter stopped to take their drink orders and conversation turned to other things until a loud crash stopped them. Broken plates and gla.s.ses scattered across the floor. ”I'm so sorry. Is everyone okay?” A waitress asked the family of six.
The babies started bawling.
The little girl started crying and crawled into her mom's lap.
The little boy was about to climb down from his chair to investigate the mess. ”Stay put,” the dad said.
The babies grew louder, crying at decibels to break the sound barrier.
”Nicholas, I said-” The dad nabbed him just before his little-bare-feet hit the floor. Spiderman sandals sat under his seat.
”Here, let us help,” Sophie said, elbowing Zane before standing and hurrying over to the mom. ”I can hold the baby if you want, since your arms are full.”
”Thank you,” the mom said appreciatively. Sophie lifted the baby out of the car seat.
Zane got up and went to the other car seat. ”I can get this one.” He studied the carrier for a moment. ”I think.”
”That'd be great,” the dad said with relief. He reached to grab his son's sandals while trying to keep the squirming toddler in his lap.
The wait staff got busy cleaning up and the manager came over to check on everyone and give further apology.
”Oh no,” Sophie said, turning white as a ghost and bringing one hand to her mouth with a still crying baby in her arm. Honor jumped to her feet to help, but Bryce beat her to it.
”Here,” he said, taking the baby. The careful transfer did funny things to Honor's stomach. ”I got it.”
”Thank you.” And then she took off toward the restroom Honor guessed.
Watching Bryce and Zane bounce and sway from side to side to try and quiet down unhappy babies was quite a sight. ”Is there a secret to getting her to stop?” Bryce asked.
”Walk around the table,” the mom suggested, trying to pry her daughter's body off of her. ”It's okay, sweetie. Let's get you back in your seat so I can hold your sister.”
Bryce started to walk, b.u.mped into Zane, and Honor had to stifle a laugh at the terror on their faces, like the slight jolt might hurt the babies.
The baby stopped crying the moment Bryce finished a lap around the table. The other baby had quieted, too, but Honor couldn't take her eyes off the tiny little bundle cradled in Bryce's strong arms. His sleeves were pushed up as usual, and Honor stood there mesmerized by this new human being secure and protected in his hold.