Jesse stood and kissed her on her cheek and then her forehead. “Get cleaned up and then we can eat. I’m gonna make you a soufflé omelet that’ll blow your mind.”
“Ugggh that sounds amazing. You sure you don’t want to join me?”
“I do, but Dr. Kuaea is right down the hall, and I’m not sure if I’m ready for my grandmother to see either of our post-coital glows just yet.”
“Uh, yeah. Okay. I’ll be quick. And maybe you can, like, watch.”
“I think I can work with that.” Jesse swatted her on the butt, and followed her into the bathroom.
* * *
An hour later, the center leaf had been added to the dining room table and they all took their seats, glasses full and plates piled high with the delicious food, including soufflé omelets made to order. Jesse took his seat at the head of the table, opposite Miss Leona.
“So you take the king’s chair,” Lily-Grace teased as she took the seat beside him.
“I’ve mentioned that I’ve talked to my therapist about my issues with my father?”
“Nuff said.” She gave his hand a squeeze. Jesse appreciated the comfort, but really the last thing he was thinking about was his dad. He was still thinking about being back in his bathroom, leaning against his sink, watching the curves of Lily-Grace’s naked body through the fogged glass. He’d done the right thing not jumping in there with her. They would have definitely been late for breakfast. He’d have to hold on for what he had in mind later.
“Okay, my babies. Lily-Grace, who is practically my baby. And Dr. Fetu, I’m sure we’ll get there.”
“I hope so. I have to start seeing patients in a little over an hour. A meal like this is a great way to start the day.”
“Well, you make sure you get seconds and a to-go plate. We have plenty. So. Who has news for me?”
“I do—we do,” Evie said, taking Zach’s hand. Jesse took a sip of his drink, trying to think of the most naturally surprised reaction for the news he knew was coming. He did his best to ignore the way Lily-Grace was tapping his foot under the table. “I think today was my last ride for a while. I’m pregnant.”
Miss Leona gasped amid the various congratulations from around the room, her manicured fingers going to her chest. “Another great-grandbaby?”
“Yeah. I had a feeling before the wedding, but I went to the doctor when I was in the city this week. Definitely pregnant.”
“That’s wonderful news,” Jesse said. “Congratulations, you guys.”
“Sam, Jess—and Miss Leona, we’ll definitely want to talk to you guys about the restaurant—”
Sam waved her off, his mouth still half full of pancakes. “Of course. It’syourbaby. Not your actual baby. You know what I mean. Whatever you decide.”
“Whatever you decide,” Jesse clarified. “It’s your decision. We’re here to support you. I’m just excited to be an uncle. The kid deserves someone in their life to teach them how to cook a steak properly.”
“Here this mufucka go,” Corie groaned from her seat next to Miss Leona, who didn’t miss a beat flicking the back of her hand.
“Thanks, man.” Zach chuckled. “We haven’t told Mom and Senior yet.”
“We’re going to this weekend,” Evie added. “I’m still in shock a little. Good shock. But still in shock. We’ve talked about it a lot though, and we want to raise the baby here.”
“That is music to my ears,” Miss Leona said, happy tears lining her eyes. She rose from her seat and planted a kiss on Evie’s forehead.
“Please, please let me know when I can start shopping,” Amanda said. “I love buying baby clothes.”
“Knock yourself out. I’ve already ordered Baby Jordans,” Zach replied.
“Excellent. I can’t wait to blow all of Sam’s money on this kid.”
The ladies started in on their series of questions. Asking Evie how she felt, if she had ideas for names. Lily-Grace offered her own congratulations and words of support before she turned to Jesse and whispered, “If you think I’m not going to call you Uncle Jesse, you got another think coming.”
“Pssht. Stamos wishes he looked this good.” She managed to muffle her gleeful squeak as he squeezed her leg under the table.
The conversation about the baby dominated most of the meal. Even after they talked a bit about the possibilities with Golden Gulch and Amanda’s new staff-writing gig, which she’d worked her ass off for, and the good news that Vega’s grandmother was recovering just fine after her knee surgery, Jesse looked around the room, took in the smile on Lily-Grace’s face, the love in his grandmother’s eyes, and even he could feel another shift. The strange hollowness that had filled his grandmother’s house in the last few months, the quiet, the stillness, the tension, was gone. They still had a lot to discuss, but he was glad Zach and Evie were coming home for good. No more traveling back and forth to New York for weeks at a time. He was glad their child would be close by, surrounded by love.
