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“Better,” Sage said.
It had been more than a week now since they’d moved him to Highside Hospital. Eli was getting stronger by the day.
“He’s getting impatient,” she finished.
“I don’t blame him,” Tasha said. “Does he have any interest in mechanics? Boats or cars?”
“He’s into baseball,” TJ said. “He’s a catcher.”
“He’s going to have to start slow,” Sage felt compelled to warn.
The only person who seemed more impatient than Eli was TJ. The two had been bonding over sports. She knew it would be a surprise when they told Eli that TJ was his father. But she hoped it would be a happy one.
She was feeling optimistic on that front, but she didn’t want to take anything for granted. They’d agreed to tell him as soon as he was released from the hospital.
“For now,” Tasha said, “we’re going to celebrate. This is a happy occasion.” She gestured for Sage to leave the courtroom with her. “I’ll drive.”
“Absolutely you will,” Matt said with a smile.
“He made the mistake of marrying me,” Tasha called happily as they walked. “So now I own half his BMW.”
“It’s not so bad when she drives the boats,” Matt grumbled from behind.
Tasha chuckled. “Have you met Jules?” she asked Sage.
“No. TJ’s talked about Caleb and Jules. I know they have twin girls.”
“Coming up on five months. They’re adorable.” Her hand went to her own stomach, touching the denim blue summer dress, and her face lit up with joy. “I’m four months pregnant.”
“Congratulations to you,” Sage said, happy for Tasha and Matt.
They started down the courthouse steps into the summer sunshine.
“Seeing Matt’s reaction to the baby, his excitement,” Tasha said, “well, I just want to say, I think you are—”
“A terrible person?” Sage finished, her fragile emotions careening toward a cliff.
She’d been bracing herself for the anger from TJ’s friends. She hadn’t expected it from Tasha just then. But she understood how they would feel.
“What? No. No. That’s not what I meant at all.” Tasha’s hand touched Sage’s shoulder. “I think it’s great that you’re giving TJ and Eli a chance to be together.”
Sage’s emotions settled partly. “I know it’s the best thing for Eli.”
Tasha pointed to a gunmetal-gray car halfway down the block. “It is. But you count too. Come with me. Matt can ride with TJ.”
Sage glanced back to the two men several feet behind them. They seemed engrossed in conversation. She expected TJ would want the support of his close friends through this.
“I’m getting a lot out of this arrangement,” Sage said. She couldn’t help thinking about TJ’s offer to furnish the upstairs to her liking.
“You mean the money?” Tasha asked. “Money doesn’t matter.”
“It matters a lot when you don’t have it.”
Tasha turned to call over her shoulder. “I’m taking Sage. We’ll meet you there.”
Sage fought the temptation to look back and see TJ’s reaction. He wouldn’t care. Why would he care? It wasn’t like he was anxious to get some time alone with his new bride.
She almost laughed at the thought.
Tasha hit the fob to unlock the car doors, and they climbed in.
Sage straightened her skirt over her bare legs. She hadn’t had a lot to choose from when it came to dresses, and it was hardly a formal wedding. TJ had tried to buy her one, but she’d refused.
She’d picked up some of her clothes from home, and she’d gone with the short aqua cocktail dress bought on sale three years ago for the company Christmas party. It had a swath of flat lace across the neckline and the capped sleeves. The waist was fitted, but the skirt was full to midthigh. It was a little loose, but it still looked fine.
“You need enough money for the basics,” Tasha said as she started the engine. “But you get to diminishing returns pretty quickly. Matt’s got plenty of money—most of it tied up in capital assets, of course—but he has to worry about it all the time. TJ has way too much money. He doesn’t seem to know how to spend it, but he doesn’t seem to know how to stop making it either.”
“He’s not going to get my sympathy.”
Tasha laughed. “I hear you.”
Traffic was light on the coast highway, and the BMW hugged the road as they zipped along above the speed limit. Tasha seemed completely comfortable and in control around the curves.
“TJ says you’re a genius,” Tasha said.
