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“Well, the chicken is doing its thing in the rotisserie, and the potatoes are roasting. All I have left to do in here is add the bacon to the Brussel sprouts, but you can take that tray of cheese and fruit out for the men to start on, if you’d like.”
“Okay,” I said, lifting the tray, then noticing the other item I asked, “Oh, what are those?”
“They’re little sandwiches. It’s just sourdough bread, buttered and toasted, with melted provolone and sliced strawberries.”
“They look delicious!” I exclaimed, and they really did. My stomach was growling just looking at them.
“Reardon mentioned you loved strawberries,” Jenny said, causing me to look up at her kind face and smile.
“How thoughtful,” I said, meaning not just her gesture, but Reardon’s. I’d been craving strawberries something awful so far.
Jenny smiled in return, then I turned to deliver the appetizers to the guys in the living room.
I placed the tray on the table and watched with a laugh as Reardon and Chris swooped in and started snacking.
“Well, hello, Chloe girl, don’t you look lovely as always,” Reardon’s father said as he stood up from his recliner to give me a hug.
“Thank you, Robert, and thanks for inviting us.”
“Our pleasure,” he said with a jovial smile. “Young Chris is always a joy, and you a treasure, my dear.”
I smiled so hard, I’m sure I was beaming, basking in the glow of his sweet words.
Not having parents who were very good at sharing your love meant I appreciated every kind word and gesture that the Lewis’ bestowed on my son and me. I knew they’d be amazing grandparents, not just to mine and Reardon’s baby, but to Chris as well.
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bsp; Reardon patted the seat next to him, indicating I should sit, but I pointed toward the kitchen, trying to relay that I was going to go help.
“Mom, can you come in here a minute?” he called, and my eyes widened.
“Now?” I breathed, and when he nodded, I took the seat next to him.
“What is it, Rear? I don’t want my Brussels Sprouts to burn,” Jenny said, wiping her hands on a kitchen towel as she walked in.
“This won’t take a minute, Mom, just have a seat.”
Jenny looked between us, then at her husband, before sitting and putting a hand over her mouth.
“Are you getting married?” she asked excitedly, and my stomach dropped as I worried about disappointing her.
Reardon shook his head.
“No, not yet anyway, but it is coming, Mom. We just aren’t engaged yet.”
“Oh,” she said, a lot less chipper.
Reardon held my hand in his and grinned at his parents.
“But, you are going to be grandparents,” he announced. “Chloe and I are having a baby.”
“Oh,” Jenny said again, but this time it was more of a squeal. “A baby? Did you hear that Rob, we’re going to have a baby!”
At the excitement in her voice, all of my nerves uncoiled.
Chapter Forty-One ~ Reardon
After breaking the news to my parents, Chloe had seemed to fully relax into our relationship. I think my parents’ approval eased the last of her worries, and now she was comfortable with our relationship and no longer worried about the opinions of others.
