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“He’s beautiful,” Josh said.
I smiled as I looked at Will. “He is.”
Will called back over his shoulder. “You too, Mom. Uncle Arthur might eat them all.”
“You look a little rough this morning, Mr. Wiley,” Shannon said.
He answered, smiling, “I didn’t sleep.”
“Neither did Claire. She went for a run this morning,” Arthur shared. “I saw her out the window long before I’d had my first cup of coffee. I’m not sure if I’m inspired or horrified.”
Shannon winked at us. “Too bad the two of you didn’t not sleep…together.”
Josh stared at me. I felt my skin grow warm as I considered some of the activities we might be able to come up with during our sleepless hours.
“Let’s go find some kipper,” said Arthur.
A meal with children is eventful. A meal for eight is a challenge. Combine the two and the Ritz’s lovely dining room was probably a bit more boisterous than a typical breakfast. Glancing around the table, I felt such contentment.
Helen and Natalie had hit it off. Arthur was smitten with Will, though their camaraderie had been briefly threatened by Arthur’s inclination to eat beloved storybook characters. And Shannon and Mom kept up constant conversation; they both loved to talk. They were currently poring over the Rick Steves’ London travel book, pointing and tagging more spots they wanted to see.
Josh was watching me—a lot. I felt beautiful and valued. I searched out his hand under the table and held it tightly.
He squeezed back, still staring. “You’re beautiful,” he whispered in my ear.
“You are too.”
He wore a soft button-down flannel shirt over a white T-shirt, black jeans, and large black boots. His hair was hidden under a black newsboy cap, which rested more to the right. He was beautiful. And young.
I finished my inspection to find him smiling at me, an eyebrow elevated. “Still beautiful?” There was laughter in his voice.
I nodded. “Very.”
A waiter approached us, bending closer to Josh. “Pardon me, sir, but the young ladies wondered if you might give an autograph?”
Josh blushed. He sat up and cast an eye toward the table the waiter indicated. There were four young women, staring and turned in their chairs, craning to get a better glimpse of him. He didn’t smile, but he nodded and scribbled his name on the p
roffered tablet. The waiter withdrew.
“Why did those people want your name?” Will asked before taking a bite out of the scone he’d layered with clotted cream.
Josh shot him a lopsided grin. “I’m not sure.”
“Because Josh is in the movies, Will,” Mom explained. “You know that fancy blaster gun your mom brought back from California? The ones from the space movie you’re not old enough to see yet?”
Will nodded, chewing silently.
“Josh is in that movie,” she finished.
“Remember, Will? We saw him on that poster. The one with the cool guns,” Natalie tried to explain.
Will looked thoughtful, but shrugged. He smiled. “Oh. That’s nice.” He went back to his cream.
Josh laughed. “That’s the best reaction I’ve had yet.”
“You really don’t like the attention, do you?” my mother asked.
He shook his head. “Not in the least. If I never make another blockbuster I’ll be content.”
