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Carrie and Ari were hugging as the rest of the newly arrived Benedicts—Jesse, Barry, Shar and baby Patrick, along with Trace, Lucas, and Laci offered their congratulations first to Jenny and the guys and then to Ari, Jackson, and Cord. They all moved off, en masse, to sit and chat and eat.
News was spreading of Ari’s pregnancy. Chloe Jessop, who’d been among the first to arrive that evening, rushed up to her.
“When are you due?” Cloe asked her.
Something about the look on Chloe’s face drew Jenny’s attention—and everyone else’s, too.
“In March. I was afraid to believe, but…”
Chloe hugged her then whispered something in her ear.
Ari stepped back. “You are? My goodness, this is going to be awesome! Another woman to share the experience with!”
Chloe’s face turned red, and Ari slapped her hand over her mouth. Everyone laughed. Apparently, Ari hadn’t been the only one determined not to steal thunder tonight. As if.
“It looks like Lusty is due for another baby boom,” Alan Wilson said. He, Duncan, and Holly had come into the restaurant. He grinned at them. “There was one a few years ago, just after the younger Doctors Jessop came back to Lusty.”
“I’d heard that, too.” Jenny accepted Alan’s and Duncan’s hugs and then turned to Holly. She knew the woman not only because their men worked together. Holly was the town’s librarian, and Jenny, even though she had an e-reader, loved to haunt the bookstacks.
Then she looked at the pretty brunette’s face. Holly looks almost guilty…and then Jenny gasped. “You, too?”
“Me, too. Listening to Ari and Chloe, it sounds as if we’re all due around the same time.”
“Grandma Kate told us that births in Lusty tend to come in waves,” Duncan said. “Someone ought to warn Dr. David not to take any vacation time at the beginning of the new year.”
Holly led her husbands over to where Chloe and Ari were chatting. Jenny grinned when the three women enjoyed a group hug.
Jenny turned her attention back to newly arrived guests. She, Parker, and Dale greeted the next guests warmly. She was pleased to see that April Bixby had accepted her invitation. The fact she’d arrived with Marcus Jessop and Jeremy Bishop was just a bonus.
“Since we’re all new—sort of—we thought we’d come together.” April gave Jenny a hug then hugged Parker and Dale.
Her men greeted Marcus and Jeremy like very good friends. She knew they were both grateful for Marcus’s fast action a few weeks back.
“My folks were telling us about this newly formed tradition,” Marcus said. Then he smiled. “Back in the day, we had the odd party at the Community Center or sometimes at the Big House or the New House.” He looked around the restaurant and at the bookstore that was attached, accessed through the arch at the very back of the restaurant. “This feels good.” Then he met Jenny’s gaze. “Welcome to the family.” He shot a glance at the guys. “And, hey, you guys too, because you had the good sense to relocate from up north.”
Jeremy chuckled. “Be nice, Marc.”
“That is me being nice. I really am welcoming them.”
“I can’t welcome you to the family,” Jeremy said, “but I can say congratulations. I wish you only the best.”
“Thanks, Jeremy. If you can, go see your sister for a moment.”
If he thought the request strange, he didn’t mention it. He just nodded and turned his attention to Ari.
April shook her head at Marcus and smiled at Jeremy. Then she turned her attention to the three of them. “Congratulations to you all. I heard that you’re going to turn Mrs. Featherstone’s mansion into a museum. That’s a great idea.”
“We’re calling it the Ambrose-Featherstone Mansion,” Jenny said. “Mrs. Novak will be the manager, and my dad’s heading up the restoration-slash-remodel project.”
“Mrs. Featherstone treated her staff like family. I know she’d be pleased.”
“Thank you.”
Those three moved off, and Jenny definitely got a vibe that they were more than just nodding acquaintances. Maybe I have a talent for spotting people who belong together. Of course, only time would tell if those three were going to become an item, or not.
