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“Okay, Ella,” Jennie said as she put the little girl on the ground and watched her crawl into the soft grass of the large backyard. “Run amok, baby girl.”
Then there were Jesse and Zach and Jack and Kelly. With all the Js, PJ felt sure she’d get something wrong and mix them up. But Gabe stayed with her the whole time, and made more introductions and included her in the conversations.
His friends were welcoming, too. Once she’d sorted out in her head who was who, she enjoyed seeing them all catch up with Gabe and fill him in on their lives since he’d been back for his last visit a few months before.
“How are things at the bakery, Jesse?” one of the women asked. PJ was almost certain it was Jill. Or maybe it was Kelly. No, Kelly was chasing the adorable birthday girl who was currently screeching, “Mine! Mine!” and indiscriminately pointing to all of the toys, ponies and the bouncy castle.
“It’s been really great. We had the soft opening for people in the office building about three months ago and then the grand opening for the public a week later.” Jesse smiled. “I had a couple employees that just didn’t seem to get that we needed to treat the customers as though we wanted them there, but they’ve been replaced and things have been running smoothly ever since.”
“That’s great. It must be so exciting to see it all coming together,” Jill said and then turned to PJ. “Jesse owns a bakery in the lobby of the building where Sutton Capital is located.”
PJ smiled. “Oh, that’s exciting. Is that how you guys know each other?” She was still trying to match up all the connections between the friends.
Andrew, Chad and Jack worked together. Chad and Jack were also cousins. But, she hadn’t quite figured out where Jesse and Zach fit in.
Jesse laughed and shook her head. “I’m Kelly’s older sister. Jack gave me the bakery as a gift.” Her grin got wider as PJ’s eyebrows rose.
“I know. Some gift, huh? It was mostly a bribe. I had, uh, a little trouble going out of the house and feeling safe for a while after Kelly was kidnapped. I had to put my dream of going to pastry school on hold. Jack eventually hired Zach to be my bodyguard, gave me the bakery, sent me to school and, well, pretty much fixed my world.”
Zach’s arms linked around Jesse as she spoke and he pulled her back into him. PJ smiled.
She had known Kelly had been kidnapped. Gabe told her about it shortly after it happened during one of their rooftop talks. She had no idea Jesse had developed anxiety issues because of it. Seeing the couple now, though, it looked like it might have been a blessing in disguise.
Jill’s phone chimed and she excused herself from the group to take the call. The chatter amongst the friends continued until Jill came back, looking visibly shaken.
“What is it?” Andrew asked, crossing to take her hand. Jill tilted her head up at him.
“That was the agency. They have a baby for us. Well, no…. They have two. Twins. Twin boys. They’re in a hospital in Houston, and the birth mother is ready to give up her rights, but we have to decide right away if we’re okay with twins.”
PJ’s stomach bottomed out as the topic of birth mothers and adoption was discussed. Within minutes, Jill and Andrew were surrounded by Kelly, Jack, Chad, Jennie and even Jack’s housekeeper, Mrs. Poole.
“We’re not even remotely prepared for twins, Andrew.” Jill all but whispered the words, and it was clear she was uncertain, but hope and excitement were also evident in her expression.
“We’ll get you guys ready before you can even get those babies back here,” Kelly said, not missing a beat—Jennie and Jesse nodded.
“We can shop for doubles of everything,” Jesse said. “We’ll just match what you already chose and buy a second.”
Jennie spoke up. “And we can rework the nursery or move it to one of the bigger rooms if you need us to. That larger guest room on the other side of the master bedroom would work well for two babies. We can paint in there and have it finished before you get back.”
It seemed as if the group held a collective breath. Andrew looked down at Jill, who stood biting her lip. “I’m game, if you are,” he said and the grin on his face was wide and easy.
“Oh, thank heavens,” Jill said as she sagged against him with relief.
“Jill?”
“Yeah?” she answered, her voice muffled against his chest.
“You already told them yes, didn’t you?” Andrew asked with a laugh, and the rest of the group laughed with him when Jill nodded her head against his chest.
“I’ll take care of the flight,” Kelly said turning toward the house. Mrs. Poole followed, letting them know she’d book a hotel.
“Call the Towers, Mrs. Poole. Let them know to reserve a room for an open-ended stay for my friends. The manager there is Paul Grandon. He’ll set everything up,” Gabe said.
She called out a thank you over her shoulder as Jill explained that she and Andrew would likely have to be in Houston for at least two weeks, and possibly longer if the twins needed further care. They were in the NICU at the moment because they were born four weeks premature, but the agency had said that no major complications were expected at this time.
As PJ watched the group, feeling like an outsider, she was struck by how quickly and easily all of them pulled together to help when Jill and Andrew needed them. She suspected any of their friends would get the same treatment if they found themselves in need of support. But, it also made her realize that some of her decisions thirteen years ago hadn’t been wrong.
Yes, she’d slept with a man she had no business being with, and she’d done it at an age when she was far too young to take responsibility for the outcome of their actions. But the choices she’d made since then were all good ones.
