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“Diana, you’re heartless.” I laughed but stole a piece anyway. “Have you seen August?”
“He came through here just before you, trying to steal bacon as well,” Diana said. “I sent him to the dining room.”
“I get the message, loud and clear.” I kissed her on the cheek. “I missed you.”
August was tapping away on his laptop when I rounded the corner to the dining room. Sawyer stood by the window on his cell and my dad was at his end of the table reading the newspaper.
So, where’s Parker?
“Did anyone get a piece of bacon, or were you denied?” I leaned on the door frame.
Sawyer waved a half-eaten apple at me while still talking on his cell. I sent him a text just to mess with him.
“You look cute in that white shirt.”
Five, four, three, two, one…and there is that goofy grin I’ve missed.
“Dad, what’s good in the newspaper today?” I sat next to him. “You know you can read all of that on the computer.”
“Meh, I like holding the paper. You should try reading it sometime.” I looked at him, waiting on more of a response. “Okay, you enjoy your paper. Where’s Parker?”
Before I got an answer, the food was brought into the chafing dishes on the buffet and, as if the flood gates opened, the family flowed into the room. My mother had her earpiece in, busy giving orders. I watched her fill a plate with food. She kissed me on the top of my head and sat next to me with her food. I watched August stand from his laptop but, instead of stopping work, he switched to looking at his cell. He never looked away from it while he piled food on his plate.
This family is too much. No wonder they don’t understand my ability to party and relax.
I filled my plate and turned to the group. Absolutely nothing. They all sat quietly eating and working. I filled a glass with orange juice then took my food and drink to go sit in the kitchen with the staff.
“What are you doing back in here?” Diana glanced up from cooking. “Are they picking on you? Or you picking on them?”
“Neither. They’re just not talking to me.” I pouted. “What’s on the menu for the big baby party?”
“You haven’t even finished your bacon and eggs and you wanna know what’s for lunch?” Diana shook her head. “How do you stay so thin?”
“I don’t know, but I’m not complaining. Have you seen the baby yet?” I finished off my food. “Hopefully, she looks like her mother and not Kellan.”
“I heard that, and I happen to agree,” Kellan said from behind me. “Ash, I’m not surprised to find you in here with Diana.”
“Kellan, my man, congrats on the new baby.” I stood and hugged him. “Did you pick a name yet?”
“We did that days ago. They kinda frown on it if you leave the hospital without a name,” Kellan laughed.
“I thought I might find you in here. Asher, you’re the only one who hasn’t met our daughter yet.” Poppy carried the baby closer to me. “What’s your guess for her name?”
“Here, hold her and tell me what you think her name is.” Kellan handed me the baby.
“Hello there, pretty. They want me to guess your name. I don’t know why, so don’t listen while I mess this up.” I spoke to the baby blinking up at me. “Look, she smiled at me.”
“She’s too young to smile, Ash. Not all females smile at you.” Kellan shook his head.
“She did something like a smile, because look at these Hawthorne dimples.” I held her head up higher so they could see her face. “She likes me.”
“Is this some kind of an Asher admiration moment?” my mother asked, walking into the room. “I had no idea you were so good with babies. Perhaps you need a few of them.”
“No can-do, Mother Dearest. You gotta have a wifey first,” I joked.
“Son, it’s 2020, you don’t ‘have’ to have anything to have a baby, but I appreciate that you know that you do,” Mom said. “Now, give me Willow before all the guests arrive. I need lots of baby cuddles.”
“I think her name is Willow,” I smirked. “What do I win for guessing it correctly?”
