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“True. Although that is why I have taken to walking in the mornings. I will need the exercise to bear the many, many pounds I plan to gain over the next months.”
Adelaide laughed. “You must have so many plans to make to prepare for your baby.”
“Babies, actually. Did you not hear that I am having twins?” Erika rested a hand on Adelaide’s forearm, a friendly touch that made her realize how few close female friends she had in her life.
Of course, she’d been living and breathing work and football these past four years.
“Oh, Erika.” Adelaide’s chest ached with a longing for the kind of happiness this woman had found. “How incredible. Congratulations.” She hugged her gently. “Please, please let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”
“Gervais already treats me as though I am carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders.” Her good humor was contagious. “I have to tell him I am a healthy, strong woman. I do not need to put my feet up every moment of the day.” She leaned close to lower her voice. “I am telling him that an active sex life will lead to happier babies.”
“Well, it must have worked.” She pointed to where Gervais had paused to do a cycle of push-ups along the path. “He looks as if he’s in training for a marathon.”
“As I said, I am a lucky woman.” Erika winked and shared her plans for decorating a nursery as they walked.
Adelaide listened attentively, all the while wondering what it would be like to be expecting a first child. She had never stopped to think much about babies, since she had never come close to finding a lasting love relationship and, of course, that needed to happen first.
But all the talk of babies and parenting tugged at her heart. She couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if she were to become pregnant. Would Dempsey be excited? More likely he would not be pleased. He’d made it clear their relationship would have boundaries. For years, they had just been friends. Then, she’d been his assistant.
Now she was his lover.
After that? She feared she would be very much alone.
* * *
When Dempsey left the house that morning, he spotted Adelaide down by lake, walking with Gervais’s future wife. For all that Adelaide had resisted getting close with his family, she looked comfortable enough, pausing in her walk to give the other woman a hug.
The sight did something peculiar to his insides. She was so naturally warmhearted and caring. Of course she would befriend the pregnant foreign princess who must be struggling to adjust to life in New Orleans as she prepared to be a mother.
Dempsey crossed the driveway to reach the detached garage when he caught sight of a familiar figure jogging toward him, his only neighbor right now while Henri spent the season in the Garden District house with his wife.
“Gervais.” Dempsey lifted a hand in greeting.
The eldest Reynaud brother, like Dempsey, had walked away from football after college because of injuries. He still ran every day, though, and Dempsey had caught sight of him in the players’ gym after-hours some nights, working out to the point of exhaustion. Dempsey had never fully understood his brother’s demons, since Gervais had always been the heir to a billion-dollar corporation and he’d been born with the innate business sense to run it well. But then, Gervais had always been the most coolly controlled one of them.
“Congratulations on your engagement.” Sweating and shirtless, he slowed his pace to run in place. “Sorry I haven’t been by to welcome Adelaide to the family. It’s been a busy week in the front office while we prepare for the regular season to start.”
“I wouldn’t have chosen the week of our home opener for the engagement announcement if it hadn’t been necessary.” If Addy hadn’t decided to quit on him, that is. Although it was tough to regret her decision now, knowing it had led to the most incredible night of his life.
Gervais raised a brow. “Necessary? As in, I won’t be the only one trying to navigate the challenges of fatherhood next spring?”
“No.” Dempsey hit the remote to raise the door to the farthest right bay in the garage. “You’re on your own with that—double dose. Adelaide and I got engaged for different reasons, but the timing was unavoidable.”
“Spoken like the romantic soul you’ve always been,” Gervais said drily, clapping him on the shoulder. “But at least Adelaide understands you well. You two want to come up to the house for dinner tonight? Erika is used to having her sisters around. I know she would be glad to get to know her future sister-in-law.”
