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“I know, right?” she says. “Anyway, the plan had been to tell everyone once we were sure everything was going well.”
“And she’s doing great,” James says. “She’s healthy, the little chickpea is healthy. We’re going to tell Mom and Dad soon—we just wanted to tell you guys first.”
“Mom is going to flip out,” Cooper says. “I can’t wait to hear what she has to say.”
He’s right about that. Sandra has been excited about the prospect of grandchildren ever since James and Bex got engaged, although she wouldn’t have pushed them, or any of us, about it. They better get ready for the presents she’s going to lavish on them.
“You’re going to make great parents,” I say. “I can’t wait.”
Bex pulls me into another hug, her eyes shining. “Thank you,” she whispers against my ear. “I haven’t forgotten how much you wanted me to be part of this family.”
I squeeze her back. “You deserve this.”
I remember that snowy day at her mother’s old diner just as vividly as her. I told her that I hoped she’d become my sister-in-law one day, and I meant every word. Not just for my brother’s sake, but for hers. She deserved a family and a future that she was excited about. Same as Mia… and me.
Life is simply too fleeting for anything else.
56
MIA
“Areyou getting married before the baby?” Penny asks. “If that’s too nosy, just tell me.”
Bex laughs slightly as she peers into the stove, checking on the roast chicken that she has going. “We are, yeah. James insisted. I wouldn’t have cared, but he wants to make sure we square away everything before the baby comes.”
I have to keep myself from staring too openly at her beautiful kitchen. I might not know what to do with them, but I recognize high-end when I see it, and this kitchen has it in spades. The cabinets are a deep blue, and the countertops are sparkling white, and the appliances are all spotless stainless steel. A colorful tile pattern behind the massive range gives the space another pop of color, and a set of copper pans hangs on the wall like an art display.
I wonder if Sebastian has cooked in here yet. He offered to help her, but she insisted that he stay in the living room and catch up with James. Penny and I ended up in the kitchen with her instead, and it’s been nice, chatting with her. Our schedules didn’t overlap much at The Purple Kettle, but she seemed fun at Cooper’s birthday party. Now that I’m getting to know her a bit more, I can see why Penny speaks so highly of her. She’s funny and gorgeous and fits in with the Callahans just as well as Penny does.
I take another sip of my drink, trying to keep the scowl off my face. This is so different from my family’s kitchen, I could laugh. I’m so exhausted, it feels like today happened in another lifetime. Compared to that chaos, this is neat and perfect. A roast chicken with potatoes and salad. Moscow mules and a cheese plate straight out of Whole Foods.
Penny swings her feet as she finishes up her Moscow mule. “That makes sense.”
“We’re planning something small, probably for August,” she says. “After training camp but before the season starts would be ideal. He’s going to ask Richard and Sandra if we can have it at the house.”
“I’m sure they’ll say yes,” Penny says. “You’re going to make a beautiful bride.”
She snorts as she pulls lettuce out of the fridge. “I’ll be something.”
“You’ll look perfect. Right, Mia?”
I nod, trying for what I hope is a natural-enough smile. I wish I had Kiwi to distract myself with, but he stayed in the living room. “You’ll be stunning.”
She smiles at us. “You’re both so sweet.”
“I’m not sure what kind of wedding I’ll want,” Penny says. “Part of me wants to have it in Arizona. Cooper loved it there as much as me.”
“Have you talked about it?” Bex asks. She throws the lettuce mix into the bowl, then washes the rest of the salad ingredients.
“Let me help,” Penny says, watching as she pulls out an avocado and sunflower seeds as well.
“Same,” I say. “I know enough to chop vegetables, at least.”
“Sebastian would be so proud,” Penny teases. She bumps her hip against mine as she passes me a knife and the cucumbers. “And yeah, we kind of did, but we’re not going to get engaged anytime soon. The tattoos are enough for us right now.”
“Yes!” Bex says. “Wait, show me. I know I saw the picture, but I’m sure it’s even prettier in person.”
I appreciate that Penny is trying to keep things light, but honestly, it’s just making me feel worse. I don’t particularly want to hear about her perfect relationship with Sebastian’s brother right now. Not when I have Bex’s pregnancy to contend with. It’s not about me and I know that, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt to hear about how much her future mother-in-law will love having a grandbaby when earlier, I told my own mother not to expect that from me.
