Page 101 of Serving the Couturier

“Thanks,” I said. “Now, I need to leg it over to your sister before she murders me. There’ll be no Christmas chocolate if I’m dead.”

He laughed again, and I moved around him to put a plate in front of London.

“Are my brothers harassing you?” she asked. “I’ve told them to behave themselves.”

I shook my head. “They’ve all been lovely.”

“Just wait until Christmas when they’realltogether,” she warned. “They feed off each other.”

“Speaking of feeding.” I gestured to her plate. “Bon appétit.”

“If you keep feeding me like this, I’ll never fit into my wedding dress,” she warned me.

“Your brother made same-day alterations to the dress you wore to the Tonys,” I reminded her.

She glared at me but dug into the food I’d brought her while I bounced my son the way he liked. It was strange how content I was right now. Living in New York with a fiancée and a baby wasnotwhat I’d pictured for my life, but I wouldn’t want it any other way.

“You’re thinking awfully hard about something,” London said.

“Do you realize you auditioned for me one year ago today?” I asked.

She looked startled, then thought for a moment before laughing. “No, I didn’t. Wow.” She shook her head. “You know, if you would’ve told me, after I finished that first awful audition, that I’d be sitting here like this in a year’s time, I would’ve said you were crazy …or bonkers as you Brits would say.”

She leaned in, tickled the baby’s cheek, and spoke to him in that tone meant for babies, “Bonkers…yes, you’ll have to learn what your daddy means with all his British words, yes you will.”

“I rather fancy my British way of saying things.” I chuckled, brushed a finger across my son’s plump cheek, then leaned over and gave London a light kiss. “But I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“Me either.” She held out her hands for our son, and I passed him over.

I paused for a moment to be thankful for everything. I wasn’t naïve enough to think that everything would always be smooth sailing for the rest of our lives, but I would get through it because I had all I ever needed and more right here.