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“So,” Mum said after Noa’s server had cleared our dishes away, “we’ve waited all night for one of you to tell us what’sgoing on under the table there, and nothing. William, sweetheart—you’re forcing me to make this awkward.”
She exchanged a loaded look with Nancy, and at the smug looks on both their faces, it was clear they had it all figured out. It wasn’t hard. If I’d sat any closer to Abbie tonight, I’d be in her lap. And there was a time or two that she’d brushed my hand and hadn’t tried to hide it. She’d eaten off my plate, too, now that I thought about it, although we had done that in the past.
I was beyond ready to lock this in, but I wanted to give Abbie one final out. I shot her a questioning look that she read like a book.Can I tell them?
She lifted one shoulder, a secretive half-smile on her mouth.Better you than me.
I winked at her, making her lips twitch. “Abbie and I would like you to know that we’ve made things official. We’re now exclusive.” I met Nancy’s excited eyes, wishing I could express that as momentous as this felt for her, it was nothing to the way things were clicking into place for me. I extracted my hand from between Abbie’s legs, laced my fingers through hers, and gave it a squeeze. She returned it, holding on tight and not letting go. “Seriously.”
“Oh!” Mrs Ellison clapped her hands together under her chin, tears swimming in her eyes. “I’m so happy. I knew this would happen. I knew it!”
“Calm down, Mama,” Abbie muttered, but spots of pleasure had sprung up in her cheeks.
Mr Ellison reached over the table, and I had to drop Abbie’s grip to shake his hand. Then he wrapped an arm around Abbie’s shoulders and dropped a kiss on her temple.
“I’m happy for you, Pumpkin,” he said.
“Thanks, Dad.”
Mum stood to give me a hug, which I returned as best I could without disturbing Seb. Nancy clung on for a lot longer than myown mother, and I let her, and then Ray tried to get his arms around Abbie and me both. When the congratulations were done, I scanned the room quickly to see if anyone had noticed, but we hadn’t made enough of a fuss to cause a scene.
By the time I sat down again, Mum and Nancy had their heads together on the other side of the table, and when Abbie, Arthur, and Ray were seated too, our mothers straightened in their chairs and stared ahead blankly—the giveaway look of two women who were keeping a secret.
I was in too good a mood to be suspicious, and my amused glance bounced between them. “What’s going on? You’re up to something.”
In my arms, Seb whimpered, waking a little and twisting as he searched for a more comfortable position. I juggled him into a new position as Abbie reached over and stroked his back, and he quietened down with a line between his brows.
“It’s late,” Abbie commented. “Maybe we should take him upstairs and put him to bed.”
I was halfway to my feet, all curiosity forgotten, when Nancy threw up a hand. “Wait!”
I frowned and sat back down as Mum set her hand over Mrs Ellison’s and carefully settled it in her lap, keeping a hold on it as she said, “What Nancy means to say is, I forgot to tell you, ah, William, that the room for Seb at my place is all set up. Ray finished putting all the furniture together yesterday, didn’t you, honey?”
“Sure did, and I can assure you, we spared no expense. Seb’s got a whole new wardrobe over there. Toys. Books. A changing table that turns into a little tub for bathing. And though I first thought Lori went a little over the top with the decorating, even I have to admit that it all came together like a dream in the end. That room belongs in a magazine somewhere.”
Mum beamed at Ray over Nancy’s grey head. “Thank you, darling.”
I didn’t see what was so important about this news that couldn’t have waited until I wasn’t itching to get Seb into bed. And I’d only hired Steph for a three-hour shift, but if I moved now, I could put him into bed myself tonight, and I rarely got the chance to do that. Afterthat, there might even be enough time to give Abbie another kiss she’d be thinking about all night.
I made a mental note to call Dylan soon and confirm that not only did I know what I was doing but that I’d also successfully rewritten my and Abbie’s embarrassing first kiss. He’d appreciate the update.
“Uh, that’s great, Mum,” I said, standing again. “I’ll try to come by later in the week to check it out.”
“Wait!” Nancy cried again.
Mum’s face winced with the effort of keeping the other woman’s hand in her lap.
I glanced at Seb. His eyes remained closed, but there was still that little frown on his face, so I dropped back into the seat, impatient to move but also a little entertained by whatever was going on here. I’d never known Nancy to be so on edge. “Yes?”
“Well, you see,” Mum went on, “I was thinking that tonight might be a good night for Seb to have his first sleepover.” She nodded at the baby. “He’s already had his dinner, and it’s late. I could take him home—I have a car seat and everything—bathe him and give him his bottle, then put him to bed.”
Her offer stirred up a flurry of emotions I wasn’t prepared to feel. “I don’t know…”
Give my son to my mother for one night? He’d be safe and probably have a great time, and he’d only be a few blocks away, but a few blocks wasn’t as close as the next room. I was determined to be a good father, and good fathers didn’t hand over their babies for no good reason, did they? I pressed my lipsto Seb’s soft curls, wondering how I could feel so resistant and so desperate at the same time. As much as I tried not to look directly at her because this was my decision to make, my eyes strayed over to Abbie, and she appeared as conflicted as I felt.
Fuck. How shitty of a parent would I be to take Mum up on her offer… then drag Abbie upstairs and fuck her into tomorrow?
Flip side of that coin—how lousy of a boyfriend would I be if Ididn’t?
