Page 69 of Betting on Lizzie

“You bet,” Edward said, putting down his fork and scooting away from the table. “Come here, little bugger.”

By the time Daisy returned, dinner had been cleared, and they’d moved on to toasts and cake-cutting. The moment for further conversation had passed.

Maya, who’d married two months ago, excused herself to give the maid of honor toast. She and Bella had been roommates all through college, and because she was Bella’s best friend and Ben’s daughter, she was at more family get-togethers than some of his own girls.

After the toasts, everyone gathered around a separate table to watch the cake cutting. Kenny and Bella carefully fed each other cake and toasted champagne. Then they kicked off the dancing with their first dance as husband and wife.

Edward was up after that for the father-daughter dance. As his last, it was bittersweet, but he was grateful all of his girls had found such good men. Men who weren’t perfect but were perfect for them.

After Kenny and his mom danced, the lights dimmed further, the DJ took over the music, and the younger crowd hit the dance floor. Edward spotted his daughters all around one table, talking animatedly. He slipped in behind them to eavesdrop.

“It’s crazy to think this is the first time in five years that none of us are pregnant or nursing. Let’s drink up,” Lizzie said.

“Just because we can get drunk doesn’t mean we should,” Emma said. “We still have responsibilities.”

“Speak for yourself,” Lucy said. “We’re free for the night. Our munchkins are upstairs being put to bed as we speak.”

“Yeah, well,” Daisy said. “Not all of us thought to bring a sitter and get her a separate room with the kids. That was genius, by the way.”

“I think our days of partying till the wee hours are over,” Emma said.

“When did we ever do that?” Lucy asked. “I’m pretty sure the last time we got drunk together was that night with Kate after she found out Adam was helping Dad’s opponent.”

“Oh, yeah,” Kate said. “We tried to set his boat free but couldn’t figure out the knot.”

“Emma was drunk at least once after that,” Lizzie said. “I remember because I was pissed she hadn’t done it at my bar.”

“Ah, yes,” Emma said. “The summer of adventures.”

“It’s weird how much has changed,” Lucy said. “No more hanging out at Mom and Dad’s pool, sipping mojitos, and gossiping.”

“Yeah. Now it’s all changing babies, chasing toddlers, and trying to catch a nap,” Kate said with a chuckle.

Edward listened quietly, content to watch his girls reminisce.

Husbands and kids came and went, and once a slow song started, Edward saw a shot to talk with Lucy.

“May I have this dance?” he asked, bowing deeply.

“But of course, good sir,” she said, laughing.

He took her loosely into his arms, and they did a pseudo waltz to Etta James’s “At Last.”

“You and Jack hanging in there?” he asked. They had two kids—five-and-a-half-year-old Connor and his three-year-old sister, Penny—and were trying for a third. After the first surprise conception, it had taken Lucy another two years to conceive again.

“Oh, yes,” she said. “I only go into the shop when I have to, and Jack runs his dad’s company out of a home office, so we’re making do.”

“Business running okay without you there all the time?”

“So far, so good. I’ve basically turned over the managing of both shops to Kenny. He plans to get an MBA and is grateful for the experience. I check in a lot and he calls with any questions.”

“You guys must be real proud of him,” Edward said. Kenny’s father wasn’t in the picture, and Jack and Lucy had taken him under their wings many years ago.

Lucy chuckled. “I remember when he first walked into the coffee shop looking for a job. Jack had met him the day before at the gym, where kids were picking on him because he was so scrawny.”

“He’s hardly that now. I wouldn’t mess with him.”

“Oh, yeah. He really filled out. Add his height to that, and he’s one tough cookie. Turned into a real looker too. I can see why Bella fell for him.”

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