Page 96 of Stone Vows

“And you’re sure he doesn’t know about you being pregnant?”

I shrug. “I don’t see how he could. I left the day I found out.”

He grabs a beer from the fridge and sits back down at the table. “I’m sorry I ruined dinner,” he says. “Thank you so much for cooking. Lasagna is my favorite.”

“I know,” I say, spooning more carrots into Ellie’s mouth. “Mallory told me.”

“She did, did she?” he asks with a crooked smile.

“She told me a lot of things about you,” I goad.

“Really?” His eyebrows shoot up. “Such as?”

I wipe Ellie’s face as I say and sign, “All done.” Then I get up and take my dishes to the sink. “A girl’s gotta have some secrets, Kyle.”

Chapter Forty-four

“Lexi!” Charlie screams, pulling me into her penthouse after she opens the door. “Get in here, Piper has some great news.”

I’m dragged to the sofa where all the girls are sitting, and I put Ellie down where Mallory’s daughter, Kiera, is playing.

“What is it?” I ask.

“We’ve set a date,” Piper says, excitedly. “May 14th.” She looks over at her fiancé, Mason. “He’s finally going to make an honest woman out of me.”

Mason tips his beer at his bride-to-be. “Don’t let her fool you, Lexi. I’ve been trying to get her to set a date for three years.”

“There was never a good time. Someone was always having a baby, filming a movie, or out of the country,” Piper says.

“Congratulations,” I say. “That’s only two months away. Is that enough time to plan a wedding?”

Baylor, Skylar and Piper all share a look. “You don’t know our mother,” Baylor says. “When Jan Mitchell puts her mind to it, she can make anything happen.”

They start to share stories of the three of them growing up in Maple Creek, Connecticut. It sounds like they had an incredible childhood. I look over at Ellie and watch her play with Kiera. Then I watch Gracie and Caitlyn toddle into the room. Everyone calls them ‘the twins,’ because Skylar and Baylor had them only days apart. Then I watch Charlie’s son, Eli, follow around two rambunctious five-year-old girls—Jordyn, Baylor’s daughter, and Hailey, Mason’s daughter with his ex-girlfriend. Aaron, Skylar’s four-year-old son, sits perched next to her, paging through a book. The only one missing is Maddox, Baylor’s oldest. He’s away at church camp with his youth group while school is on spring break.

The love and life in this penthouse is amazing. This is what I want for Ellie. I want her growing up with family, friends . . . siblings.

Piper sits down next to me. “I’d love it if you would agree to be a bridesmaid,” she says. “And I promise I’m not just saying that because every other woman here will be.”

“Me?” I look at her in disbelief.

I had friends in college. Good friends, even. But no one who would have asked me to be in their wedding. No one I even asked to be in mine. Probably because Grant wanted to keep it small and local. In fact, the only guest in attendance who was there formewas my brother. Just another way Grant was able to manipulate me.

“Of course,” she says. “Will you?”

I look over at Mason and realize what it would entail. He’s the quarterback for the Giants. I shake my head. “I would like nothing more, Piper. But I can’t. Your wedding will probably be covered by the news. Maybe even ESPN. And pictures will be plastered all over. I’m really flattered that you asked, but I’m going to have to settle for being part of the crowd if that’s okay with you.”

She nods in complete understanding. She’s not one to push. She knows we all have our reasons for why we do things. I know this because just yesterday, she brought Hailey over for lunch and told me her own horrific story. The two of us are bound by similar experiences. Mine, from a man with whom I shared a bed. Hers, from total strangers.

“Will you help me plan it?” she asks.

“I’d be honored, Piper.”

Charlie calls the adults over for dinner as the babysitter they hired rounds up all the kids and herds them into the theater room to watch the latest Disney movie. Mallory and I carry our girls back after them and get them situated with some toys on a blanket in the corner.

By the time I make it out to the dinner table, they are already deep in conversation. Aboutme, apparently.

Ethan and Kyle are discussing ways for me to file for divorce and get full custody of Ellie.

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