Page 82 of Tangled Trust

"Really? That doesn’t compute."

"No one is as surprised as I am. But Ella told me that Amanda apologized to her for being rude and then invited her to lunch."

"You’re joking!"

"I know, right? That woman never ceases to throw me for a loop."

"I’d be careful if I were Ella. Tell her not to drink the tea," Sophie scoffs.

"Are you kidding? Done that already," I smirk.

"How does Jagger feel about the baby?"

"He can’t stop talking about it and touching Ella’s stomach. It’s so sweet. He whispers goodnight to Ella’s tiny bump every night. I swear that child is an angel. He’s the best thing Amanda and I could ever have done."

"I agree. Let’s hope the new baby follows in his footsteps."

"From your lips to God’s ears. Okay, let’s get you home so you can meet Ella."

Jagger, Dash, and Ella are down at the beach playing frisbee when we get home. Dash spots Sophie and me first and rushes across the sand to meet us.

"Hey, guys. We’re back!" I call out to Ella and Jagger.

"Aunty Sophie!" Jagger shouts.

"Hi, little guy. Wow! You’ve grown taller."

"Hello, Sophie," Ella smiles warmly. "It’s such a pleasure to meet you."

"Hi, Ella. Same here."

"It’s getting chilly. Shall we go in and have a drink?" I suggest. "Come along, Jagger. How about a mug of hot chocolate?"

"I could do with one of those," Ella grins and puts her arms around me.

"Ah, chocolate," Sophie agrees. "Forget about diamonds; chocolate is a woman’s best friend."

"Hear, hear!" Ella laughs. "If chocolate is your speed, I have a brownie and fudge cake squirreled away in the pantry, if you’re interested."

"Carter, Ella, and I are going to have a little girly sesh. Don’t call us; we’ll call you."

"Oh, dear. It looks like you and I are on our own, Jagger."

"Who needs girls, hey, Daddy?"

* * *

Sophie and Ella resurface about an hour later, and I can see that my sister is impressed. It’s such a relief. Not that I was worried, but it's important to be with someone who gets along with family. This is a life lesson I’ve learned the hard way.

"She’s lovely, Carter," Sophie whispers when Ella and Jagger are engaged in a conversation at the dinner table.

I wink in appreciation at my sister.

"So, Jagger," she says after a while, "Daddy tells me you think the baby is a boy."

"Yup. And his name is going to be Woody," my son beams.

"Woody, hey? That’s an interesting name.

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