Page 88 of Just a Plot Twist
Claire’s eyes widen as she wraps her arms around Indie. After a moment, she squeezes her eyes shut and runs a hand down the back of my daughter’s head.
And when she opens her eyes, they glisten with tears. She blinks rapidly as she pats Indie’s back, and through the sobs comes a little humming from Claire. I don’t recognize the tune until she starts singing the words.
“I love you, a bushel and a peck, a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck.”
Indie’s crying is so loud, I doubt she can even hear Claire’s quiet words, but she must feel the reverberation through her chest because pretty soon, she wipes her tears away and her sobs become intermittent breaths, like little hiccups. Claire finishes singing after a couple of times through and that’s when Indie pulls away.
I’m not the best at timing these things, but after a few more minutes, I calmly mention to Indie that while Dax was in the wrong to bring up Indie’s needle fears, it’s not okay to say something mean just to get him back. But Indie only nods and changes the subject, looking at Claire.
“What did I miss in there?” Indie asks.
I chuckle. It’s good that she’s starting to feel like herself again.
“Nothing too exciting,” Claire says with a wink. “Quinn and River, who are Henry’s and Gabriel’s wives…”
Indie gives Claire a look like,I’m not dumb.
Claire grins. “Okay, okay. You know that they’re both pregnant, so there’s lots of pregnancy talk. And Grammy Tate told everyone about the time your uncles did a lemonade stand in the neighborhood when they were kids. Oh, and Sebastian and Elianna said they have something they need to tell everyone.”
Indie makes a face. “What do you think it is?”
“Maybe Sebastian’s going to join the circus,” I offer.
Indie giggles and some of the stress in my chest loosens. I love that she knows Sebastian well enough to know how funny that image is.
“Or maybe Elianna’s going to announce she’s writing a book about Shakespeare,” Claire says.
“No. If she’s writing a book, it has to be about how to be married to a guy likethat,” Indie quips, her mouth widening in a big grin.
I think she means that Sebastian is…particular? Uptight?
Oh boy. I scratch the back of my head. I have my work cut out for me with Indie.
It’s clear she was kidding, though. Sebastian’s not usually a barrel of laughs, but as Indie passes him on the way back to her seat, they give each other a fist bump.
And then for the big announcement. Indie is the first to cheer when Sebastian and Elianna announce that they, too, are expecting a baby. The rest of us take a moment to work through the surprise.
Sebastian’s going to be a dad? Looks like he’s having a hard time believing it, actually. He’s got a faraway look, which could be mistaken for sheer, white hot terror at the prospect.
Celine grins, placing her hands on her cheeks. “Three new grandchildren in the next few months?”
After much discussion about how Elianna is feeling and what their future plans are, we all get up to leave.
“We made such a mess,” River says, placing her hand over her baby bump and laughing.
She’sright. Napkins and silverware and glasses all askew. The crusty remnants of bread baskets. The floor littered with crumbs, especially near where Callum and Elizabeth were sitting.
But I just want to take a mental picture of it. This is what I always wanted growing up as an only child. I wanted this mess, and now I have it…I’m a part of it.
It’s not perfect. But it doesn’t have to be.
Thomas pulls me aside as we’re all walking out, holding me back as everyone slowly passes us. It’s not just the pregnant women who are rubbing their full bellies.
“I have something to show you.” Thomas shows me his phone screen. “Do you know who this is?” He points to a line item with a large sum and a name.
My eyes can’t even focus on the small writing when he says, his voice lowering, “Celine will get angry at me for showing you this, since it’s work related.”
Surprise drifts through me when it registers. “Vernon and Patricia Hanson? Yeah. They’re Claire and Sophie’s grandparents.”
