16
SIMONE
“Uncle Harry! Come play catch with me!” A boy with a gap in his teeth was holding out a baseball for Harry to take. He couldn’t have been more than six years old.
This had to be Maxon.
I hadn’t had the chance for a proper introduction at the wedding, since Maxon had gotten tired and fallen asleep at his family’s table. Now that I was finally up close, I could tell that he looked like the perfect mixture between Sean and Ruby, sharing all their features in equal measure.
Harry took the baseball from Maxon before he pointed toward the backyard. “We can play after brunch. I promise, okay? But I think your parents want us to eat brunch with everyone first—”
“Come on, Uncle Harry! Please!” Maxon begged. “Please! I never get to see you!”
“I think you should go play catch with him.” I playfully nudged Harry in the shoulder. “If anyone asks where you are, I’ll cover for you.”
“Are you sure? Dealing with my family while I’m around is one thing. But tackling it solo—”
“I’m not solo, remember? I have my mom here, too.”
“Maxon! You look like you’ve grown a foot since the wedding,” my mom cooed at Maxon. She then looked over at Harry. “Harry! Go play catch with this young man at once!”
“Yes, ma’am.” Harry smiled, then turned to Maxon. “Come on. Let’s go hide out in the backyard before anyone notices that we’re gone.”
“Yay!” Maxon cheered as he followed behind Harry.
“He’s a good kid. I can tell,” my mom said as we made our way further into the mansion, moving up the ramp. “And he seems so sweet, too.”
“He has good parents.” I smiled down at her. “Sean and Ruby are doing a really good job with him.”
“My ears are burning!” Ruby appeared in front of us with a glass of white wine in her hand. “Simone! So happy you could make it!”
She pulled me in for a tight hug, then did the same with my mom. “And Eileen! You are a vision, as always.”
“Oh, please. Says the supermodel.” My mom laughed. “You look gorgeous, Ruby. Like you just walked off a movie set.”
“Where are you two sitting? Please say it’s next to me.” Ruby took a sip of her wine.
My face twisted with confusion. “Were we supposed to get place cards or something?”
“Nope. No place cards. Just seating preference.” Ruby smirked. “Come on. Let’s go snag a place at the table before the boys get all the good seats.”
* * *
From where I was standing, there weren’t any bad seats at the table.
The dining room had been decorated like an upscale restaurant, with flowers hanging from its ceiling and printed menus in front of each seat. Even the drinks looked fancy, with bottles of expensive wine standing in the middle of the table.
“Simone!” Grace greeted me as soon as we walked into the room. “And Eileen! I’m so glad you both could make it.”
She paused for a moment, glancing around. “Would either of you happen to know where Harry is?”
“He’s, uh—” I started and stopped, just as Harry stepped into the dining room. “He’s right over there, actually.”
“Hi, Mom.” Harry waved.
“And? Where were you?”
“Playing catch with Maxon.” Harry beamed at Grace before he looked over at Ruby. “He’s getting really good. I think Sean should really think about putting him on a team—”