* * * *
“Wills, Theo. I thought I heard someone.” Alice hurried into the kitchen. “You’re here early.” She kissed Wills and hugged me. “I’m so glad to see you.”
“It’s good to see you again too.” What a nice woman she was.
“Where is everyone?” Wills stooped and ruffled the ears of the black Labrador retriever who’d hobbled in on three legs. Deety was JR’s dog. I hadn’t had the opportunity to meet her last year, since she’d been at the vet’s with a broken leg. Shortly after, she’d been diagnosed with osteosarcoma. The year Dr. Morse, their vet, had given her was almost up.
“Your father took Marti, JR, and Patrick to church. It’s Good Friday.”
“Really? Shouldn’t Dad be at work?”
“He’s his own boss.” Alice looked mysterious and Wills…he just looked puzzled.
“What about Jill? She usually does that.”
“She’s lying down.”
“Is she all right?”
“She’s fine.” Alice patted his shoulder at his concerned expression.
“I have to say I’m surprised Patrick’s father hasn’t stopped him and Jar from being friends.”
“Because they took off for Washington last month? He has no idea.”
“Excuse me?”
“Jack told him Patrick stayed with us.” She scowled and muttered something uncomplimentary about Pat’s father under her breath, and I couldn’t help raising an eyebrow.
Apparently Wills didn’t hear, which was probably just as well.
“Why don’t you two take your suitcases up to your room and visit with Jill a bit? Then Theo can help me with the baking.”
“Do I get to lick the bowl?” Wills asked, and when I grinned at him, he blushed. Fortunately, Alice didn’t notice. She was busy examining the Sherpa bag.
“And is this Tiramisu?”
Of course we’d brought her with us. The ladies downstairs would have watched her, but I thought she’d want to see her Momma and Poppa again. I unzipped the front of the carrier.
“Come on out and say hello, Miss Su.”
She poked her head out. “Mrrow?”
“How big you’ve grown! Do you remember me, sweet pea?” Alice bent down and rubbed our cat under the chin. Miss Su slitted her eyes and began to purr.
“I’d say she did.”
“You two go on up. She’ll be fine with me.”
* * * *
“Babe, what are you worried about?” I asked as we brought our carry-ons into his bedroom.
“Jill. She’s always on the go, and the only time I ever knew her to take it easy was when she’d been pregnant with Marti.”
“What about JR?”
“I don’t remember. I was twelve, and too busy settling into a new school and making new friends to pay attention to adult stuff like that.” He worried his lower lip. “I hope she’s not sick.”
“Hmm.” Could she be…? No, I was sure Jack would have said something when we’d seen him last month. I just hoped it wasn’t anything serious.
I glanced around the bedroom. “Are we going to make love here?” He hadn’t been comfortable enough last year, and so I hadn’t pressured him into doing anything more than making out.
“If I can keep my mouth shut.”
“I’ll find something to put in it.” I gave him a slow, sultry smile.
“Oh?”
I slid my hand around his neck, and he came into my arms and met my lips in a kiss that just about melted my brain.
“Mmm,” The hum vibrated against my lips.
“The feeling is mutual,” and I groped his ass.
“I don’t suppose we have time…”
“Not now, but later, I intend to make it really hard for you not to scream.”
“Is that a promise?”
“You bet.”
“Awesome.” He licked his lips, and I couldn’t resist leaning forward and licking his lips myself. “Theo!” he breathed, then shook his head. “We can finish unpacking later. Let’s go say hi to Jill.”
* * * *
Wills stared at his stepmother, his jaw somewhere around his knees. “Pregnant?”
So she was.
“Why didn’t Dad tell us when he was in DC?”
“I think he was afraid of jinxing this pregnancy.” She was lying on the king size bed in the master bedroom, her feet propped up on a stack of pillows. Princess Kimba and Jad bal Ja, her American Bobtails, were cuddled on either side of her.
“But it’s eleven years since Marti was born.” Wills couldn’t seem to wrap his brain around the mound that was Jill’s belly.
“I know. It was a surprise to us too. Are you…are you okay with this?” She shifted, obviously uncomfortable, but I wasn’t certain if it was physical or emotional.
“Did you doubt it? A new baby…I always wished for more brothers.” And sons? A soft smile warmed his eyes. If he wanted a baby, then I’d move heaven and earth to see we had one. “So when will Theo’s brother-in-law be born?”
“You’re so certain it will be a boy?”
“Yep. Jill? This baby’s birthday?”
“The middle of September.”