The Belle and the Beard by Kate Canterbary (carter reed TXT) 📗

"This time," I echoed.

"Mmhmm."

I climbed out and came around, more than a little surprised to find her in the passenger seat rather than smirking at me from the blacktop. I opened the door and settled one arm around her waist, the other behind her knees, and scooped her out of the truck.

"I will never get used to this," she said, a giggle bursting over her pale pink lips. "I just can't."

"That's okay," I murmured to her neck. "Just get used to it for right now."

I set her down, holding on a moment longer than necessary. She smelled as lovely as always but the familiarity of that scent caught me off guard. How long had it been since that scent was new to me? And how long since it had become an everyday part of my life?

"Oh, it's chilly here," she said, hugging her arms close to her body.

"Yeah, let's get you inside." I grabbed my tuxedo jacket from the truck and steered Jasper toward the main entrance. "If you want to leave early, just give me the signal."

"What's the signal?"

"Trust me. I'll know. Your face reads like a book."

She glanced up at me when I tucked her hand into the crook of my elbow and led her up the steps. "I guess I've lost my poker face. It used to be legendary."

"You still have it. I can just see past it."

She started to respond but we found ourselves sandwiched between Rob and Magnolia and Ash and Zelda.

"Ah, I see we're operating on triplet time tonight," Rob said. "Could the three of you circle up and decide on a departure time? I've been awake for two days."

Magnolia shot him a broad smile, saying, "Play stupid games, win stupid prizes."

Rob said to us, "I had to go to London."

"For a day," Magnolia said with a laugh. "Not even a day. Four hours. A meeting."

He bobbed his head. "Yeah. That's true. But I closed the deal which means I shouldn't have any other deals to worry about this year and the babies can come any time they want."

"Not any time," she replied.

"You know what I mean," he said. "And now that's handled, I'm going to fall asleep on your shoulder during dinner, wife."

"It's a good thing you're pretty, Russo," she said to him.

"Don't we look gorgeous," Zelda sang as she hooked elbows with Magnolia and Jasper. She eyed Jasper's dress with appreciation. "You were right about not needing any of the dresses we made you try on. This is just breathtaking."

"It really is," Magnolia agreed.

"Thank you," Jasper said.

Ash glanced at the great stone hearth complete with a roaring fire and club chairs stationed in front of it. "Do you think we could skip out on the part where we remind all of Mom and Dad's friends where we live, what we do, and whether we've kept in contact with their kids and just hang out here instead? Or—"

"There you are," my mother called, huffing and clucking as she marched over.

"Probably not," Ash muttered.

"Why are you standing around out here like a bunch of loiterers?" She waved us away from the entry and led us down a thickly carpeted hall. "There we go, yes, you too, Robert. Have some tequila, it will wake you up."

"I don't think that's accurate," my sister said.

"It won't hurt to try," Mom replied. "Enough with the scowling, Linden, and Ash, stop making that face. People will think you have an ulcer."

"I might," he murmured.

"You don't," Mom said with a definitive shake of her head. "Zelda, dear, you are just glowing. Is there anything you'd like to tell me? A very special anniversary gift perhaps?"

"Mom. What the fuck?" Ash snapped.

Zelda glanced at him as she ran a hand down her belly. "I look pregnant?"

He rubbed his temples. "No, love, you don't."

"I think it's just the new shimmery highlighting stick," Zelda said to Mom, gesturing to her cheekbones. "That's all. I promise."

"Well, I can't have all my dreams come true, can I?" Mom mused. "Oh, and Jasper. Aren't you a treasure tonight. My word." She hit me with an approving grin. "One of the best anniversary gifts of all."

At the reappearance of my mother's terrible Southern accent, I said, "Enough of that."

"All right, all right." She looked us over with a grim smile as if the six of us barely passed muster. She did this when we were small, before sending us off to school in the mornings. "Magnolia, dear, you also look beautiful but you'd look so much better if you smiled. Try that, would you? Just remember, carrying triplets is more difficult than twins." She glanced around our group, saying, "In you go. Mingle. Have fun."

My mother darted inside the ballroom, her sequined dress shining after her.

Magnolia said, "It's so wonderful when she's lost her mind. Like, it's entertaining in a mildly toxic way."

Ash shook his head. "Why is she so chippy?"

"Because throwing big events is so stressful," Jasper said. "It's so much coordination and there are always last minute problems. Even when we hired event planners, I still ended up managing something and eating nothing. You have to force yourself to stop working and let things happen." She sent a quick glance around the group. "I don't know, I'm just saying it's really difficult. Whenever I was steering the ship, I know I was terrible to the people working with me. Your mom probably expected the country club's event coordinator to handle everything and didn't hire an additional coordinator to make sure it all got done to her liking."

There was a collective moment of sheepishness before Magnolia said, "I'll stop grousing about being ninety-four months pregnant with these precious little mountain trolls and schmooze with the grown-ups if someone keeps my husband awake and away from the tequila."

"But that sounded like such a winning idea," Rob said.

"Never a good idea," Zelda said as she steered Magnolia and Jasper into the ballroom. "Never ever."

"No tequila, no complaining," Ash murmured. "Got it."

"Nothing we can't handle." I clapped Ash and