“We’d better head back, mom will be searching for us soon.” She fixed her face in the mirror while I made sure we were both decent to go back to our guests.
I don’t know how decent that just fucked look was though, but hopefully anyone seeing her would put it down to the excitement of the party.
It was only as we reached the stairs and I saw that the boys had taken up residence on the wall closest to the landing that I thought of how embarrassing it might be for her.
One look at her radiant face put those fears to rest however, and it didn’t look like anyone else had missed us so we were in the clear.
Mom descended on us before our feet had touched the landing and I was feeling magnanimous enough to let my woman go off with her after a whispered reminder in her ear.
“No more champagne, not even a sip.” She smiled and gave me her assent before being dragged off to who knows where by my parent.
I was all but busting at the seams to share the news with my boys, but like I’d told her, I wanted to savor it, just her and I, for a little while longer. There will be plenty of time to tell everyone later, after the doctor had confirmed.
By the time the party was coming to a close I was more than ready for us to go, not that it wasn’t great. Mom had done an amazing job, and Amanda seemed to be having fun, but I was over it already.
I felt like a kid in a candy store who couldn’t wait to get home and unwrap my goodies, all I wanted was to get her behind closed doors so I could show her just how fucking happy I was with her.
The party was a big hit, and I watched and listened as my friends and neighbors made her welcome. I wasn’t above cutting someone off for being unkind to her.
I was well aware that a few of the people here tonight were friends and business associates of Cecily’s dad, and that their allegiance might be put to the test.
But when word of tonight got back as I was sure it would, I wanted it to be known that they’d chosen her.
I was never too far from her side and I had solved the problem of the champagne question by getting her a glass of ginger ale.
Mom was reluctant to let her go when the time came and I noticed that at least one guest wasn’t having as good a time as the others.
Diane, as was to be expected had a sour look on her face, which I chose to ignore. I had no real interest one way or the other, other than to be grateful that my brother hadn’t shared any of the details of Amanda’s past with her.
Because of the nature of the underground network he dealt with, he never shared that side of his job with anyone.
I knew I could trust him, because he’d been doing it for years before he ever told me about it, and we share everything. He’d only let me in on his secret then, for necessity’s sake, because he’d needed my help.
Like I said, I’m not overly interested in her though, she’d just have to get over it. As the eldest and heir, I knew that my choice for a mate would hold a certain position in our family, not to mention the community.
Diane had been the only daughter in law for so long that she’d gotten comfortable in that spot. Now I’m sure she knows that with Amanda in the picture, she’d have to share, and that most likely the hierarchy was about to change.
It wasn’t as though my parents were going to suddenly start shunning her, or that her place at the table was going to be taken away from her. But she knew the dynamics of our little dynasty, and I’m sure that’s why she was looking none too happy right now.
Not to mention the fact that she and Cecily were loosely related and I think she’d always harbored a hope that I’d marry her cousin and the two of them could continue reigning over the town, the way they always have.
We said our goodbyes and I took her home still riding on a high. “Are you tired, do your feet hurt? I don’t know if you should wear those things in your condition.” I pointed at the stilettos on her feet in disdain.
“What condition?”
“You know, the baby, isn’t that dangerous?” she rolled her eyes at me, something that she was in the habit of doing a lot of lately, and that I found immensely endearing.
“Please tell me you’re not going to be one of those dads to be.”
“What kind of dad to be would that be?”
“You know, the overprotective type who doesn’t let his...” She cut herself off and lowered her head.
“His what baby? say it.”
“His wife, do anything.” She blushed a pretty pink in the soft light of the car, and her words were whisper soft but she’d said them.
“That’s right baby, my wife, and yes I think I am going to be one of those dads, starting right now.
There will be no more heels, no out in the midday sun in the garden. Dammit, I’m sure mom has a book on this stuff, I should’ve looked before we left.”