Her smile faded slightly and her eyes took on a haunted quality. But before he could ask, her expression returned to normal. “Thanks. I’ll be sure to tell him the next time I see him.”
CHAPTER SIX
CASSIE GREETED HER sister at the front door. Chloe handed her a large paper shopping bag, reached down and grabbed two more from the porch, then stepped into the Lawford house.
“I don’t know why I thought this was going to be a great idea,” Chloe said and laughed. “It didn’t seem like such a big deal to show up at the party in costume. I conveniently ignored that step in the middle, the part where I actually had to put it all together.” She bent forward, her round belly making her awkward, and gave her sister a kiss on the cheek. “I really, really appreciate you offering to help me with this.”
“My pleasure.” Cassie closed the door behind her and led the way to the kitchen. “I thought we could work in here. Sasha is down for her nap. Apparently they played outside at preschool, so she’s exhausted from all the running and jumping. I figure she’ll have about an hour and fifteen minutes of honest sleep, then maybe she’ll spend another thirty minutes quietly playing in her bed.”
Cassie set the shopping bag on a chair and began emptying the contents. “To try and stack the odds in our favor, I went to her room a couple of minutes ago and put her favorite doll in with her.”
“Clever,” Chloe said as she, too, dumped yards of green, yellow and white fabric onto the table. “I like that in a woman. Now if only you can be equally creative with this mess.”
She dug around until she found several of the larger pieces that she’d already sewn together. “Where’s Ryan? I don’t want to expose my pregnant self to him. I think the poor man is probably traumatized enough in his life.”
“Don’t give me that,” Cassie told her sister. “You look amazing. The problem wouldn’t be Ryan, who would be instantly smitten, it would be your husband’s insane jealousy.”
Chloe tossed her head, causing her ponytail to dance. “Arizona’s not insanely jealous. He just keeps a close eye on me when we’re out.”
“That’s because he knows you’re the most beautiful woman in the world and he desperately wants you.”
Chloe’s smile was content. “I don’t know about thinking I’m that beautiful, but he does like to keep me around.”
“An intelligent man.”
“Obviously.”
The two sisters laughed. “Do you want something to drink?” Cassie asked. “I have milk and juice.”
“Milk would be great.” Chloe rubbed her belly. “I’m trying to get all my calcium naturally, which means at least two glasses of milk a day, sometimes more. So while the baby is growing, leaving less and less room for my bladder, I’m drinking more and more. I swear, there are some days I just want to set up my laptop by the bathroom to save myself the time of walking back and forth.” She took the glass Cassie offered. “It’s only going to get worse before it gets better, too.”
“But it will be worth it.”
“I know.”
Cassie looked at her sister, noting the glow to her skin and the light in her eyes. Chloe had always been the tall, slender, pretty one, but now she was radiant. Arizona’s love filled her with a joy she’d never known before. Pregnancy agreed with her, she was working hard on a book about her husband’s travels, and she’d never been healthier or happier.
“I’m glad for you,” Cassie said, meaning it with all her heart. She believed there were enough good things out in the universe for everyone. The fact that Chloe had found what she wanted in life meant that it was possible for Cassie, too.
“So Ryan’s working?” Chloe asked.
“Yes, and unlikely to surface anytime soon. You’re safe.”
“Good.” Chloe unbuttoned the oversize shirt she’d worn that afternoon. Underneath she had on leggings and a sports bra. “I can’t get any part of this costume to work,” she said as she slipped into the long green sleeves. “If you could just help me pin it together, maybe baste it in a few key spots, I can sew it when I get home.”
Cassie stepped back and appraised her sister’s attire. The invitation to the university’s Halloween party stated that attendees were to dress like famous couples in literature. Chloe’s advancing pregnancy had prevented her from wearing anything formfitting. She’d toyed with the idea of Romeo and Juliet, but she’d decided that was too obvious. Not to mention the fact that Arizona had refused to wear tights.