Oh Baby(17)

11





Burgundy, France

Two weeks later

Christmas evening





The cavernous halls of the palatial château were ringing with laughter, the babble of voices and the squeals of happy children running and playing.

That Christmas afternoon, everyone was gathered in the luxurious solarium. It was a huge room, high ceilinged and bright with glass walls that overlooked the lavishly manicured gardens. Furnished with many sofas and chairs, the solarium was perfect for entertaining large groups. At the center stood a soaring conifer tree festooned with hundreds of twinkling lights and expensive ornaments made from diamonds, emeralds and Swarovski crystals, making it one of the most opulent Christmas trees most people would ever behold.

The Christmas gifts had been opened, the sumptuous holiday feast had been served and devoured. And now the revelers sat around laughing and drinking cinnamon-infused wine while they waited for the evening's entertainment.

Samara sat cuddled up beside Marcus, his muscular thigh pressed tight against hers, his arm slung across the back of the sofa as he played in her hair.

Meeting his eyes, she smiled and mouthed, Love you, baby.

Love you too, he mouthed back and winked.

There were several conversations going on at once. Some of the men were making plans to go bass fishing tomorrow. The avid outdoorsmen-Sterling, Stan, Magnum and Navarro-were especially eager to hit the lake.

Most of the women would be flocking to Paris for a leisurely day of shopping, starting at Asha's posh boutique along the Champs-Élysées. The men would join them that evening for dinner at Le Meurice, one of the finest restaurants in Paris.

All the children were staying behind with Mama Wolf and Prissy's mother, Dinah, along with the two nannies Asha had hired for the holidays. They had an exciting day of activities planned for the kids, including a magic show and scavenger hunt.

As Samara gazed around the solarium that wintry Christmas afternoon, her heart warmed at the festive scene before her.

Mama Wolf sat in a high-backed upholstered chair that fittingly resembled a throne. The beloved family matriarch was flanked by Dinah and Lexi's mother, Carlene. The three women's heads were bent close together as they talked and laughed.

All the married couples were booed up, Samara noted, grinning at the sight of her mother, Prissy, Winnie and Georgina curled up next to their husbands, their faces glowing with smiles and laughter.

Samara couldn't be happier for Georgina. After losing Quentin's father more than thirty years ago, she'd finally found love again with a wonderful man who worshipped the ground she walked on. She deserved every ounce of happiness that Henry Duncan had brought into her life.



       
         
       
        

Watching the older couple, Samara hoped that a second chance romance was also in the cards for Dinah and Carlene.

The thought made her smile as her wandering gaze landed on Quentin and Lexi. They sat close together on a velvet settee, smiling down at their beautiful young children. Junior played noisily at their feet while Alexandra sat on her mother's lap contentedly sucking her thumb. The baby girl's bright hazel eyes reflected the lights from the gigantic tree, which currently held her rapt attention.

Michael and Reese sat nearby holding hands while Manning and Taylor canoodled in a corner like a pair of honeymooners. Taylor insisted that they were done having children. But since she hadn't gotten her tubes tied, and she and Manning could never keep their hands off each other, an "oops baby" could come any day now.

The same went for Zora and Maya. The twin sisters shared a sofa with their husbands, who sat on either side of them. Zachary, who bore a striking resemblance to the actor Michael Fassbender, was whispering naughty things in Zora's ear while Navarro playfully nuzzled Maya's neck, making her giggle like a schoolgirl.

A proud Native American with chiseled good looks and raven-black hair worn long enough to brush his shoulders, Yuma Navarro was Manning's childhood friend and the executive vice president of Wolf Biotech. He'd met Maya during one of her family's summer visits to Denver. As the story went, Navarro had been playing basketball at Manning's house when Maya wandered outside to the backyard. Navarro had taken one look at her and lost his heart. Luckily for him, Maya fell just as hard. Three decades later, now married with three kids, they were still madly in love.

A raucous shout of laughter drew Samara's attention to where Montana, Magnum and Maddox sat around drinking winter ale and swapping jokes.

Several feet away, Mason stood by the tiered marble fountain flirting with one of the nannies, a twentysomething beauty who'd migrated to Paris from Senegal. A self-proclaimed "chocoholic with a weakness for fine dark-skinned sistas," Mason had been instantly captivated by the nanny's glowing brown skin, entrancing smile and lilting French accent.

"Oh, Michael darling," Asha called over the buzz of voices, laughter and holiday music.

Michael broke off his conversation with Marcus and Quentin to smile inquisitively at his stepmother, whose eyes were twinkling with merriment.

"We took a vote, dearest, and we unanimously agreed that your holiday show should be taped here every Christmas."

Michael laughed as several others raised their wineglasses and chimed, "Hear, hear!"

The crew of Michael's Emmy-winning cooking show, Howlin' Good, had arrived two mornings ago to shoot the annual "Holidays With the Wolf Pack" episode. With the château's enormous gourmet kitchen serving as the set, everyone had gathered around Michael for a boisterous, rollicking good time that continued long after the cameras stopped rolling. 

He grinned at Asha. "Drew had the same idea," he said, referring to the executive producer of Howlin' Good. "He loved the château and the vineyards. He thought the taping was a huge success, and the whole crew thoroughly enjoyed your hospitality."

"They sure did," Prissy confirmed, her head resting on Stan's shoulder. "They couldn't stop raving about dinner and the complimentary bottles of wine you gave them."

"They were delightful guests," Asha said, smiling graciously. "I do hope they can come back."

"They'd love to," Michael assured her. "But flying the whole crew out to France once a year would get pretty expensive. So the network execs probably won't go for it."

"But you're one of their biggest stars," Asha pointed out. "Surely you can persuade them?"

"Oh, he can," Reese purred, sliding a suggestive smile at Michael. "My husband can be very persuasive when he wants to be."

"TMI," Manning called out jokingly.

Michael snorted. "Says the man who's had his tongue down his wife's throat all night," he quipped, drawing howls of laughter from the others.

Looking around at the sea of animated faces, Mama Wolf beamed with happiness and contentment. "What a wonderful Christmas this has been," she declared.

All laughter and conversation ceased as everyone turned to smile at the family matriarch.

"You know," she began philosophically, "as we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ today, I feel like the most blessed woman on earth. Not only has God given me an abundance of loving family and friends, He's also blessed me with the precious gift of time. During my long life on this earth, I've witnessed many tragedies and experienced just as many triumphs. I've seen our country progress in some ways and regress in others. Because of God's grace and mercy, I was able to do something I never thought I would-cast a vote for our first black president. Not once, but twice." She smiled, her dark eyes shining with satisfaction. "If the Good Lord calls me home tomorrow, I'll leave this earth with no regrets." Pause. "But I sure wouldn't mind if He kept me around a while longer to enjoy more of these holiday gatherings. They give me life, as the young folks say."

Hearty laughter and shouts of "Amen" filled the room. Mama Wolf smiled radiantly as everyone got up and went over to hug and kiss her.

When it was Samara's turn, the family matriarch gently cradled her face between her hands and confided in a hushed voice, "I had one of my fertility dreams not too long ago."

Samara grinned. "Did you?"

"I sure did." There was a conspiratorial gleam in the old woman's eyes. "Every time I dream about waterfalls, one of you girls turns up pregnant. Am I going to find out who's expecting during tonight's special performance?"

"Yes," Samara said with a twinkling smile. "But something tells me you already know."

Mama Wolf beamed ecstatically, then hugged her long and hard. "Congratulations, baby," she whispered in her ear. "I'm so happy for you and Marcus!"

Samara laughed, returning her fierce hug. "Thank you, Mama."

Just then the older children stampeded into the room, squealing with laughter as they chased one another around the sparkling Christmas tree.

As Milan ran past her parents, Marcus reached down and scooped her right up. She burst into high-pitched giggles as he swung her into the air and blew raspberries against her neck.