Oh Baby(18)
Not wanting to be left out, Matthew and Malcolm raced over and threw their arms around Marcus's waist.
Samara's heart melted as she watched her husband and children. She thanked God for them, and she couldn't wait to tell Marcus about the coming addition to their family.
Smiling at the thought, she glanced at her diamond-encrusted Chopard watch, one of her Christmas gifts from Marcus.
It was almost five o'clock.
She smiled with quiet excitement.
Just two hours to go before show time.
12
At six o'clock, half of the women left to get ready for the evening's entertainment. They took the children with them.
After watching them depart, Quentin turned to Marcus. "Do you know what they've got planned for us?"
Marcus grinned. "I have no idea. Samara's been pretty hush-hush."
Quentin chuckled. "So has Lexi."
"So has Taylor," Manning said, joining the conversation.
"Reese, too," Michael added.
"Same with Maya and Zora," Navarro and Zachary chimed in.
The six men traded speculative grins.
"Guess we'll see what's up soon enough," Marcus drawled.
Forty minutes later, two uniformed servants appeared to escort everyone outside, where a huge deluxe tent had been erected on the back lawn of the château. Night had settled over the surrounding landscape, which consisted of scenic rolling hills and the lush vineyards that produced Asha's world-class wines.
Inside the tent, an elevated stage and runway were flanked by rows of chairs draped with white linen. A massive crystal chandelier hung from the center of the tent while strings of fairy lights shimmered like diamonds caught in sunlight.
As soon as Marcus saw the runway, he was struck by a feeling of déjà vu.
Nearly a decade ago, he'd met Samara while attending one of her mother's fashion shows with an old friend. He'd had to be dragged kicking and screaming to the spring premiere, and he'd grumbled all the way up to the moment Samara made her dramatic appearance on the runway. Crowned with a jeweled tiara and carried on the shoulders of two male models, she was so damn beautiful she'd taken Marcus's breath away.
Since marrying her, he'd attended more celebrity-studded fashion shows than he cared to recall. It came with the territory when your wife was the daughter of an iconic fashion mogul. He'd been to Fashion Week in New York, Paris, London and Milan (where his youngest was conceived, hence her name). Seated in the coveted front row with Samara and Sterling, he'd watched as stick-thin models paraded up and down the runway in Asha's latest designer collections. He'd smiled for the paparazzi and posed for selfies with every celebrity from Rihanna to Kim Kardashian.
The first chance he and his father got, they would sneak away to grab a cold beer and catch sports highlights on any TV they could find.
Attending fashion shows would never be Marcus's favorite pastime. But if he hadn't been at Asha's premiere that fateful night, he never would have met Samara. And that was downright unthinkable.
A uniformed attendant ushered him to the front row. Michael and Magnum flanked him while the others filled up the row. Mason sat behind them, still booed up with the pretty nanny. The older couples were seated on the other side of the runway with Mama Wolf, who'd been smiling at Marcus even more than usual. As if she were privy to some secret.
Catching his great-grandmother's eye, Marcus grinned and winked.
Mama Wolf patted her heart, smiling tenderly when he returned the gesture.
More people were arriving, filling up the tent. Asha's household servants had brought their families. She'd also invited some friends from Paris, as well as her wealthy neighbors from the nearby châteaus and castles that dotted the French countryside.
Once everyone was seated, the tent suddenly went dark. An excited hush fell over the audience.
Out of the darkness, a woman began singing a hauntingly beautiful rendition of "O Holy Night." A spotlight clicked on, drawing all eyes to a dais located to the right of the stage. The soloist stood on the raised platform, her voice a rich soprano that sent chills down Marcus's spine. She was accompanied by Taylor playing the violin and Montana playing the saxophone. The harmonious blending of vocals and instrumental notes sent a burst of applause through the crowd.
Manning was beaming with pride as he stared at Taylor, who looked beautiful in a frothy white evening gown. She traded smiles with Montana, who'd changed into a tuxedo at some point.
The soloist began singing "O Come All Ye Faithful" as the spotlight swung to the stage. The curtain slid open to reveal an elaborate Nativity scene. What looked like a shaft of white moonlight beamed down on a man and woman gazing at a swaddled infant in the manger. They were dressed in golden biblical-era costumes, and their hair and skin were painted gold.
The figures were so perfectly still, they looked like gilded statues. So when they suddenly lifted their heads to smile at each other, a ripple of surprised laughter swept over the audience.
As the soloist's melodic voice faded, the lights dimmed and thick clouds of vapor filled the stage, obscuring the Nativity scene. Two spotlights shone down on opposite ends of the stage.
A siren wailed, heightening the thrill of anticipation in the air.
Then out strutted Asha and Samara.
A roar of applause went up from the crowd.
Marcus broke into a huge grin as several hands pounded him on the back.
Asha and Samara looked stunningly chic in matching white pantsuits that featured plunging necklines and torso cutouts, baring just enough skin to tantalize without revealing too much. Their hair was slicked back from their faces, a sleek style that accentuated their exotically slanted eyes, high cheekbones and lush mouths. They looked so much alike it was scary.
Awestruck murmurs rippled through the crowd as mother and daughter met at center stage. They slowly circled each other, sizing each other up like two rivals who'd arrived at a party wearing the same outfit.
Scattered laughter could be heard around the tent.
With a haughty toss of their heads, Asha and Samara took off down the runway to the saucy techno beat of Nicki Minaj's "Pound the Alarm."
The crowd cheered wildly in approval.
Asha strutted her stuff with the fiercely regal confidence of a former supermodel who'd once ruled the catwalk. She hadn't lost a step and looked good enough to return to modeling anytime she wanted.
Though not as experienced as her famous mother, Samara was definitely holding her own, strutting down the runway like a pro in her skyscraper heels. She even had the icy pout down pat.
Marcus was on the edge of his seat, grinning so hard it was a miracle his face didn't split open.
At the end of the runway, Asha and Samara struck several model poses and executed graceful half pivots, sliding one hand into their pants pockets as they showed off their haute couture ensembles.
The crowd was on its feet, clapping and cheering and snapping a frenzy of pictures like fashion photographers. On the other side of the runway, Sterling was grinning from ear to ear. The love he felt for Asha was written all over his face. Marcus imagined he must look just as lovestruck.
Asha and Samara winked at their husbands, then exchanged double cheek kisses and hooked their arms around each other's waist. Wolf whistles rang out as mother and daughter strutted back up the runway together, disappearing in a dramatic puff of smoke.
As the curtain came down, the audience erupted into thunderous applause punctuated by delighted exclamations of "What an opening!"
Marcus and the fellas exchanged incredulous glances.
"How did they keep all this a secret from us?" Quentin wondered.
The others laughed. "Good question."
As new music started playing, the curtain opened. The crowd burst into applause at the sight of Lexi standing at center stage with her children. All three were decked out in white outfits. Lexi carried Alexandra in one arm while holding Junior's hand. The handsome toddler took in the audience with a hazel-eyed stare that had all the women cooing and sighing.
As Lexi began walking the runway, Quentin hooted his approval and thumped his fist on his chest, drawing a round of appreciative laughter.
Reese came next with Savannah and MJ. As Michael whooped and whistled, Marcus grinned at his adorable niece and nephew, who elicited more sighs from the audience as they ambled along beside their gorgeous mother.
They were followed by Taylor, Micah, Maximilian and Malia, who looked like a chocolate baby doll. She pranced down the runway, long pigtails bouncing against her back as she switched her little hips.
The crowd ate it up, laughing and cheering boisterously.
"You better werkkk, baby girl!" someone shouted encouragingly.
"She better not!" Manning retorted, setting off rumbles of laughter.
Maya and Zora sashayed onto the stage in stylish red dresses. They each had three young kids with fair complexions and straight or curly hair that came courtesy of their white and Native American fathers.
The audience clapped and whistled as the twin sisters paraded down the catwalk with their children, turning this way and that to show off their outfits while Navarro and Zachary cheered proudly.
As they left the stage, the curtain came down.
An expectant hush fell over the crowd.
At least two minutes passed, drawing out the suspense.