Page 53 of Under Pressure
“Anything for my future sister-in-law.” Sean grabbed Bear’s collar and led him and Sweetie on her tether, through the sea of balloons.
Gramps stood next to the couch, his face a ruddy red, muttering under his breath. Mom reached up and patted his arm.
Sean pushed the screen door open, and out the trio went. “Sorry, guys.” He rubbed Sweetie under the chin and scratched Bear behind the ear. “I know this stinks, but people get priority over animals.” Though Sean’d be willing to bet that what Grandpa had mumbled in there had been something like “they were here first.”
As Sean shut the screen, leaving Bear and Sweetie staring in like party hopefuls. There was something so sad about a dog wearing a cravat and overcoat, staring through a screen with big, brown puppy eyes and a hang-dog expression.
Jonah sat in the armchair with Blue on the armrest, but he pulled her onto his lap the moment Sean laid eyes on them.
Bear let out a whine.
“You and me both, pal,” Sean said and headed for the couch.
Blue tried to wiggle out of his grasp. “I can sit on the armrest. Or the piano bench. It’s right behind us.”
Jonah smiled up at her. “I like you on my lap.”
Kate and Mom swooned. Sean squeezed in on the couch between Kate and the armrest. She scooted down, but with the three massive Clayton brothers shoulder to shoulder, there really wasn’t much room. They all sucked it in, giving Kate enough room to not be squished, but even she was in a tight spot—not quite as tight as the Clayton boys though.
Sean immediately wished he’d sat on the armrest. He’d wanted to be close to Blue without making it look like he was hovering over her and Jonah, but now he just felt squeezed in like a sardine.
“Don,” Polly said. “Rosa and I are heading out.”
“You sure?” Grandpa asked, heading for the women who were still standing near the piano. “There’s plenty of food and cake.”
“Maybe save me a slice of the cake?” Rosa asked, kissing Don on the cheek. “It looksdelicioso.”
“Will do.” Don gave Polly a side hug.
They waved to Sean.
“Ladies,” Jonah said, like he’d taken the word right out of Sean’s mouth. “It was a pleasure to meet you.”
“You too,” Polly said.
“Happy birthday, Sandy,” Rosa said.
“Thank you!”
They headed out the back door.
“Blue,” Mom turned her gaze on Blue. “What have you been up to? It’s been a long time.”
“Not much, really,” Blue said. “I opened a shop downtown.”
“You’re living in Diamond Cove?” Dad asked.
She nodded and squirmed a little in Jonah’s lap.
“She’s too modest,” Jonah said. “She’s very successful. This is her second shop. Her first was in North Carolina, but when we decided to move here before getting married, she sold her old store so she could start a new one here.”
“She was always a go-getter,” Don said.
Blue glanced over her shoulder at Gramps and he winked at her.
“She came to girls’ night a few nights ago,” Kate bubbled. “She was a hit.”
“How’d you two meet?” Johnny asked, signaling between Blue and Jonah. Sean thought he’d rather have his nails ripped out than sit through this, but he put on his best I’m-interested face and listened.
