Page 86 of Terms and Traditions

Ryan blinked. “Was I just schooled by Charmain Russo Addams? And was that a compliment on my youthful heart or a diss about my exuberance?”

I laughed. “Both, simultaneously. Get used to it.”

Nana ignored us and paused in front of Danielle to coo over the baby. “Now, who is this cutie?”

“Meet Sebastian.”

Nash hung up his coat and ushered me up the stairs while Nana and Danielle disappeared farther into the house talking all things baby, and Ryan lumbered back down to the basement.

“Is the Nerf gun still in my purse?” I whispered.

Nash nodded. “Can’t give it away too soon. I’ll grab it a bit later, if you don’t mind.”

“Emmett sounded less than thrilled about this particular surprise.”

“Oscar the Grouch Emmett is less than thrilled about everything and hates all surprises.”

I snorted as we entered the living room. A yule log flickered and crackled on the TV screen in the corner, giving a nice ambiance to the cheerful room. It was the next best thing to a real fireplace.

Nash and I had been at the office all day, scheduling meetings and ironing out the next three weeks of our campaign before the launch date at the end of January. We’d gotten as far as we could for now, and a night of fellowship was the perfect breather before the craziness of the launch would take over our lives the next couple of weeks. A calm before the storm.

Liz swished beside me, decked out in a gorgeous blush-pink cocktail dress with sheer long sleeves and sparkly sequins. She took the platter of meats, cheeses, and crackers I was carrying.

“I didn’t think there was a dress code,” I said, glancing around and feeling a little underdressed in my jeans and aubergine cable-knit sweater. But Liz was the fanciest of the lot.

She laughed. “There isn’t, but I’ll never get to wear this once school starts, so I’m taking advantage.”

I smiled slyly. “I’m sure Ben approved.”

“Of course he did.” She shimmied her shoulders. “He bought the dress.” Shifting the platter in her arms, she grabbed my hand. “Now, come on. I’ve been dying to give you this surprise.”

“I didn’t think you were capable of secrets,” I teased. Which, to be fair, was half true. If I had to pick a secret-keeping friend, Liz was at the bottom of the list most of the time. But she had an air about her that persuaded you to open up to her anyway. If I wanted a secret vault, it would be Paisley. She could give Fort Knox a run for its money.

“Har, har.” Liz set the platter on the table and shoved me into the kitchen ahead of her.

“Surprise!”

I blinked. Once. Twice. Nope, I wasn’t dreaming.

Two very dear and very familiar faces grinned back at me from the middle of the kitchen, and I couldn’t help the yelp of shock that tore out of me.

“Pais? Jules? Are you serious right now?” I demanded, laughing. They were here. Not on my phone screen hundreds of miles away.

The four of us flung into a group hug. Tears stung my eyes, and for the first time in the last week, they were the good kind. I needed this hug. These women.

“Best surprise ever,” I said, swiping at my eyes, relieved to find my mascara had decided not to smudge. “But how…?”

Liz grinned mischievously. I should have guessed. Under all those floral head scarves and cute embroidered overalls, she was a devious mastermind. “I may have asked Dani if she’d be opposed to some surprise guests, for your sake. She was happy to oblige.”

“Dani, you’re the best!” I called over the hubbub to the corner where she and Nana were chatting with Kelsi.

Danielle threw me a wink, her smile warm with understanding.

“Nash, this is—” But he wasn’t behind me like he had been a minute ago. This house wasn’t huge, so where had he vanished to?

An undignified—very masculine sounding—scream erupted from the living room where we’d come from, and I darted towards the noise.

And there in the center of the blue-carpeted floor was Nash. At the bottom of a dog pile of five kids, with Emmett holding him at Nerf gunpoint.