Merrick manned the grill. Jon and J.C. offered grilling advice and Mitch acted as bartender.
“Here’s a lemonade for the pregnant woman.” Mitch handed an iced drink to Willa. “And one for the woman holding my grandson.” He gave one to Max.
The two friends reclined in lawn chairs as their accumulated family made preparations for dinner.
“Here’s a little snack for you girls.” Carla sat a tray of veggies and dip on the table between them.
“And some cheese cubes to tide you over until dinner time. You need calcium for strong bones.” Lissa added her contribution. “Do you want anything else?”
Max smiled up at her. “We’re fine, Mom.”
“Do you want me to take Trey?” Carla hovered anxiously.
“He just went to sleep.” Max smiled at her. “I’ll pass him to you when he wakes up.”
“It’s not that often that they’re all here at the same time.” Max laughed. “This family housewarming was Jon’s idea. At least they’re not fighting over him.”
“Do my feet look swollen?” Willa asked. “I think they look swollen.”
“Maybe a little,” Max said. “Look, they’re talking about us.” Jon and Merrick glanced their way from behind the grill. Max blew a kiss to Jon who raised his drink to her. He was grinning, something he hadn’t stopped doing since their hurried wedding. There was a special warmth in his gaze whenever it fell upon her, or later, upon their son, Jon Claude Donnell, III.
“How did you know?” Willa asked.
“It’s like a radar thing,” Max said. “I can feel him.”
“You didn’t take a break,” Willa countered.
“We’d just opened the gallery, and Jon and I were still living upstairs in the loft. It was easy to lug Trey around with us.”
“You’re lucky that Jon moved his personal office of Claremont Design studio into the space next to our gallery. You can drop Trey off with his daddy whenever you go up to the loft to paint.”
“He still goes into the main office in the Design Center but he likes to work in a less hectic environment.”
“He rocks my world.” Max looked across the yard to meet his gaze yet again. “Anyway, you married Superman.”
“Sometimes,” Max said. “He lets it grow when we spend a few days at the ranch. He knows I think it’s sexy.”
“Jon looked like a bad boy with the beard,” Willa said. “Like he should be straddling a Harley instead of changing diapers.”
Willa took a sip of her lemonade and set the glass on the table between them. “I shipped three of your little abstracts to a gallery in Soho. They’re really excited about showing your work. And I signed a new tenant for the third floor. Merrick said the space will be finished by the end of the month.”
“I hope they’re quiet. Sometimes we sleep over in the loft.” Max gave Willa a dimpled smile. “It’s so romantic when the full moon spills down on the swan bed.”
“Be careful. You know what they call girls who don’t plan ahead?”
“This baby was a deliberate act of procreation. It was my wedding that was a surprise.” Willa took a long sip of her lemonade. “I really love the mural you’re painting on the walls of Trey’s room.”
“Are you hinting for a mural in new baby Foster’s room?” Max asked. “Don’t worry. I planned to design one when you deliver him or her.”
Max pressed her lips against the little fist clasped around her thumb. “I couldn’t paint a prettier picture than all this if I tried.”