“So excited. He isn’t even nervous. He keeps telling me we have this, no matter what.”
“He’s right. Not only do you have him, you have a huge family that is here for you two.”
I’m grinning so hard, my face hurts. “I know, and I just feel good about this. I’m not even the least bit nervous.”
She sighs joyfully. “You don’t know how happy that makes me.”
I pull into the parking lot. “What are the boys doing?”
“Flynn is at practice, and Sawyer is out with friends. You know, being boys and giving their mama a heart attack.”
“How’s the dance studio? What happened with that one crazy mom?”
“Eliza? Lord, Claire. I wouldn’t even know where to start. She’s fake to everyone’s face but then cuts them down behind their backs. It’s insane. I told her if she doesn’t stop stirring up drama, I’ll ask her to leave.”
I shut the car door and lock it, a grimace on my face. “Ack. That’s not good.”
“Eh, it is what it is. Competitive sports brings out the crazy in people.”
“Yup.” I pull the restaurant door open. I see Tristan immediately, devouring a piece of bread. “He
y, I just got here. Can I call you later?”
“Of course. Love you.”
“Love you,” I say before I hang up and tuck my phone into my pocket. I head toward the table just as Tristan sees me. Her face lights up, and I beam back at her as we embrace. She doesn’t get up; her belly won’t let her. It’s huge, and she looks miserable. Tired. Very tired. Her hair is up in a curly, messy bun, and she’s wearing a dress that is stretched to the max at her stomach and a pair of house shoes. God bless her.
“Feet hurt?” I ask as I sit down, and she nods.
“None of my shoes fit, so here we are,” she says grumpily. “I’m so miserable. Can you call my doctor and make him take this kid?”
We share a laugh as the waiter comes to get my drink order. Tristan is ready to eat, so she orders as I look. Once our orders are placed, the waiter heads off as I lean on the table. “So, you’re ready?”
“So ready.”
“It should be any day now.”
“I hope so,” she says as she shifts to the left. “Did you guys get the house?”
“We did,” I say happily.
“Is that why you were late?”
I shake my head, and my grin is back. “Actually, I was at the fertility clinic.”
She lights up. “Shut up! Are you pregnant?”
Once more, I shake my head. “No, but apparently things looked really good, so my doctor suggested in vitro again.”
Tristan smiles. “Did you do it?”
“Yeah,” I say with a grin. “Jude is hoping we have Irish twins.”
She furrows her brow. “What’s that?”
“Siblings born within the same year.”
She wrinkles her nose playfully as she smiles. “That’s so cute! Oh, I hope you do get pregnant. Though, I don’t know how you’re gonna do pregnancy and raise this kid.” She points to her stomach, and I hate the disdain on her face.