C-Flat to C-Sharp (PR Girls & Instalove 3)

As her eyes closed, Jacob’s began to open. I had no idea whether he could even focus on my face, but as his little hand flailed toward me, I swear it seemed like he was waving hello.

“Angel,” I whispered, “Can you take one more look before you nap?”

Her eyes fluttered open to see Jacob looking up at her, as his hand twitched as if he was tapping her chest. It was likely just his teeny muscles stretching, but it looked like he was patting her skin.

Watching my son stare into his mother’s eyes for the first time was the most magical moment of my entire life. “I love you both so much,” I rasped.

Corina grinned at me, then continued staring at Jacob. “I love you both, too,” she murmured.

Our baby glanced between us, then those tiny lashes fluttered closed. Corina’s followed, and I was left to stare at my perfect family.

EPILOGUE TWO

_____

Corina

* Ten Years Later *

Even though the work was hard, the people were often crazy, and the hours could be insane, sometimes being in the PR and event planning business came with perks.

Through our contacts and connections, Jenna, Brynn and I had managed to put together the ultimate summer party for our families with only a few calls.

Under a huge canopy tent in Jenna and Andrew’s giant backyard, our husbands took turns making burgers and hot dogs. There was a make your own sundae station, roasted corn on the cob, and every summery snack the kids could want, all supplied by one of our favorite caterers.

Our six children were all creative types, who weren’t really into sports. So we encouraged them to play outdoors with video cameras and props.

Their project for the day was for them to figure out all of their special skills, and put them together in some form of collaborative movie. We sat in the shade watching them cartwheel, test crazy dances, and see who could jump the highest to hit the lowest treebranch to touch some magic charm they made from tinfoil.

“I still can’t tell whether it’s going to be a documentary, or a fiction piece,”

Brynn said as she sipped her mimosa from the lounge chair on my left.

“I heard Marnie mention fairies, so I’m thinking it’s a fantasy movie,” Jenna said from the chaise on my right.

When we’d first discussed the idea of a summer party, the three of us immediately decided it should be Mom’s day off. We organized an event company to provide the tent, tables, and chairs. Everything appeared in the morning, and would be taken away at ten o’clock. The caterer delivered the food, arranged everything, and would return at nine to pick up the dishes.

Beyond that, our husbands had been working the grill and bartending for us all afternoon. This was bliss.

I jumped as I heard a splash just beside my left ear. Turning, I saw that it was Owen dropping some fresh ice cubes into our mimosa pitcher.

“Sorry, Corina,” he chuckled. “I wouldn’t want your highnesses to be sipping warm cocktails in this heat.”

“Excellent point,” Brynn laughed, stretching up to give her husband a kiss.

It was so lovely to watch my friends and their constant casual displays of affection with their husbands. The six of us spent nearly every Saturday together in some way.

Sometimes one family would babysit so the other two could run errands. Sometimes we all got together to test Andrew’s latest video games. His brother Terry, wife Lisa, and their daughter Kim often joined us as well.

Now and then, Owen would be shooting a documentary, and need a child to run down a path, or play with a certain toy. Since our kids were a perfect range of ages, he rarely had to hire models.

We’d become a big circle of family bliss, from picking up groceries at the farmer’s market for each other to babysitting at a moment’s notice so that couples could have date nights.

Somehow we had created our own little community of creators and publicists, thinkers and dreamers, nerds and rock stars.

Jenna’s fingers snapped in front of my face. “Hey bookworm, where did you go?”

“Just thinking,” I said dreamily, taking a sip of my drink. “Isn’t it funny that we organize so many connections, and giant events for famous people, but we’ve never wanted that for ourselves. A simple family barbecue is all it takes to make us happy.”