Stella fought to swallow a snorting laugh. "We'll be out of your way in a minute. "
"No rush. " Roz bit into the muffin.
"You're usually gone, or finishing up before the invasion. "
"Slept in a little today. "
"That explains the bulletin I heard on the news this morning about hell freezing over. " David didn't bother to hide the smirk as he brought the coffeepot over to top off Roz's mug.
"Aren't you full of sass this morning. "
"I'm not the only one full of something. How'd the . . . lasagna go over?"
"Very well. " She gave him a bland look over the rim of her cup, and wondered if she was wearing a sign: Recently Got Laid.
"You ought to have a nice big helping of it more often. Puts roses in your cheeks. "
"I'll keep that in mind. "
"I could use a nice hot dish of lasagna myself," Hayley commented. "Come on, baby doll, let's get you cleaned up. " She took Lily out of the high chair.
"You guys go up and get your things - including raincoats," Stella ordered. "It's almost time to go. "
But she loitered another minute. "You want to ride over with me?" she asked Roz.
"I guess I will. "
STELLA WAITED UNTILthey were starting down the drive. By her calculations, swinging just a half a mile out of the way to drop Lily off at the babysitter's should give them enough time.
"We made a lot of progress on the painting last night. It's going to be nice to have the dining room finished and put together by the wedding. I'd really like to have a dinner party once we're set. David and all of us, Harper, my parents. Oh and Mitch, of course. "
"That'd be nice. "
"He's around so much - Mitch, I mean - these days, he feels like part of the household. " At Roz's noncommittalhmmm , Stella glanced in the rearview mirror to see Hayley rolling her eyes and giving get-to-it hand signals.
"So . . . ah, did you and Mitch work on the project last night, or take advantage of the quiet house and just relax?"
"Stella, why don't you just ask me if I had sex with him instead of beating around the bush? Nothing I hate more than seeing a bush beat half to death. "
"I was being subtle," Stella replied.
"No, you weren't. "
"I told her she didn't have to lead up to everything," Hayley said from the back. "Besides, we know you had sex. You've got that recently waxed and lubed look. "
"God. "
"Of course, it's none of our business," Stella put in, shooting Hayley a hot look in the mirror.
"Of course it's not," Roz agreed easily.
"But we just wanted to find a way to say that we're happy if you're happy. That we think Mitch is a terrific guy, and we're here to support - "
"Jeez. " Hayley leaned forward as much as her seat belt would allow. "What she's trying to say in her Stella way is: Score!"
"I am not. Exactly. I'm trying to say, with some delicacy - "
"Screw delicacy. Hey, just because people are a little older and all doesn't mean they don't want and deserve some touch the same as the next guy. "