“First of all, your twats need a break. Second, you showed up without my nephew.”
Karessa sighs because she has to get used to people not looking for her as much as her son.
“Is it weird that I miss him already?” Her phone rings before we can respond. “Hello?” She looks at her watch. “Yes, Oran I know what time it is. No, Xerxes isn’t going to starve without me. No, I fed him before I left the house. I’ve only been gone forty-five minutes and he eats every two hours. Tell Jagger he does not have to give him Ainslee’s milk.”
She sighs and looks heavenward then presses end. “This is what happens when you let the dynamic duo watch the babies. I have to run before I kill both of them.”
We say our goodbyes and I walk out with her. Turning to close Esme’s door, I hear her on the phone telling someone about their nerve showing up last night.
This is interesting.
Menus, decorations, caterers, etc. I feel like I’m assisting with Wyn’s party all over again. Except this time it’s a wedding for a bride and two grooms yet one groom has intention of being in the ceremony. I volunteered to help to get my mind off the bar exam. Now that I’ve taken it, I have to wait a little over two months before getting the results.
As a person who’s always busy, I need a distraction and yet another rushed wedding is just what I need. I go over my list as I pull into the parking lot of Karessa’s new location. Her vehicle is there but Esme’s isn’t.
It’s a pretty day out so I take my time getting out of the car and taking in the ocean view her new office provides. Wyn’s at work but maybe we can take another vacation next month. It’ll be nice for us to get away with no obligations looming over us. Then again, maybe I should wait until after I get my results.
“Whatcha thinking about?” Esme asks from behind and startles me.
I swat at her as she giggles at my surprise. “You almost got hit with one of the moves Wyn taught me,” I warn her as I hold my hand over my heart.
The wind blows her sundress around her thighs as she makes kissy faces. “I’m surprised he had time to show you anything outside of the bedroom.”
I giggle but feel no shame. “I bet you never thought you’d say that to me,” I tease her as I pull the glass door open.
“Girl, ain’t that the truth,” she agrees before Karessa appears with her arms folded.
I would think it’s because we’re late but those green eyes are trying to bore into Esme’s forehead to read her secrets.
“Really, Esme? This is what you keep from me? My doctor?”
Esme frowns and side-steps Karessa. Karessa follows closely, refusing to let the conversation drop.
“I need coffee before you start jumping to conclusions,” Esme grouses.
“I’m not jumping to conclusions! You’re on the cover of Island Times.”
“What?” we yell at the same time.
Mireya León may have a sore spot for the Founder’s kids but she’d never put anything untrue on the Island Times like she does with the gossip columns. Karessa drops it on the table between us and there’s a picture of Esme kissing who I assume is Karessa’s doctor with the subtitle: Wild Child Engaged.
“Is there a reason my little sister is lip locked with Dr. Delgado on the cover of a magazine?” Karessa presses. Esme stares at the cover but I can tell she’s fuming.
“That little…”
“When you said you were getting Mireya back, I didn’t think that meant marrying her son.”
Oh, shit. This is good.
“Son! He never told me the witch was his mother nor did I say I was marrying him!”
Karessa opens the magazine and flips to the spread. “Well, you two have a lot to discuss since he gave an entire interview about your engagement. Right here, he said it was a secret love affair until that fake headline about you being with Bowie and Berke.”
Esme abandons her plan to make coffee. She grabs the magazine and marches back to the front door.
“Where are you going?” I question while texting Wyn the details of what I just discovered.
“I’m going to that clinic and tell that rat I never said we were getting married for real.”