I could hear Trey softly laughing as I was pulled away. I should’ve been thinking about where my daughter was in all of this chaos, but all my brain could do was show me Trey’s adorable dimpled smile, like it was stuck on repeat.
Snap out of it, girl. He’s just a cute guy and you go home too soon to get involved.
“Crickey, these are some expensive decorations,” I blurted out without thinking. “Mia, bring Sophie over here by me.”
“Mummy, I’m helping Aunt Mia and Uncle Parker over here,” Sophie shouted back. “You play with the matching boys.”
Everyone stopped and turned to Mia and Sophie like something awful had happened.
“Oh my God. Did she say, ‘the matching boys’?” Murphy snorted. “That is amazing. I’m definitely calling them that from now on.”
I could hear light snickers going through the group. Then, like a dam exploding, the twins burst out laughing in unison, only to have the whole family join in. Before I knew it, I was laughing with them.
“Why is everyone laughing?” Sophie asked Mia. “I think they’re just being silly, right?”
“Yes, baby girl, they are just being silly, and they thought you were very funny.” Mia handed Sophie a bottle of glitter. “Come on, we have our stuff so let’s get started before them.”
“Choose wisely.” I felt the whisper at my ear before I heard it.
“I know what I’m getting so you just get your own stuff, mister.” I answered without looking back for fear he would see my blush.
This is going to be a weird couple of weeks if he hangs around.
We spent the next hour gluing sequins and jewels until Diana returned with drinks for everyone. Surprisingly, it wasn’t wine but mint and lemon water, along with a tray of cookies. I’d noticed a while ago that Trey had moved over to his own side table and was shielding his egg whenever anyone tried to look.
“Hey Three, just because you’re hiding over there doesn’t mean your egg will be the
best,” Murphy called out from our side of the room. “For all we know, you’re copying us.”
“Why would I need to copy you, Brat? Just eat your cookies like a good girl,” Trey teased back. “Better rest up too, because you‘ll need it for the egg hunt.”
“You’re not going to win the egg hunt this year either,” Parker finally spoke out. “I think my lovely bride and I are going to take the trophy this time.”
“Maybe my bride will be my good luck.” August winked at Imogen next to me. “We’re giving Mom and Dad a run this year.”
“There’s a fair go, we can win,” Imogen said with a wink back. “First, let’s win this egg decorating and be champions.”
“I don’t know, they seem pretty serious.” I looked around at the family. “They’ve been doing this for a while.”
Imogen nudged me, “Or we can show these Seppos what Aussies can do.”
“Ace idea.” I leaned closer to her. “Do you think they would allow it?”
“There’s no way of knowing, but I don’t think August would like it.” Imogen pointed to a very serious-looking August. “Then again, he may want to be with his matching boy.”
“I can’t believe she said that. I wasn’t sure if they would think it was a spray or funny.” I glued on another sequin. “Thank God they all started laughing.”
“No dramas, this family has a great sense of humor.” Imogen held her egg up to look it over. “I don’t think I’m going to win with this egg. My idea didn’t work.”
“Bond, what do you think?” Imogen held her egg up higher.
“Solitaire, it looks good to me, but then all of them are better than mine. I just have paint on it.”
Hank entered the room, ringing the large Easter bell this time. No one else was startled but Imogen and me. Sophie stood on her chair to see what the ringing was all about and, frankly, I wanted to do the same.
“What’s this all about?” I leaned over to Murphy. “Is time up?”
“Not a chance. It’s only just begun,” Murphy chuckled. “We really should have explained the whole thing to you.”