Page 45 of Twice Baked Risky Whiskey Cakes

“Besides”—Lemon adds, patting her belly with pride—“I just proved I have the strongest stomach in this entire family. The twins and I can handle anything thrown our way.”

“Says the woman who couldn’t get off the toilet for twenty minutes after we got home,” Carlotta shoots back.

“Oversharing, Carlotta,” Lemon mutters.

Lyla Nell bops my way with her pigtails bouncing in turn. With each passing day, she looks more like Noah and she wears his face better than he can ever hope to.

“Daddy haveboo-boo,” she announces as she grabs an afghan and proceeds to tuck me in.

“Thank you, baby,” I say, bending over to drop a kiss on the top of her head. “I feel much better now.”

“Daddy’s face needs pillow, too!” She proceeds to cover my face with a throw pillow, which I’m fairly certain is attempted murder. Must be the Noah in her trying to smother me.

“All right,” Lemon says as she plucks the pillow off my face. “Let’s finish dinner.”

Within minutes another round of Chinese and Italian food abounds. The scent of garlic, ginger, and tomato sauce creates a bizarre but not unpleasant fusion, and it’s one we’ve never turned down before.

“Why did we order from two different restaurants again?” Carlotta asks no one in particular. “Because we’re a bunch of hungry geniuses, that’s why.” She belts out a laugh and we all hold up either a container of Chinese food or a pizza slice to toast the fact.

Lemon nods. “Not only that, but you can’t expect a pregnant woman to choose between pasta and lo mein. I think one of the twins prefers Mangias and the other prefers the Wicked Wok.”

“I keep telling you, one belongs to Foxy,” Carlotta says without missing a beat. “Why do you think the universe sent this handsome little fox to help out with the case?”

“She’s got a point,” Evie says and I shoot her a look that saysEt tu?

Noah nods. “And I think the universe is making a point, too, Lot.” He winks my way. “And just throwing this out there, but the name Noah works for a boy or a girl.”

“Then you better find someone else to procreate with, buddy,” I tell him.

“Speaking of names,” Evie says, pulling out her phone. “I’ve been working on a spreadsheet filled with names you could use for the twins. I’ve got boy twin names, girl twin names, and names that will work together if you get one of each. I have it all organized by origin, meaning, and compatibility with Lemon-Baxter.”

“You made a spreadsheet?” Lemon looks genuinely touched.

“Of course, she did,” I say proudly. “That’s my girl.”

“I made one, too,” Noah offers, as if anyone asked him. “But mine is more of a list.”

“Of course, you did.” I frown his way.

“I’ve been playing the baby name game, too,” Carlotta shouts, waving her chopsticks dangerously close to her eyes. “What about Gin and Tonic? That’s a pair of classics that never go out of style.”

“We’re not naming our children after liquor,” Lemon flatlines.

“Fine,” Carlotta huffs. “We’ll stick to Jack and Daniel, then. It works for both boys or girls.”

“It still falls under the liquor category,” Evie points out.

“Semantics,” Carlotta dismisses. “You say liquor, I say liquid inspiration.”

Lyla Nell does her best to crawl into Lemon’s lap. “Babies names, Elsa and Anna!” She giggles up a storm and claps her hands.

“Aww,” Lemon coos. “Those are beautiful names.” I’m just not sure.

Lyla Nell’s little mouth falls open. “Mickey and Minnie?” She tries again.

“Better yet, Bonnie and Clyde?” Carlotta adds while slapping her thigh.

“Or Romeo and Juliet?” Noah suggests with a straight face.

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