Page 127 of Push

Gwen laughed. “Deal.” She leaned over and rested her head on my shoulder for a second. “Thanks, Toby.”

“Any time, doll.”

It was too bad someone hadn’t given me a pep talk as we walked up the path. I was ready for just about anything—until Elias opened the front door. Stupid jerk with his stupid handsome face in his stupid fancy clothes wearing stupidloafers.

Gwen and Noah got warm smiles from him like they were a snuggly blanket and hot cocoa on a frosty winter morning. All that warmth cooled when Elias’s gaze drifted away from the baby propped on my hip to meet mine. He nodded at me with his mouth pressed into a grim line. Too bad for him. I dazzled him with my best smile and stepped closer to Gwen, wrappingmy free arm protectively around her waist. When she leaned into me, my smile grew even wider.

Take that, Loafer Boy.

The cheese platter shook a little when Gwen held it out.

Elias accepted it with a laugh. “You shouldn’t have,” he said. “Really. Mama’s been cooking all morning. She tends to, uh…overdo it…a bit.”

“Nothing’s changed then?” Gwen laughed.

“No—”

“She’s here?” An excited voice called out. “Oh! I need to get this apron off!”

A tiny woman—Catalina Serrano—came flying around the corner in a flutter of orange. The pattern on her dress reminded me of the colorful mosaic tiles you see in fancy kitchens. She had a mass of gray curls and the same deep-set, dark eyes as Elias, but a sunny smile crinkled her face. I smothered a laugh when she almost knocked Elias off his feet as she shot past him to throw her arms around Gwen.

When Catalina stepped back, she swiped away a flood of tears. “Well, Little Miss Gwen from Number 16. My boys told me you were just the same, but no, I don’t think so.” Gwen withered beside me, but Catalina patted her cheek. “All grown up. Even more lovely. And alawyer!Liam always shares his clippings with me. You’ve won so many big cases!”

“H-hello, Mrs. Serrano.” Gwen smiled. Or she tried to. She looked shell-shocked.

“None of that!” The tiny woman scoffed. “Mama. Or Cat. No airs and graces in this house, thank you very much!” She hugged Gwen again, beaming a watery smile. “Now, introduce me to your handsome men!”

“Um, t-this,” Gwen stammered, “is, um—”

“Toby!” Cat beamed before her greedy eyes landed on the real prize. “Andthismust be your little boy.”

Noah held out a chubby fist like he was offering to shake hands. Cat clutched his hand and gave it a gentle shake. I wasn’t sure she could cry more, but fresh tears streaked her cheeks.

“Oh, he’s a dear little boy! So precious.” She ran her finger over the rolls of Noah’s plump arm and then tickled his tummy. He threw his head back, squealing with delight. “And sohealthy! Your mama did so good. Yes, she did. So good!”

“Would you—” Gwen cleared her throat. I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen her so nervous. “Would you like to hold him?”

“Could I?” Cat clasped her hands together under her chin.

I held Noah out, and he hung there, his sneakers dangling for barely a second until Cat snuggled him into her side like she’d done it a thousand times before.

“Oh, darling little boy!” she cooed, swaying as she walked toward the kitchen. “Look how handsome you are in your overalls. And these adorable little shoes! Do you like your shoes?” He babbled something back at her very earnestly, and she beamed. “Oh, yes, you do! Yes, you do!”

As we trailed behind Cat, Elias leaned closer to Gwen, the little imp. “I promise you’ll get Noah back before you leave.”

I narrowed my eyes on him.He better not get too cute with my wife…

We followed Cat into an open-plan kitchen and dining room. The sliding doors pulled wide open, an unbroken path stretched to the strip of grass and plunge pool squeezed into the tiny backyard. A Balinese-style pergola sat tucked in the far corner, half-hidden by leafy palms.

Marnie flittered among the guests out back. When she saw us, she called out, waving an excited hello. I didn’t recognize any faces in the group surrounding her, though. I’d half expected Liam to be swanning around with them. I nearly fell over when I actually laid eyes on him. He was inside, scouring the spread of nibbles on the dining table, looking almost like a normal personin slim-fitted navy trousers and an ugly red knitted sweater. He’d just popped a piece of cheese in his mouth when Cat rounded the corner.

“Liam!” she barked.

He shot up, standing as straight and tall as a soldier. “Oui, Maman,” he said slowly, trying to hide that his mouth was full of cheese. “Salut.”

“No French!” she said. “No one except the butcher you worked for as a boy understands a word you say.”

A ghost of a smile hinted on his lips. “Si, Mama.”

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