Page 140 of The Bet
Chapter 41
“Erminegard?” he asked, trying not to get too wound up. What kind of a fucked up name was that?
His mother was trying to set him up with some New York socialite princess, and it pissed him off.
“Hollister,” his mother replied. “Erminegard Hollister. She’s from good stock.”
“Good stock?” he echoed, in disgust. “She sounds like a horse.”
Savannah sniggered, and tried to cover her mouth with her hand.
“What a thing to say,” his mother grumbled. “I’m only trying to help you, darling. Look at your brother, all settled and with a baby on the way.”
“You’d help more if you butted out, Mother.”
He was taking Izzy out later this evening, once this soiree was done with. Tobias and Savannah had invited everyone over. It wasn’t dinner, thank fuck. “Just cocktails,” his mother had told him.
“Tobias has an announcement to make,” his father said.
Xavier assumed it was probably the news that Jacob had accidentally let slip, that he and Izzy already knew.
Tobias cleared his throat, as he and Savannah stood with their arms around one another, and Jacob stood in front, in the middle. His brother had been politely civil towards him, as was he to Tobias. Neither of them have spoken or met up since that last time when Xavier had gone to Tobias’s office.
Xavier was glad it was only cocktails. A dinner to get through would have been awkward. He knew it was only a matter of time before things smoothed over between him and Tobias, but it was getting to that time that made things uncomfortable.
“You’ve kept us in suspense long enough, son. What is it?” Their father asked the question that was on everyone’s lips. Tobias didn’t often invite everyone over unless he had an announcement to make, or there was a celebration.
“The baby? Everything’s fine, isn’t it?” their mother asked, for once showing some concern.
Tobias looked at Savannah. “Thebabiesare fine, yes,” he replied, unable to wipe that huge grin off.
“Thebabies?” It took a while for their father to process the news, and their mother looked suspicious.
But Jacob was grinning from cheek to cheek.
“We’re having twins,” Savannah confirmed, with a proud and wide smile on her face. Her hand smoothed over her now huge baby bump.
“And what are we having, Jacob?” Tobias asked.
“We’re having boys!”
A house full of boys. Xavier couldn’t help but smile. It was truly the best news.
It was his parents who moved towards the happy trio, first, congratulating them, then Xavier stepped in. He hugged Savannah. “It’s fantastic news, Savannah,” he told her, kissing her on the cheek, before turning, with apprehension, to his brother, “Congrats, bro.” He held out his hand, and waited for Tobias to shake it. Which he did, after a split-second delay.
“You’re going to be an older brother to twins, dude,” said Xavier, high-fiving an excited Jacob. “It’s a big responsibility.”
Jacob smiled, looking beyond excited. “I know!”
“We don’t want the news to get out,” Tobias warned. “Savannah’s parents know, and that’s it. Not even Kay knows.”
“But it’s going to be hard to hide soon,” his mother countered, “Especially when she balloons up like an elephant.”
“She?” Tobias asked, curtly.
“WhenSavannahballoons up. You’re already looking bigger than usual, dear,” his mother said. Xavier quaked in his shoes for his mother’s sake. She could be tactless at the most inappropriate of times.
“I think she looks lovely.” Their father, the diplomat as usual, stepped in.
