Page 5 of The Baby-whisperer and the Brute
“Him orher,” Cinda said. “We haven’t announced if it’s a boy or a girl yet.”
“I know, but I want a brother.”
“I know you do, buddy.” His mother sifted a hand through her son’s silky hair. “But you’ll have fun teaching the baby no matter what the gender is.”
Seeing AJ’s frown, and sensing a change in subject was in order, I interjected. “Iwillmiss you. So much. But I know you’ll love kindergarten, and I can’t wait to celebrate your preschool graduation with you in a couple of weeks.”
“Where is my little prince?”
Cinda’s tall, handsome husband entered the foyer, sweeping his son up in his arms. “There you are. I thought we were going to play knights and dragons, but I went to the playroom and there wasn’t a single knight for me to gobble up.”
He pretended to bite AJ’s ear, making a silly gobbling noise.
“Daddy,” AJ shrieked and giggled. “You can’t be the dragon until I say, ‘ready, set, go.’”
“Oh, that’s right. I keep forgetting that rule.” Alexander Wessex gave me a smile. “Hello. Thanks for coming and pitching in. We’d really like for our first family party here to be fun for all the kids. Cinda says you’re amazing with them.”
I felt myself blush, my face growing warm at the compliment delivered in a cultured European accent so rich it made me feel like a peasant in comparison.
“Well, I’m happy to help if I can.”
Alex grinned. “We menfolk have some serious sword-fighting to attend to now, so we’ll leave you to it. Save some worms and dirt for me, would you?”
Swinging AJ up onto his shoulders, he strode up the grand staircase as AJ turned and waved goodbye to me.
I followed Cinda through the elegant mansion, which was modeled after a European manor home. Reaching the bright, airy kitchen—so different from the dark, outdated one in my own historic house—I spotted the other women at the massive center island.
A vivacious woman with long, curling caramel hair and a slight New York accent turned and came toward me, extending both hands. “Angelina. Wow—you reallydolook like an angel. I’m Bonnie.”
I shook my head in confusion. “An angel?”
Bonnie laughed. “AJ and I are big pals. He’s told meallabout you, about your golden hair and your face that’s ‘pretty as an angel’—not to mention your amazing skills with glue, scissors, and glitter.”
Now I joined in the laughter. “Those are high compliments. I feel like I should slip him some gummy bears or something.”
The other woman made her way over to say hello. A dark-haired beauty with a flawless fair complexion, Kristal Bianco—now Kristal Bestia—was as lovely as I had ever seen her. We’d met several times before when she’d come to pick up AJ at the school.
“Hi Angelina, it’s good to see you again.”
“Good to see you, too. It’s so nice of you and Bonnie to help with the party.”
“I’m not sure how much help we’ll be—neither of us knows the first thing about kids. I’m here to learn—and toeat. Check out those pastries Bonnie brought.”
“I can’t take any credit. Monsieur Laplume is better than any chef I ever came across in New York.” To me, she explained, “I moved here from Manhattan when Jack and I got married—he and Kristal’s husband Hunter are brothers.”
“I’ve always wanted to see New York. I’ll bet living there was amazing,” I said.
“It was interesting, that’s for sure. You’ve never been, even for the day? It’s so close to here.”
My cheeks heated. “I know. I know it’s weird, but I’ve hardly ever left Rhode Island—only to go to the monastery in New Jersey.”
At the shocked stares, I hastened to add, “I’d love to travel. I just haven’t had the chance.”
“Well, you’vegotto see New York City. Take the train down,” Bonnie said. “We have an apartment there we hardly ever use. You’re welcome to stay there. Feel free to bring some friends along or your family if you want to.”
“Why don’t we all fill our plates here at the counter and take them to the table so we can talk?” Cinda suggested, sparing me from having to explain I didn’t really have friends and that Mother was my only family.
“I’ve started a few lists for the party—food, games, decorations,” she said. “But I haven’t gotten very far. I really want to hear your suggestions, Angelina.”
