Page 11 of The Holy Grail
“Why?”
“Because we made a bet about when they’d have a baby. Well, technically, it was about when they’dconceive,” he clarified. “I said David would have Cat Lady knocked up within six months and Evelyn said it wouldn’t be for a year.”
“How much was the bet?”
“Fifty bucks.”
“Well, congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
He slid a glass of water toward Jules, then started preparing two shots consisting of two ounces of coffee liqueur topped with half an ounce of Irish cream liqueur.
When he was done, he set one in front of Jules and lifted his own. “A Baby Guinness shot in honor of baby Lowe, who should be here in about six months.”
After clinking the small glasses together, they threw back the shots.
“So, when do you think the little rugrat was conceived?” Evan asked, as he leaned across the bar. “If my math is correct, I’m guessing it was around Halloween.”
Jules laughed. “Oh, my God, I was thinking the same thing. I even asked if that’s when they thought it happened—”
“When they were in their costumes!”
“Yes! How funny would that be?”
“Holy shit, I told David it would have been even funnier if he’d been dressed as Daphne, instead of Fred, like he’d wanted.Thatwould’ve been kinky.”
Jules’ laughter turned a few heads as she let loose, and for a moment, Evan simply enjoyed the sound of it as goose bumps erupted over his skin. Then, needing a distraction, he busied himself making her a gimlet and pushed it toward her.
“Do you remember everyone’s favorite drinks?” she wanted to know.
“Of course,” he lied. “That’s what makes me the quintessential bartender.”
“Is that a Word-of-the-Day?”
“Not today’s word, but it was one of my words last week.”
“What’s today’s word?”
“Ebullient. Which is actually rather fortuitous—another word from last week, by the way—given the good news we got today. I would say we’re both ebullient right now, wouldn’t you? I mean, obviously not as much as Paige and David are, but probably a close second.”
“Hopefully.”
“Hopefully?”
“I know Paige will worry a little until she gets farther along in the pregnancy.”
Evan’s expression dimmed a bit. “Has she always wanted kids?”
“Always. She was talking about the house and picket fence, a couple of kids, and a menagerie of pets—”
“I love that word,” Evan said with a snap of his fingers. “Menagerie.”
Jules shook her head at him before continuing. “Anyway, she’s been a homebody for as long as I’ve known her and she’s always wanted to be settled, unlike me.”
“How long have you known her?”
“Since college. We were roommates, and for four years, I dragged her to as many parties as I could, and to as many bars as possible. David will deny it until his last breath, but I’m the reason the two of them got together.”
