Page 116 of Finally Forever
“I do. Why?”
“I need to confirm with the realtor.”
“Oh.” My brows pinch. “Is that overkill? Buying a third house?”
“It’s a second house. The other is an apartment. And it will give us a home in America, where we can invite friends to visit.”
“Right.” That was the plan we discussed after Kayson was born. Kayse for short. It’s our play on where he was conceived. Cassis. And I liked how it ended with an N like Sebastian’s name.
“Everything will be fine. Try to relax.” He kisses my forehead.
No one told me how much you worry when you become a parent. And about the dumbest stuff at the worst times. Like at two in the morning when I should be sleeping, but instead, I’m awake, looking at the baby video monitor to see if I put Kayse’s favorite stuffed animal in the bed.
I had, and if I hadn’t, he was sleeping fine. No need to stress, yet I was.
Lowell and Luc gave him the French bear with a beret and scarf for his baby shower. It topped an elaborately decorated basket filled with the most stylish baby clothes. Our friends, Nathan and Kensington, and Riley and Nova, had to visit the shower via FaceTime. They weren’t able to fly to Paris for the shower, which is another reason to buy a house there.
We’d been able to make Nathan and Kensington’s wedding in Dallas. It was beautiful and very traditional. I enjoyed the normalcy of the event. Kensington was a vision in her fitted dress, her gorgeous figure on display. Although that will change soon once she starts to show. They found out they’re pregnant a month ago. Again, another reason to buy a home in America.
“Is that my phone ringing?” I scan the room, searching for the sound.
Sebastian does too.
“Shit. Did I pack it?” I listen to the suitcase.
“Found it.” Sebastian retrieves it from the dresser under my purse.
“It’s Nova,” he says and hands me the phone. “I’m going to get Kayse and make sure he’s ready.”
I nod and answer the call. “Hey! What’s up?”
“I’m sorry. I know you’re leaving, but I have a favor to ask, and you can totally say no.”
She’s so normal for a celebrity. Kensington said she was, but I had to meet her to believe it. We shared a table with her and Riley at Nathan’s wedding. I thought she was wearing contacts at first because her eyes are yellow-green, like a cat. To say I was intimidated was an understatement. She is stunning with her brown flawless skin and whiter-than-white teeth. Add the eyes, and I truly believe all celebrities are part alien because they are otherworldly beautiful. Within an hour of talking to her and watching her and Riley interact, it was clear I’d been wrong. Nova, apart from being sweet, kind, and crazy talented—she designed Kensie’s dress—is quite down to earth for a celebrity.
“Whatever it is, I’m sure it’s fine,” I say and hook my purse over my shoulder before closing the French doors. Estella will check the house after we leave, but I like to help.
“Would you mind if Gigi comes?”
“Omigosh. I love Gigi. Of course, she can come!”
I met her grandma—the famous Gia Gardner who prefers Gigi—at the wedding, too. She shared our table, and that woman is a celebrity, for sure, but in a kind, not egocentric or self-absorbed, way. She knows everyone and has the best advice. Her presence is literally comforting, like she projects feel-good vibes.
“You know how she loves a good party, and she adored you after meeting you.”
“She did?” I feel myself blush.
“Yes. Remember she predicted you were carrying a boy? She doesn’t offer that talent to everyone.”
“How did she do that?” The baby never cooperated during the sonograms. We didn’t know until my seventh month when we had a third sonogram that we were having a boy.
“She says she senses things.”
Maybe my celebrity alien theory is true. “Maybe she can sense which house we should buy when we’re there and which state we should live in.” I’m kidding.
Nova laughs. “Did you narrow down a location?”
Last we spoke, we were torn between Florida, Montana, and California. “Well, we have the waterfront house here, even though the beaches are different from the ones in America. And the city apartment in Paris. So maybe something in the mountains. Maybe Montana.”
