Page 29 of Triple Tidings
There is absolutely no point in pretending I don’t want it to. Not when August’s reminder of our activities has my aching internal muscles contracting automatically.
“Okay,” Wells replies at last. “This is the architect brother, right? The one who owns the place in the old bank by me? I think his wife comes in sometimes with your nieces.”
This mention of an additional family member has me frowning, because I could have sworn August mentioned they’d only just had their first baby. Before I can clarify, however, August chuckles.
“Right,” he confirms, and glancing at my bemused expression, he chuckles. “I should probably warn you, they’re traveling, so they won’t be there, but my brother has two daughters from a previous relationship. They’re about your age.”
“You’re making me feel old as fuck,” grumbles Wells, shaking his head. “Come on, it’s freezing out. You can fill her in on the way.”
We take Wells’ truck, because it’s already warm, and I sit between the guys on the bench seat, listening to August spill the Vogel family tea, which is considerably hotter than anything my own has to offer.
If I was worried what August’s brother and sister-in-law would think of me, especially if they found out our age difference, I really shouldn’t have been. While I’m sure there are some elderly relatives who would be scandalized, I can’t imagine we would shock them any more than his older brother did when he married his daughter’s best friend.
I’m practically giddy by the time we arrive at their stunning, mid-century modern home, climbing onto the snowy driveway with nothing but excitement to shake the hand of a woman who pulled off such a feat.
Sophie does not disappoint.
She welcomes us in with a big smile, not at all fazed by the strangers invading her home on Christmas Eve. We follow her into the living room, where her husband Bram—who is almost ashot as his little brother—is arranging the meticulously wrapped gifts beneath the Christmas tree.
We’ve barely managed introductions when the baby monitor goes off.
“Come on,” Sophie tells me, rolling her eyes at the men, who have become absorbed in a very intense discussion on some local zoning issue. “I’ll show you the nursery.”
I follow her upstairs and through the last doorway at the end of the hall, which is beautifully decorated in warm shades of pink and gold. The highlight is definitely the cherub of a baby she plucks from the crib, who is squishy and rosy-cheeked from her nap.
“Hi, sweet girl,” Sophie coos, adjusting the baby’s head so she can see me. “This is our new friend, Lacey.”
The baby yawns.
I melt.
“So, any particular reason my brother-in-law decided to bring you along today?” asks Sophie innocently as I dangle a toy above her daughter’s face to distract her from the diaper change underway.
I feel myself flush. “We’re just friends,” I assure her, echoing August’s explanation from when we arrived. Sophie shoots me a dubious look as she puts the baby—who I learned is named Clara—back into her snowflake-dotted pajamas. “Okay, so not platonic friends.”
“Ha!” she gloats. “Called it. He totally gets the same post-sex face as Bram. I wasn’t positive if you were here with him or Wells, but—” Sophie’s statement falters at what must be a very incriminating look on my face. Her mouth falls open. “No.”
A squeak of alarm escapes from between my lips. “What?” I ask, playing dumb with absolutely no success.
“Both of them?” Sophie gasps, apparently delighted as she lifts Clara back into her arms. “Girl. I’m so impressed right now. I want to be you when I grow up.”
I splutter. “It’s nothing!”
“Here, take the baby,” she tells me firmly, and my heart leaps into my throat as she transfers Clara into my arms. “If you walk downstairs right now and both those men don’t look like they want to get you pregnant, I’ll accept that explanation.”
I only make it halfway down the stairs before it’s clear we arenotgoing to pass Sophie’s test.
Thirteen
Lacey
We end up staying at August’s brother’s house for most of the day, only leaving to return to The Chestnut when it’s getting dark out, and the baby started fussing.
It was a fun, laid-back visit. The Vogels included us in some of their family traditions, and we spent the afternoon constructing gingerbread houses, drinking spiked eggnog, and playing card games by the fire.
Despite Sophie’s suspicions about the nature of my relationship with the guys, she keeps the teasing subtle, and I end up agreeing with August’s prediction that I would like his sister-in-law very much. By the time we’re leaving, my new friend is promising to drop by The Chestnut for lunch next week and trying to convince her husband to use us for the next company party.
“I’ll stop to say goodbye before I leave town on Monday,” August promises Bram when we’re bundled up in our winter coats and halfway out the door.
