Page 52 of Visions of You

“Thank you. Since I’m never getting a brother or sister, I’m going to be a big sister to your baby.”

All eyes turned to me, and heat crept up my neck. That had been a fun conversation with a seven-year-old. When Hailey had asked about babies, I’d simply told her that a man and a woman had to be together in a relationship for a baby to come along, and not to plan on any siblings.

I was trying to come up with a reply when she gasped and whipped her head toward me. “Daddy! You’re together with April now. Does that mean she’s going to have a baby?”

God, I hope not.

Evan’s face morphed into a total shit-eating grin. “Yeah, Daddy. How about it?”

I shot him a look ten times more lethal than the one I’d given April, but he only laughed. Apparently, Pilar had had enough of the conversation because she padded out of the room.

Drawing myself up with dignity, I gave Hailey my attention. “No, angel. It’s more than that. We’re not even married.”

“Oh. You mean sex.”

Maia burst out laughing, and I darted a quick glance at Nona, afraid she was about to blow her top. But she was openly grinning, apparently deciding the entertainment value of the conversation outweighed its impropriety.

“Hailey, this isn’t the time for this conversation,” I said with as much dignity as I could muster.

She went on like she hadn’t even heard me. “You have to be married to have sex, right?”

Wyatt choked on his water and Maia quickly lifted a napkin to her mouth, her shoulders shaking.

Hailey turned a censorious frown around the table. “I’m only saying this to let Dad know it’s okay with me if he marries April.”

Evan made a strangled noise as he choked back a laugh.

“Hailey, you need to stop, all right?” I kept my voice soft, but my heart was pounding.

“Yes, dear,” Nona said as she arched a brow from the head of the table opposite Dad. “Perhaps before your father goes ring shopping, he should invite the woman to a family dinner.”

I dropped my head into my hands as the whole table erupted into laughter, including Dad.

Nona was the first to get it together and addressed Hailey. “What are your plans tomorrow?”

Hailey lit up, the horribly embarrassing conversation about weddings and babies forgotten. “Dad and I are going to Bahia”—she carefully pronounced the word—“Honda Park tomorrow.”

“That sounds fun!” Maia said. “Are you going to snorkel?”

“We are,” I said, feeling I ought to get at least a couple of words in during dinner.

“Can April come with us?” Hailey asked me, both hands bunched on her thighs. “She’d be a much better snorkel guide than you.”

“She’s got you there, Gabe,” Maia said with a sly grin. “You can’t tell the difference between an angelfish and a blenny.”

I had no idea what a blenny was, which prevented any smart comebacks. Plus, Hailey’s idea was pretty good. It would give me a chance to repair the damage I’d done this afternoon.

If April would let me.

“She’s off tomorrow,” I said to my daughter. “But she might already have plans.”

“Tell her to cancel them!”

Yeah, that would go over well.

“I’ll ask her, but I can’t promise anything.”

Nona placed her napkin on the table. “Well, if impending births and weddings are all settled, I think I’ll head upstairs. My new puzzle arrived.”

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