Playing All the Angles by Nicole Lane

into his lap.
    “Good lunch?”
    “Brilliant. Evie’s going to do my dress, and she has great ideas. And—can you swear not to tell this to anyone in my family?”
    “What?” He seemed confused.
    “Swear.”
    “I swear. What?”
    “Evie’s pregnant!”
    His eyes went wide. “What?”
    “She’s pregnant. It’s a girl!”
    “Really? That’s…surprising.”
    “Yes, completely unplanned, but she’s thrilled. Marcus is the father,” Isabelle said.
    “Her boss? I thought he was a poof?”
    “Mostly. They have a special relationship.”
    “Sounds like it.” He grimaced.
    Isabelle laughed. “He’s not the bio-dad, but he’s crazy for Evie, and he’s demanding to be the father. He even wants his name to go on the birth certificate. Evie said no to that, but isn’t that funny? She said he’s completely baby hungry. She’s going to turn her guest room into the nursery, and she’s going to hire a nanny. She’s got it all planned.”
    “When’s the sprog coming?” he asked.
    “She’s due in late August or early September. She’s asked me to help think of names since Marcus wants a name that starts with X. I think Bryony is a nice name and fits the family history. Or Bronwen. I’m so excited!” Isabelle squealed and kicked her feet. “Eve’s going to be the coolest mother ever. Can you imagine?”
    “You’re going to be the coolest mother ever,” Dominic corrected, giving her a squeeze. “Eve’s not exactly the responsible one, is she? Already planning on a nanny to do the work and all.”
    She frowned. “There’s nothing wrong with having a nanny. Eve’s got a job, and she’ll need a hand. She can’t rely on Mum or Alora to help.”
    “I suppose.”
    “I’m thrilled for her. I’ve never seen her this happy.”
    “She’s happy?” Dominic seemed even more surprised by that.
    “She’s thrilled. It’s really good.”
    “Is she gigantic?”
    “Not hardly. She’s got a bit of a bump starting, but that’s all. Just a wee thing. I wouldn’t have known if she hadn’t told me. So, she said no to being my maid of honor and said I should ask Alora.”
    “Are you going to?”
    “No,” Isabelle said slowly. “I love Lora, but…she’s not who I want standing there. I might ask my friend Jeanne. Not Alora, though.”
    “No, I agree with you, there. You need someone who won’t drive you mental on the day.”
    “Alora’s already got the wedding half-planned,” she said with a sigh.
    “Yes, well, we’re not having Alora’s wedding. We’re having our own.”
    “Can we elope?”
    “Your father would murder me.”
    “Can’t have that.”
    “Might ruin the honeymoon.”

    Eve put the finishing touches on a sketch for Isabelle’s gown and sat back to study it. The third in a series of five, she would have a complete work-up to show her sister the next time they met. With Tad rumbling about in her kitchen, doing the washing up from dinner, she let her head loll back on the sofa.
    “You know, I was terrible at Alora’s wedding.”
    “Were you?” he called back to her.
    “I was.”
    “Why’s that?”
    “She didn’t ask me to be a bridesmaid. She had Issie and a couple of her girlfriends stand up for her, and I was affronted. So, I wore white to her wedding. Mostly. It was a skimpy little satin slip dress. Everyone was so busy with the bride that they didn’t notice me until it was too late to do anything about it.”
    “Did you get the attention you were looking for?”
    “Are you sure you’re in design? Because you ask questions like a head doctor.”
    Tad threw a dish towel that landed halfway between them. “Talk like a head case, and that’s what you get!”
    Eve chuckled. “Yes, Dr. Edmunds, I did. All eyes on me. Which was ridiculous, really, because Alora looked gorgeous. Her dress was a design nightmare—a lot of look, as they say, but she looked beautiful in it.”
    “Now, see, if she could hear you saying that—”
    “She’d be sure I was up to no