recognized it.
"Do you and Dad have plans for the holiday?"
"We're going to the Cape house, of course. You're expected for the picnic."
"Fawn, a picnic has hot dogs with potato chips and shorts with sandals. You guys have a social. Or a lawn party. Fancy dresses and fancy food. Not my idea of fun."
Her gaze turned beseeching when she finally focused on him. "Oh, Parker, please come. Your father is such a bear when one of you doesn't do as he hopes. I just want us to be happy."
Parker looked at his father, who had the audacity to wink at his wife while his hand rested on the other woman's bare shoulder. Parker would bet a million the man would be in bed with her before a week passed. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Fawn's hand press against her stomach. He hoped to God she had indigestion.
The world did not need another person for Biff Cornwall to hurt.
* * * *
"So, Sophie, tell us about the show."
Elyse Macgregor ended a half-hour monologue about her kickboxing class, her continuing e-mail relationship with travel companions from her trip the spring before, her upcoming travel plans—this time, praise God, with her husband—and the new dog she wanted to get now that Cody, 60
Sophie's Playboy
by Natalie Damschroder
Kira's eleven-year-old golden retriever, was living with Kira where she belonged. The Supermother had shed her cape and was delighted with herself.
Dessert, however, was apparently Family Time. Sophie was gratified that her mother reverted to her usual self and actually focused on her daughter when she made the inquiry.
"It's going great." She described Stevie and Melina and told a few stories about calls she'd gotten. Within a few minutes her family was roaring with laughter. Contentedness settled over her. This was what home had been, before it all got tossed upside down and her priorities changed.
Joey started to fuss in his infant seat.
"Let me take him." Sophie jumped up when Kira sighed and reached for her son. "You finish eating."
Kira smiled her thanks. "I don't think I've eaten a full meal since he was born. At least not without getting food all over him and myself."
Sophie lifted the sturdy but still tiny baby and rested him in the crook of her arm. He grinned up at her, then promptly lunged for her plate.
"He can have some of the squash, if you feel like sharing."
Sophie could tell by the look on Jake's face that he was setting her up. She'd show him. She dipped the tip of her spoon into the whipped butternut squash, deftly avoided Joey's flailing fists as he grabbed at the spoon, and slipped it into his mouth without marring a centimeter of his chubby face. She laughed as his eyes widened and he kicked his feet.
"More?" He kicked harder.
"You're good at that, Sophie," her mother commented.
61
Sophie's Playboy
by Natalie Damschroder
"It's a gift."
"So when are you going to give little Joey a cousin? He needs someone close to his age."
Sophie concentrated as she fed Joey another spoonful. "I need a guy to have a baby, Mom."
Brianna snorted. "Mom doesn't care about the son-in-law part. She just wants more grandchildren."
Elyse shrugged. "I've already got the best son-in-law I could ever have." She patted Jake's cheek. "Well, Sophie, any prospects?"
Sophie was wiping a drop of squash off the baby's nose and didn't think. "One."
Silence thundered into the room. Sophie looked up. Both parents, both sisters, and her brother-in-law stared at her.
"What, you think it's impossible for me to have a prospect?"
They burst into chatter. "It's your first one!" her mother announced, as if she had gotten an "A" on a math test.
"You don't date prospects," Brianna said. "Only toys."
"Way to go!" was offered by Jake, accompanied by a victory fist and a wink.
"He's a playboy, isn't he? I knew it. I told you so!"
"Kira, stop crowing." Sophie set down the spoon and stood Joey on her lap. "They think your auntie is some kind of spinster," she cooed. "Or a heartbreaker. They can't
"Do you and Dad have plans for the holiday?"
"We're going to the Cape house, of course. You're expected for the picnic."
"Fawn, a picnic has hot dogs with potato chips and shorts with sandals. You guys have a social. Or a lawn party. Fancy dresses and fancy food. Not my idea of fun."
Her gaze turned beseeching when she finally focused on him. "Oh, Parker, please come. Your father is such a bear when one of you doesn't do as he hopes. I just want us to be happy."
Parker looked at his father, who had the audacity to wink at his wife while his hand rested on the other woman's bare shoulder. Parker would bet a million the man would be in bed with her before a week passed. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Fawn's hand press against her stomach. He hoped to God she had indigestion.
The world did not need another person for Biff Cornwall to hurt.
* * * *
"So, Sophie, tell us about the show."
Elyse Macgregor ended a half-hour monologue about her kickboxing class, her continuing e-mail relationship with travel companions from her trip the spring before, her upcoming travel plans—this time, praise God, with her husband—and the new dog she wanted to get now that Cody, 60
Sophie's Playboy
by Natalie Damschroder
Kira's eleven-year-old golden retriever, was living with Kira where she belonged. The Supermother had shed her cape and was delighted with herself.
Dessert, however, was apparently Family Time. Sophie was gratified that her mother reverted to her usual self and actually focused on her daughter when she made the inquiry.
"It's going great." She described Stevie and Melina and told a few stories about calls she'd gotten. Within a few minutes her family was roaring with laughter. Contentedness settled over her. This was what home had been, before it all got tossed upside down and her priorities changed.
Joey started to fuss in his infant seat.
"Let me take him." Sophie jumped up when Kira sighed and reached for her son. "You finish eating."
Kira smiled her thanks. "I don't think I've eaten a full meal since he was born. At least not without getting food all over him and myself."
Sophie lifted the sturdy but still tiny baby and rested him in the crook of her arm. He grinned up at her, then promptly lunged for her plate.
"He can have some of the squash, if you feel like sharing."
Sophie could tell by the look on Jake's face that he was setting her up. She'd show him. She dipped the tip of her spoon into the whipped butternut squash, deftly avoided Joey's flailing fists as he grabbed at the spoon, and slipped it into his mouth without marring a centimeter of his chubby face. She laughed as his eyes widened and he kicked his feet.
"More?" He kicked harder.
"You're good at that, Sophie," her mother commented.
61
Sophie's Playboy
by Natalie Damschroder
"It's a gift."
"So when are you going to give little Joey a cousin? He needs someone close to his age."
Sophie concentrated as she fed Joey another spoonful. "I need a guy to have a baby, Mom."
Brianna snorted. "Mom doesn't care about the son-in-law part. She just wants more grandchildren."
Elyse shrugged. "I've already got the best son-in-law I could ever have." She patted Jake's cheek. "Well, Sophie, any prospects?"
Sophie was wiping a drop of squash off the baby's nose and didn't think. "One."
Silence thundered into the room. Sophie looked up. Both parents, both sisters, and her brother-in-law stared at her.
"What, you think it's impossible for me to have a prospect?"
They burst into chatter. "It's your first one!" her mother announced, as if she had gotten an "A" on a math test.
"You don't date prospects," Brianna said. "Only toys."
"Way to go!" was offered by Jake, accompanied by a victory fist and a wink.
"He's a playboy, isn't he? I knew it. I told you so!"
"Kira, stop crowing." Sophie set down the spoon and stood Joey on her lap. "They think your auntie is some kind of spinster," she cooed. "Or a heartbreaker. They can't
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