“Thanks, Dad.” He inched back. “I called Carly and told her, too. But she wasn’t too talkative.” He made a face. “Early contractions.”
“Really?” Kate asked, looking concerned. “I guess she’s due any day now.”
“She is and I…” He blew out a breath. “I want to be there.”
“When do classes start?” Eli asked.
“Summer semester starts June second,” he said.
“More than a month,” Eli said. “You should go to California tomorrow. Be there for the birth.”
Jonah stared at him, ready to argue, but Eli held up a hand to stave it off. “I mean it, son. The apartment is almost done and we can’t do anything until the kitchen appliances come and as for the cost? Consider it my gift to my soon-to-be-born grandchild.”
Jonah swiped a hand through his hair, tears threatening. “Aw, Dad. That would be…” He choked a little and reached out to hug Eli again. “Thank you.”
“But be sure to come back,” Eli added, only half joking.
“I will, I promise. I’m not going to miss this program.” He added a tight smile. “And maybe Carly and Junior or Juniorette will come with me.”
Kate gave a clap. “That would be awesome!”
“What’s all the commotion?” Crista asked, joining them with Anthony right behind her.
“We’re congratulating Jonah,” Kate said.
“You got in?” Crista threw her arms out with joy. “That’s so awesome! Chef Jonah!”
He gave her a hug and shook Anthony’s hand.
“Hey, since we’re celebrating,” Jonah said. “Let me whip up some Summer House G&Ts and get a party going.”
“Not for me,” Crista said, her smile oddly wide as she put her hand on her stomach and looked at Anthony. “Because we’re celebrating, too.”
“No way!”
“Get out!”
“Congratulations!”
Once again, a cheer erupted and hugs and handshakes were exchanged.
“But we do have something we wanted to talk to you and Viv about,” Crista said, wrapping an arm around Anthony.
“I’m right here,” Vivien called, joining them with Lacey. “Mom went for a walk. Did you tell them?” She gave a kiss to Crista. “So happy for you! And, yes, I told Lacey.”
As they gathered, Eli stayed standing, glancing down at the boardwalk. With the lights, he could easily see his mother making her way toward the beach.
“She’ll be okay,” Kate said, coming up next to him and following his gaze.
“If she goes left, she’s going to pass Jo Ellen,” he said.
“Is that so bad?” Kate asked. “It’s a day of change.”
He sighed, not so sure if either one of them were ready for a confrontation with no kids around. But then he turned to the group where Crista and Anthony stayed standing, waiting for his attention.
“Here’s the thing,” Crista said, glancing at her husband, who nodded and held up his hand to take over the speech.
“This is probably on me and I know I’m the in-law,” he said, “but I know and love this family well enough to be honest. Cris and I are hoping that, as a family, we can come up with a different solution for Maggie. We are growing our household and we just…”
