“Yeah, of course,” Dianne accepted. “You can join Nikki’s side, even out the numbers,” she instructed.
Rory set in position and waited for the opposing side to serve the ball. She sprang into action the second the ball left Natalie’s hand and headed over the net. Rushing up, she hit the ball to Nikki, who skillfully got it over the net; however, the volley continued for another fifteen seconds before Josh hit the ball too low for anyone on Rory’s team to reach it. They screamed in jubilation at the win.
“Rory, you serve,” Nikki instructed.
She nodded and accepted the ball. Throwing it into the air, she jumped, flicking her wrist as her palm connected to the ball and sent it over the net. The speed of the serve proved too much for Dianne’s side, and the point went to them. They rejoiced in like fashion.
The game continued for another forty-five minutes, the group opting for a time out to get refreshment.
“Hey, Jules,” Rory greeted her cousin, sitting on one of the picnic tables facing the beach.
Julia looked up with a half-smile.
“Are you all right?” Rory asked in concern.
“I am,” she replied simply.
After donning the lemonade, Rory sat down beside her and looked out at the water, the waves lightly crashing against the shore. She could also see the mountain range in the distance. A bird hovering in the distance dived nose first into the water and dipped up to the sky almost instantaneously.
“Tell you what, why don’t we lay our towels on the sand and lie down…take in some sun and maybe a dip?” she suggested, figuring that Julia was feeling left out.
“I d—”
“Come on, Jules. It’ll be fun.” She turned and gave her cousin puppy eyes.
“All right. Fine,” Julia chuckled.
The two got their towels and sunscreen and marched down to the shore. They sat cross-legged on the towels and continued to stare out at the ocean.
“Mind if we join you?”
Rory looked up to see Dianne and Nikki.
“Yeah. Of course,” she replied.
The women spread out their towels before situating themselves.
“Let me help you with that.” Rory stretched her hand out to accept the tube Julia held.
Rory squeezed a generous amount of the slick cream into her palms before rubbing it over her cousin’s back. “Can I?” she asked, looking at Julia’s belly.
“Sure,” Julia permitted.
Rory rubbed the cream over the stretched skin, marveling at the complexity of the female body. She felt a slight flutter against her palm. She looked up at Julia, surprised.
“The baby just kicked,” Julia confirmed.
Rory looked back at her cousin’s tummy in wonder.
“Here, touch here.”
Surely enough, Rory felt the same slight pressure against her hand where Rory placed it.
“This is so amazing,” she spoke in admiration.
Julia smiled knowingly.
Rory turned her attention to the other two women. “So, Dianne, when is the wedding?” she asked her cousin, who was sporting a beautiful piece on her ring finger.
