“Waaah!”Paddy screams, his little face screwing up until it resembles a rosebud.“Waahh!”
Lochy always wants to do his brother one better, and decides to scream and wave his fists at once.
“Waaaah!”my other son bawls.“Wawawawa!”
Their nanny, Marta, comes rushing up.Marta is a godsend, and has been with us since the twins were born.Like a pro, she takes the babies from us and gently sets them into their double stroller before handing each child a warm bottle of milk.The change is instantaneous.Within seconds, both kids are suckling peacefully at their bottles, their little faces dreamy with satisfaction as their bellies are filled.
Meanwhile, the photographer continues to snap photos of me and my hubby.
“Happy?”Dom growls in a low voice.
I beam up at him as the photographer instructs me to wrap my arms around my husband’s strong neck.We gaze into each other’s eyes adoringly.
“Very happy,” I whisper from the corner of my mouth.“This has been a dream come true, and thank you for renaming our home Holly Pines.I find it has a cozy feel to it,” I say saucily.
Dominic’s black brow quirks.
“You didn’t like the Masters Estate?”
I wink at him as he draws me closer.
“I liked it well enough, but Holly Pines has its own charm, don’t you agree?”
At that moment, the photographer puts down her camera, and gestures to two ladies who’ve been watching us from the sidelines.
“Okay, time for photos of the bride and her wedding party.You ladies look gorgeous!”she exclaims as Emilia and Kristie approach.I agree because Kristie and Emilia resemble angels with their long blonde hair, beautiful features, and pink dresses.They’re both visions, and stand on my left and right as the photographer continues to click away.
“Oh my god, Dom is so handsome!”Kristie whispers.“You’re such a lucky girl, Ang.”
“Thanks,” I murmur as my husband beams at me from the sidelines.“Your hubby is really gorgeous too!How are Nick and the kids by the way?”
“They’re good,” Kristie whispers.But then Emilia cuts us off.
“Girls, I may be the only unmarried one at the moment, but I have some news.”
We both stare at her.
“You’re getting married?”I ask.
“But to whom?”Kristie adds, looking confused.“We didn’t know you were dating.”
Emilia slaps a smile on her face as the photographer continues to shoot, but I can tell that she’s wan and pale beneath her make-up.
“No, it’s worse.My parents want me to marry some random dude,” she whispers.“I don’t even know him!”
“But who is it?”I ask.“I know your parents are from the old country, but they can’t just force you into marriage because you’re their daughter.”
Emilia’s eyes go watery for a moment, and she bows her head before lifting her chin resolutely.
“You know my dad runs a coffee cart, right?He’s worked hard his whole life to support our family, and the coffee cart’s not doing great at the moment.Not only that, but my younger brother has aspirations to attend an Ivy League school, and so my parents struck a bargain.”
Kristie looks troubled.
“Hon, they can’t bribe their way into a fancy school.Remember that scandal called Varsity Blues?People went to jail for that.”
Emilia nods with misery.
“I know, and my parents don’t have Varsity Blues money either.No, it’s something different.My dad talked to one of his regulars at the coffee cart, and he’s some powerful CEO who says he can get my brother into school ...for a price of course.”
