Grant said he was cool with spending the winter on Gansett, but Stephanie worried he’d miss being in California. It’d help that Dan and Kara planned to stay this year, too. Grant was always happier when Dan was around.
“I’m texting Dan to see if they’re ready for visitors yet,” Grant said as he sent the text.
Stephanie sat next to him and thanked her bartender, Max, for the glass of ice water with lemon he put on the bar in front of her. She looked forward to being able to drink wine again someday.
“Are you having dinner, too, Steph?” Max asked.
“Just a house salad for me, please. If I eat a big meal this late, I’ll die of heartburn.”
“Sounds good. Usual for you, Grant?”
“Please.”
He was a sucker for the shrimp scampi.
“Dan said to come tonight if we want to. The baby slept all day, so they’re anticipating a long night.”
“Is there a chapter on that scenario in the manual?” Stephanie asked.
“There’s a manual?”
“No, but there should be. What’s the latest from Providence?”
“Mom texted the group chat to say the babies are doing great and that Abby is tired but thrilled to be up and about again.”
“I don’t know how she could bear to be in bed for all that time. I’d go mad.”
“From what Adam says, she nearly did.”
“Thank goodness the babies are here, they’re doing well, and, hopefully, they’ll be home soon. That’s when the real fun will begin.”
“I can’t imagine bringing four babies home at the same time,” Grant said with a shudder. “One is going to be more than enough for me.”
“For now, though, right? We’ve got to give this guy a sibling.”
“Definitely, but I’m a little scared of the outbreak of multiples going on in my family. Twins and quads in the same year.”
“Yeah, no kidding. With our luck, we’ll get the triplets.”
Grant nearly choked on his beer. “I can’t believe you said that out loud!”
Laughing at his horrified expression, Stephanie said, “I take it back, universe. No triplets for us.”
“Stop saying that word. Right now.”
She couldn’t stop laughing at his horrified expression.
After they ate, Stephanie left the restaurant in the hands of her capable staff and went with Grant to visit Dan, Kara and baby Dylan. She was glad she’d put the baby gifts she’d bought ages ago in the car for when they got the chance to see the new arrival.
“Did Dan say how Kara is feeling?”
“He said sore and tired, but thrilled, too.”
Stephanie was incredibly stressed about the looming childbirth experience and was hoping Kara would put her mind at ease. She hadn’t said much about her anxiety to Grant or anyone else, for that matter, but it hung over her like a dark cloud of worry that was getting worse as her due date drew nearer.
She’d thought about mentioning it to Victoria, but what could the midwife say that would make Steph feel better about it? That women gave birth every day? That she was young and strong and would do great? How did anyone know how it would go ahead of time? They didn’t because each situation was unique. The unknowns, the possible complications, the pain… It was almost all she thought about, which she knew was unhealthy.
Grant turned the car into the Torringtons’ driveway and cut the engine.
