Leave it to my grandmother to tell itlike it is. “Cole!” I hiss through my teeth. “Please, I’m sorry, I know this isbad timing, but I’m begging you!”
“I’m here at the Upper House. I’ll behome in five.”
“Thank you,” I sigh, collapsing onto mystomach, still in the bathtub.
“Where are you? I hear an echo?”
“Laying on my stomach in our emptybathtub.”
Cole chuckles.
“Katie,” my grandma says in her shakyvoice.
“Thank you, grandma, just leave it by thedoor.”
“Cole,” I whine, “come save me.”
“I’m on my way, Cookie.”
He disconnects, and I take a couple oflong breaths before I get out of the bathtub and open the bathroom door. I tripover the pink bottle my grandma placed on the floor. I shake my head and pickit up, walking into the living room.
“Oh, there you are,” my mother declares,exasperated. “Look at you, you’re all flushed. You aren’t coming down withsomething, are you?” She puts her hand on my head and runs it down my cheek intrue motherly fashion.
Just a little hot and bothered from somesexy talk with my guy. “Mom, I’m fine,” I say, taking her hand off my face andgivingita little squeeze. “Here,Grandma. Thanksfor the medicine.”
“You’re welcome, Katie girl. This stuffalways helps when I get gassy.”
Too much information,Grandma. “Thanksagain.”
“Did you eat something bad?” I look up atJill, who’s sitting at the counter rummaging through the brochures.
“I’m fine. Now, will you please tell mewhat’s going on?”
“Not until this evening when Cole getshome,”my mother chirps,sitting down on the sofa. “Now, what shall we do this afternoon?”
“Shopping,” Jill offers. “I’m definitelyin need of some new clothes. There are outlet malls all up and down the strip.”
“Shopping would be fun.” Aunt Kathy walksover to Jill, taking a brochure from her.
“You want to shop in this heat? Oh lordy,I’ll perish into dust.” My grandma fans herself.
“I don’t want to walk too far, either. Myback is already killing me and I’m barely in my second trimester with thisbaby. I’m in for a rough couple of months.” My sister Annie drones from abarstool at the counter.
“HeyGrandma, there’s a mobsters museum wecould visit.” Jill holds up another brochure.
“Now you’re talking.” Grandma smiles fromher chair.
I sit down at the other end of the sofanext to Laura. Glad my best friend is here and braved a trip with my family.
“Hey chick.” She smiles, putting her armaround me.
“Hey back.” I give her a weary smile. Theelevator dings, I jump up, and Cole comes striding out with Luke behind him.
“Cole, what are you doing home?” I givehim a pleading smile that says please don’t tell them I begged you to leavework.
“I had a break and wanted to see my wife.You have a houseful.” He walks down the stairs to me, wrapping an arm around myshoulder, kissing my forehead. He looks around the room at all the women. “It’snice to see everyone again.”
“Cole.” My mother stands, giving him ahug.
