Page 296 of Wild Card 13

Dinner movedaround us with ease. Plates cleared. Wine refreshed. Someone brought Bea a sparkling water with berries floating in it, and she cried because it was “too pretty.”

Arlo kept circling the room like a host who could not stop hosting even at his own family’s event. He checked on Lo’s drink,adjusted the dessert table, gave one of the servers a quiet nod, and still found time to lean down near Lucy and say, “You know, I can have your name embroidered on those sweats if you’re attached.”

Lucy looked up at him sweetly. “I know where you keep the expensive bourbon.”

He kissed the top of her head, quick and easy, and moved on.

Eventually, Bobby stood and tapped his knife gently against his water glass.

Lo reached up and took the knife out of his hand.

Bobby looked down at her. “I was being tasteful.”

“You were one tap away from breaking stemware.”

Lo handed him a spoon instead.

Bobby accepted it with dignity. “As best man?—”

Alois groaned.

“As best man,” Bobby repeated louder, “and as the only person here officially brave enough to manage the emotional needs of this table?—”

“Untrue,” Bea hollered.

“Borderline offensive,” Lucy said.

A low, easy laugh moved through the room.

Bobby smiled, softer now, and turned toward Bea and Alois. “I’ll save the good stuff for tomorrow. Mostly because Lo threatened me.” He glanced at Lo. “Lovingly.”

“Accurately,” she said.

“But tonight, I’ll just say this. Some people make sense from the beginning. Some people take a minute. Some people take a very expensive PR situation, a judgy cat, several team meetings, and one very intense German man learning to be soft.”

Alois narrowed his eyes. “Careful.”

“Only teasing.”

Bea laughed, then immediately started crying.

Alois forgot the entire room. He turned toward her, both hands gentle now, one on her cheek and one at her waist. “Quel est le problème?”

“I’m fine.” She waved him off while crying harder. “I’m so fine. This is happy crying.”

“I will never understand hormones.”

“I’m pregnant and loved, Alois. Keep up.”

The whole mezzanine went soft around them.

Bobby lowered the spoon. “See? That. That’s what I was getting at.”

Alois kept his eyes on Bea, and when he spoke, his voice had lost every trace of humor. “I did not know I could have this.”

The room quieted.

Bea’s chin trembled.