Page 76 of Requiem

I nod and Matthew gives me another side squeeze.

“I am. We’re expecting another baby in the early spring. I was hoping to get through all of this before we told anyone.”

He’s beaming, like the proud grandpa that David already knows him to be.

“I’m so glad things have finally settled down for the two of you,” he says

“Not too loud!” I caution jokingly. “You’ll jinx us, Dr. Sam!”

“Ah, good point! Now, then, where did that lad with the champagne go?” he mutters as he wanders off in search of another drink.

“Hey, Mrs. Ayers,” Matthew says as soon as he’s out of earshot. “No more talk about jinxes, okay? Everything is going to be just perfect from here on out. Understood?” he asks, putting a hand on the camouflaged swell of my belly.

I put a hand to his face in response. “I love you, Matthew Ayers.”

He smiles so broadly and once again I’m struck by how handsome he looks in his suit. Those amber eyes, the tousled brown hair … No, actually, he looks hot. He leans down and gives me another kiss, this time deeper and longer. I find myself standing on tippy-toes just to be closer to him. I’m tempted to take this man and sneak out the side door, but it’s too late. I catch sight of Lester, waving at me frantically from the other side of the gallery.

“Do you want me to go with you, or wait for you?” my husband asks.

“With me. Always, always with me.”

He gives a quick bow and offers me his arm like some chivalrous suitor out of a Jane Austen book.

“I’d kill for a drink right now,” I say, forcing a smile as they all start to applaud my success.