All of Me (All Series Book 2) (15 page)

“I can’t wait to see Presley again,” Sophia said, her excitement coming through.

Phil took his eyes off the road a moment and looked over at Sophia’s wide smile. She took his breath away.

He’d been a little worried when he found out her mother had stopped over out of the blue. Worried that Sophia would be upset. He knew she didn’t have the best of childhoods. But when Sophia talked to him late Friday night after he was done working with Alec she sounded truly happy.

She told him she had a wonderful visit with her mother and was sorry she had to leave so early and that she wished they could have met. He was baffled, but if she was happy, then so was he. He couldn’t imagine the shuffling she did growing up. But looking at her, no one would know.

It was in the past. If she was good with it, who was he to think otherwise? He was more concerned with the present.

And right now they were on their way to the Mathews’ house for their Memorial Day party. All his close friends and family were expected to be in attendance, along with several neighbors and colleagues of Thomas and Michele’s. “That’s what has you so excited?”

“Yes. I haven’t seen her since Kaitlin officially announced she was pregnant.”

He winced. That wasn’t his favorite day to remember. They all came together for Kaitlin’s joyous news while he was stressing over whether he was going to be a father, mixed in with his frustration over Sophia ignoring him. “I thought we agreed to forget that day happened.”

“Sorry. How about we forget parts of that day happened? Because the other things that happened that day were too wonderful to forget.”

“True. I’ll let you off the hook.” She was right about it being a day for celebration in everyone’s eyes. No one knew the turmoil going on between him and Sophia then.

“Of course I can’t wait to find out the sex of the babies. You’re going to find out if you’re having nieces or nephews or both. Are
you
excited?”

“I don’t know that men get excited over that. I want Kaitlin and the babies to be healthy, regardless of whether she has boys or girls.”

“Or one of each,” she added, then said, “So you wouldn’t be excited to find out about the sex of your own child?”

He took his eyes off the road again and glanced at her thoughtfully. “I would be thrilled to find out if it was my child. That’s different.” He wondered if this was the time to ask and decided to go with it. “Do you want children?”

“Absolutely.”

No hesitation at all with her answer. “You do?” He hadn’t been sure. He had hoped she did. He wanted her to have them, but it was the first time they really talked about anything like this. Talked about the future at all, whether it was between them or life in general.

“Sure I do. Why would you think differently? I just want to be married when I have them.”

The teasing glint in her eyes made him smile, letting him relax for venturing out there with the question. Taking a chance, he asked another. “You’ve had a lot of half and stepsiblings along the way, how many kids do you think you’d want some day?”

She shrugged. “I’ve never really thought of it. More than one, I guess, but no more than three. That is probably my limit. Even then, I might be happy with two. Close together, too.”

“Why’s that?”

“So they have each other growing up. I was an only child for a long time. Then all the half and stepsiblings were either older or younger. I never really had someone close to my age. I think it would have been nice.”

“It was nice having Alec. Ben was only a few years behind, so that was good too. I missed a lot of Kaitlin’s years though, so I understand.”

He pulled his truck behind Mac’s BMW, shut the engine off and got out. Sophia was already reaching into the back for the snacks she’d made, so he grabbed some of the beer he bought and they made their way around the back of the house.

“I’ll bring these inside and see if I can help get the food ready.”

He nodded and walked over to a cooler, loaded his beer on the ice, then made his way down to the lake where Lucas and Mac were sitting with their kids. Zoe was swimming a few feet out with Mac keeping a keen eye on her while Evan and Michael sat in the sand, the water coming up and washing over their toes.

Ironically, Michael and Evan looked like twins to him. Mac and Brooke looked so much alike as siblings, and Lucas and Beth both had fair hair and blue eyes. Even though their boys took after Beth and Lucas with blonde hair, both toddlers had the Malone light brown eyes and sharp features.

Instead of the toddlers running around and getting into everything like he and Alec did as kids, Michael and Evan could both often be found sitting together and playing quietly. Mac was probably relieved. Zoe had enough energy for everyone. “Phil’s here,” she yelled and ran out of the water as fast as she could, splashing both boys in her wake. Neither of them even put up a fit over it.

“Hey there, Zoe.” He found it hard to believe she used to be shy around men, because she treated everyone the same now—ran toward them full speed ahead and wanted a hug. He bent down and gave her a kiss on the forehead when she hugged his legs.

Lucas turned. “Have a seat. Did you just get here?”

“A few minutes ago. Sophia is inside helping with food. I see we’re one of the first to arrive.”

“Everyone should be here soon,” Mac said. “We wanted the boys to play in the water to tire them out and lay them down for their nap in the house here.”

“No, Michael,” Lucas said. “Don’t eat the bugs.” He jumped up quickly and wiped the bug out of his son’s hand. “That would’ve gone over well if he ate that and got sick. Brooke would never let me live it down.”

Mac laughed. “Kids eat bugs. It’s what they do. Nothing around here could really hurt them.”

As a pediatrician, Mac had probably seen all sorts of things that kids did and ate, and it seemed nothing ever fazed him. “What’s the most disgusting thing you’ve heard of a kid eating?” Phil asked, curious.

“Too many things to list. Most common are parents calling about their children eating worms and grasshoppers. I once had a mother call me frantic over her daughter eating ladybugs.”

“Ladybugs,” Lucas said, laughing. “That’s a new one. I thought girls liked ladybugs.”

Mac shrugged. “Not this little girl.”

“Daddy,” Zoe interrupted. “Evan is rubbing his eyes. I think he needs his nap.”

“I guess so. What do you say, buddy, ready for a nap?” Mac asked when he stood up. Evan lifted his arms in the air for Mac, who easily picked him up and settled him on his hip.

“I guess I’ll bring this one in and get him cleaned up and laid down, too,” Lucas said, standing up and grabbing his son.

“Come out of the water, Zoe. You can stay on the beach until I come back down,” Mac told her.

“Okay,” she said happily.

“I’m here, Mac. She’ll be fine,” Phil said.

“You sure?”

“Positive.”

“Yay,” Zoe said, excited. “Phil, will you help build a sandcastle? Can you make them as good as Alec?”

Phil laughed. Alec was a champion sandcastle builder. He always had been. He obviously had the keen sense of building even as a child. “Mine are better. You know why?”

“No, why?” Zoe asked, her eyes gone wide with anticipation.

“Because I plan it all out. We need to draw the whole village first. Then we can place everything where it needs to go perfectly.”

“We’re going to build a village?” she asked in amazement. “Wow, you
are
the best.”

“Make sure you tell Alec that when he gets here.” Phil chuckled, picked up a stick and walked to the sand. “First thing we need to do is start our blueprint.”

***

Sophia had been watching Phil from the deck and heard everything he said to Zoe. Her heart started to thump, watching him. That was a side she hadn’t expected at all. She thought it was odd he asked her about children in the car, but figured it was an easy enough question. They were talking about kids anyway.

She was honest with him. She did want children. But she wanted to be married when she had them, and she didn’t want to
have
to get married either. Sophia didn’t know her mother had gotten pregnant first, why would she? She was still young when they divorced. It wasn’t like she ever had to worry about a wedding anniversary and calculating her conception.

“He’s the best of us,” Ben said.

She jumped. She hadn’t even heard him come up next to her and had no idea how long he had been standing there, watching her gaze at Phil and Zoe on the beach. “He is pretty great.”

Ben rested his arms on the railing, letting his hands drape over the edge. “We all thought he would be the first of us married. And definitely have a few kids by now.”

Uncomfortable with the comment, she felt the need to say, “I thought everyone was happy about his split with Linda.”

“Never doubt that,” Ben said, a cold look briefly coming into his eyes.

Just as quickly it was gone though. “Then why the comment?” she asked.

“Linda hasn’t been Phil’s only serious relationship. Just the longest. Though, to be honest, I’m not sure any were as serious as they looked on the outside.” She had no idea why he was telling her this and didn’t know what to say. “Linda messed with his head more than anyone else though.”

She had suspected as much. “How do you know?”

“Take it from someone who knows what it’s like to hide things from the rest of the world. Just be patient with him, and it’ll be fine. Of course, you two have waited long enough so maybe I should tell you to hurry up,” he said, adding a sly grin.

“What does that mean?” She was starting to think Phil was right and Ben did know what happened the night of Kaitlin’s wedding, only she didn’t know how.

He didn’t answer her though, only said, “Welcome to the family.”

Where did
that
come from? She’d never known Ben to be this cryptic before. “I always thought I was part of the family,” she said lightheartedly.

“You have been. But not like this.” He shifted over and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Doesn’t look like either of you are hiding anything now.”

She watched him walk away, and all she could do was shake her head. Turning back toward the water, she heard Zoe’s laughter and Phil asking her, “Are you sure this is the blueprint you want? We don’t want to change anything after we start to build it.”

“You’re being silly, Phil. Plans can always be changed,” Zoe said.

Funny how a five-year-old had it all figured out. That simple statement made Sophia realize her mother was right all along. That second half of her heart she had been holding back let go. No doubt about it, she was in love with Phil Harper.

***

Twenty minutes later, the rest of the family had arrived—before the other guests—and Isabel and Michele refused to bring any food out until Kaitlin and Cori made their announcements.

They were all gathered on the deck, Phil standing behind Sophia, his hands warm on her shoulders. Cori and Kaitlin were standing in front of the table, their husbands sitting down by them.

In front of each girl was a plate with a silver dome on top. “Cori requested chocolate cupcakes today. So in keeping with her chocolate craving, we decided to have a little fun,” Kaitlin said, turning her head and watching Cori bouncing on her toes. Sophia bit back a giggle, realizing pregnancy hadn’t slowed Cori down at all. Kaitlin couldn’t move that fast if she wanted to, and there were still months left to go for both of them.

“Each cupcake has either pink or blue sprinkles on it. Cori doesn’t know what’s under mine and I don’t know what’s under hers,” Kaitlin explained.

“Hurry up with it,” Isabel said. “Stop making us wait.”

Kaitlin smiled at her mother, and Sophia saw Michele was just as excited, almost bouncing on her toes like Cori. “On the count of three we’re going to lift the tops off. One, two, three.”

Sophia’s eyes went right to Kaitlin’s, one pink and one blue. “I knew it,” she said. Then her eyes shifted to Cori’s and saw the pink cupcake.

Cori, tears in her eyes, started to jump up and down. “Our daughters are going to be the best of friends.”

Smiling, Jack looked at his best friend, Ryan, snickered, and said, “You’re having a daughter. Payback.”

Ben said, “You took the words right out of my mouth.”

“What? Are you thinking bad thoughts about your niece already?” Ryan asked, and Sophia watched Ben’s face flush.

Cori was almost done eating her cupcake when Kaitlin turned to Ryan. “You need to eat one of these. I’m not eating two.”

“I’ll take it,” Cori said. “Our girls can start playing together now. In my belly.” She grabbed the pink one off the plate and took the wrapper off.

Sophia blinked the tears out of her eyes, then looked around at everyone laughing and congratulating each other on the news. Phil squeezed her shoulders, and she looked up to see love and happiness on his face and in his eyes. No, he wasn’t hiding anything at all.