TIS THE SEASON...FOR ROMANCE (WESTMORELAND/MASTERS/JEFFERIES) (17 page)

Peggy inwardly smiled. That hadn’t been all they’d done at Toni’s. Even now she couldn’t believe what she and Willie had done in that greenhouse. By the time they returned to the house a lot of the guests had already left and thankfully, John and Toni had pretended they hadn’t been missed.

“And before I forget, Willie said that Kelly sends her congratulations on your pregnancy. Seems the two of you will be delivering babies within months of each other.”

Sonya, who was sitting on the sofa watching her mother pack up the cards smiled and said. “I think that’s neat. Do you know whether Kelly and Norris want to know the sex of the baby before it’s born?”

“Willie didn’t say.” Peggy stretched her shoulders and pushed her fingers through her hair thinking it had gotten long and it was time to get it cut. Willie had never seen her with short hair and she wondered if he’d like it then berated herself for even caring.

She then studied her daughter. “What about you and Mike? Do you two want to know?”

Sonya shrugged and grinned. “Not really. We just want a healthy baby.”

She stood and then crossed to where her mother sat at the table. This had been her and Mike’s first Christmas as husband and wife, and if anyone would have told her she would have been pregnant by year’s end she would not have believed them. They had wanted children and over the summer had decided there was no reason to wait since she was thirty-five already.

She glanced at the stack of cards and figured there had to be over a hundred that her mother had received this past Holiday, and was impressed that some people took the time to send them. She picked up one of the cards and smiled. It was a picture card of the Devereau family – her best friend Carla; her husband Jesse and their two kids, four-year-old Craig and one-year-old Jessica. Craig and Jessica were her and Mike’s godchildren and they enjoyed spending time with them. She liked this style of Christmas card and would make sure she, Mike and Baby Mike pose for one next Christmas.

Baby Mike?

Her hand went to her stomach and for some strange reason she knew at that moment she and Mike were going to have a son. That sort of prediction sounded rather spooky, but somehow she knew.

She placed the card back in the stack and noticed the scarf her mother was wearing around her neck. Sonya shook her head. For some reason her mother felt she had to hide the fact that Willie had given her a hickey. It wasn’t the first time her mother had done so and Sonya figured it wouldn’t be the last.

It came as no surprise that her mother and Willie were sexually active. Both were good looking people and she’d felt the sexual chemistry flowing between them the first time she’d seen them together. She would have to admit that when she’d first seen him at the groundbreaking ceremony for Tiara’s World, she had thought he was handsome, but way too sophisticated, elegant and stately to ignite the hidden passion within her mother that needed detonating. And it was hidden passion she’d believe Peggy Morrison possessed, mainly because she was Peggy’s daughter and she figured like the old saying, like mother, like daughter.

It was only when Willie Baker had left the group of men he was standing with and approach her mother later that Sonya had known he was just the man Peggy needed. And from the size of that hickey, she’d been right.

“So, when will Willie be back?” she decided to ask.

Her mother glanced up at her. “He mentioned he’d be back this weekend if he finishes up a few business matters he has to take care of.” She then resumed what she was doing.

Sonya nodded. “He’s been visiting a lot lately, and it’s not like he lives up the street. He has to cross several states to get here. Evidently he thinks you’re important.”

Peggy glanced back up at her. “Willie and I are just friends.”

Sonya laughed. “Yes, that’s what Mike and I used to say when people would question our relationship. We would say we were just friends or that we just happen to be godparents to the same kids. But we later discovered there was more.”

Peggy sealed one box and reached for another. “And I’m glad. It doesn’t work that way for everyone, sweetheart.”

“It would for you if you’d just let loose.”

Peggy fought to keep a straight face. Let loose. That’s what Willie had done New Year’s Eve night and boy had he done it. There wasn’t a single night she’d gone to bed since without having memories of that night. Like she’d told him several times that night they were old enough to know better, but in the end, it had been worth every moment.

Peggy tilted her head back. “Do you know how old I am?”

Sonya evidently found the question rather funny because a huge grin settled around her lips. “Of course I know. You’re my mother. And because I know how old you are, I give you permission to stop wearing those silly looking scarves to hide the hickeys on your neck. It happens when you get caught up in the throes of passion sometimes.”

Peggy frowned. Just what was going on here? First Barbara, then Toni and now Sonya. Did she expect the same kind of talk from Courtney when she returned this week from her honeymoon?

Deciding she might as well get it over with and listen to what two cents Sonya was tossing in, she said. “Is there something you have to say?”

Sonya seemed surprised by her question. “No, not really. You’re wearing Willie’s mark. In fact it seems like every time he comes and goes, he leaves his mark on you, so I guess that pretty much says it all.”

Peggy’s brow lifted. “And what do you mean that says it all?”

Sonya smiled. “You and Willie are evidently an item. Sooner or later the two of you will become more.”

“No we won’t. I have no intentions of getting deeply involved with another man again. Your father ruined me for life.”

Sonya rolled her eyes. “Pleeze. If Uncle Ron didn’t ruin Aunt Barbara then there is definitely hope for you. You had to put up with just one crazy hoochie. Look how many Aunt Barbara had to deal with. Not to mention all those outside babies Uncle Ron fathered. As far as we know, for Dad there is only one baby, and as far as I’m concerned that one is questionable.”

Peggy chose to ignore the last comment. “There is a difference between me and Barbara. She didn’t go through the crap that I went through because she got with Rick in a timely manner. I’m grateful for that. I had nearly two whole years to -”

“Feel sorry for yourself? Almost turn into an alcoholic? As far as I’m concerned you should have been stronger than that. Dad was never a candidate for husband of the year anyway. Although he might have been faithful before he met Suzette, the two of you still never spent a lot of time together. You were beginning to live separate lives. For all I knew, the two of you could have been sleeping in separate beds. Dad was married to his job. He was working like hell to build his business so he could retire early. Now he’s saddled with a woman who’s determined to work him until he’s one hundred.”

Peggy wondered how Joe had become the main topic of conversation…not that she was complaining. She was glad Sonya was no longer concentrating on her and Willie. “Your father tried to find you New Year’s Eve night.”

Sonya slipped her hands into the pockets of her slacks. “Yes, I noticed I had a couple of missed calls.”

“Didn’t you call him back?”

“Yes, but you know Suzette. She doesn’t always let me talk to him. She claimed he was busy. I called his office and they said he’s out this week. I figured he just wanted to tell me Happy New Year.”

“Probably. But still, he sounded rather anxious to talk to you.”

Sonya shrugged. “I don’t know why. I would think he has enough to do, like change diapers.”

Barbara knew the inner anger Sonya was still dealing with and decided not to touch that one. “When will Mike be returning?” She knew her son-in-law, the private investigator, had flown to Los Angles to conclude a case he’d been working on.

“Some time tomorrow night. I miss him already.”

Peggy smiled. She knew how her daughter felt since she missed Willie as well. She was getting used to seeing him each week when he flew into town. “If you’re not doing anything for dinner you can join me. I’ve been dying to try that new Chinese restaurant on International Drive.”

Sonya smiled. “I’d love to.”

* * *

“Will there be anything else, Mr. Baker?”

Willie glanced up from the documents he’d been scanning and glanced over at the young woman who worked as an intern in the marketing department of his real estate firm. Diana Nash. And if he recalled, she was a new hire who began in September.

“No, there’s nothing else.”

After the woman left he leaned back in his chair as memories of the past weekend filled his mind, and he couldn’t help but reflect on New Year’s Eve night. A night that still made him aroused just thinking about all they’d done in the greenhouse. Things hadn’t stopped there. Once they’d gotten back to her place they’d celebrated some more in the bedroom. She had pulled out a bottle of champagne that had been left from Courtney’s wedding and he’d ended up pouring it all over her and proceeded licking it off.

They’d slept in late New Year’s Day and when they’d gotten up she convinced him that they needed to go to a white sale of all places. They’d hit several stores and it had been the first time he’d gone shopping with a woman in a long time and had enjoyed himself. And he’d learned more about bed sheets that day than he’d figured he would ever need to know. But it had been fun.

After shopping they had stopped by her sister’s condo and enjoyed the rest of the day with Barbara and her fiancé Rick. He liked Rick and the two of them had watched the football game while Barbara and Peggy decided to do some baking. Later that night the four of them had played cards while drinking beer and eating brownies.

Like aways, just spending time with Peggy had been a joy; a real treat. He loved her and he was looking forward to seeing her again.

And when he did see her he would ask her to go to Paris with him.

“Are you enjoying the play, Willie?” Peggy whispered.

He glanced over at her.
The Color Purple
, had come to Orlando as part of their national tour and he’d come to town and surprised her with tickets. He could tell she was enjoying herself and was concerned about him enjoying his.

He gave her an assured smile. “Yes, sweetheart, I’m enjoying myself.”

A few hours later he took her hand to lead her out of the auditorium. There had been a sold-out crowd and from the look on everyone’s faces, he could tell they’d enjoyed themselves as well.

“Well look who’s here, Joe.”

Willie and Peggy glanced up at the same time to see Joe and a young woman who was plastered to his side. Willie figured she was the infamous Suzette. The first thought that came to his mind was that she had certainly outdone herself but with poor results. She looked like she’d been to a nightclub with her short black clingy dress and a pair of killer stilettos and overly made up face. On the other hand, Peggy’s outfit made her look glamorous, sophisticated and classy. He preferred the Peggy look.

“Joe. Suzette,” Peggy said, recovering at the surprise of seeing the couple. Glancing over at her Willie could tell her smile was forced.

Willie and Joe shook hands. They had met before when Joe dropped by Sonya and Mike’s house one night while he and Peggy were there. Willie thought it was a pity the man hadn’t appreciated Peggy as his wife, when she had so much more class than the woman hanging on Joe’s arm who was showing an indecent amount of cleavage.

Joe then introduced him to Suzette. He thought it was sad when she openly checked him out, giving him an appreciative look from head to toe, in front of her husband and Peggy. Which of the two she was trying to piss off he wasn’t sure.

Willie cleared his throat. “So did the two of you enjoy the play?” He thought he would be diplomatic and ask.

“It was simply awesome,” Suzette said, all but batting her long eyelashes at him. On some women they would probably look natural but on her they looked false which he had a feeling they were.

She then turned her attention to Peggy and a frown touched the younger woman’s lips. “So, Peggy, I understand you’re going to be a grandmother,” Suzette said with a smirk on her face as if being old enough to be a grandmother was something distasteful.

Peggy smiled. “Yes, and Joe will be a grandfather as well. And of course you will become a
step-grandmother.
”

Willie had to reframe from laughing and could immediately tell being reminded of her husband’s age, especially by the ex-wife, probably didn’t sit too well with Suzette. Before she could open her mouth to say anything, he quickly stepped in and said. “Well, Peggy and I will be going. Good evening.”

Taking Peggy’s hand firmly in his, he led her toward the exit. He glanced over at her wondering about her mood after seeing her ex. “Not having seconds thoughts about us stopping at the Oasis for coffee, are you?”

She met his gaze and smiled. “No. I’m looking forward to it.”

And he was glad to hear that. They would enjoy coffee and a pastry and talk about the play. Then they would go back to her place where he would be staying the night. He recalled just when he’d stopped staying at the hotel whenever he would arrive in town and began staying at her place. It had been a few months ago. There hadn’t been a discussion on the matter it just seemed like the thing to do since he was with her most of the time and had slept over most of the time. He enjoyed waking up beside her in the mornings, taking showers with her and getting dressed in the same room as she did.