“I don’t know about always, but when I’m having a party, I make sure to get plenty of extra wine. I’m not about to risk an uprising.”
Taylor’s expression relaxed into what constituted a smile for her, a faint twitch of her lips. She looked more gorgeous than normal this evening in her wine-red top and snug-fitting cropped pants. As she took a sip of her filled glass of wine, she said, “Despite my anti-romance philosophy, since you were wise enough to provide enough cab, I’ll even tell you that I’m really happy for you and Keith.”
Serena couldn’t help but grin, and she glanced down at the pretty diamond ring on her hand. It wasn’t nearly as big as the rock Steve had gotten her when she was eighteen, but it was better, more meaningful, more her.
He’d asked her to marry him two weeks ago, and naturally she’d said yes.
“Thank you,” she told Taylor. “We’re both pretty happy about it.”
“That’s what I’d call a massive understatement. I’ve never seen a man more over-the-moon ecstatic as Keith has been for the past two weeks.”
Serena giggled. It was true. Keith had been so happy lately he’d barely been able to put it into words. Nothing felt better than that. Knowing he was so happy because of her.
To be with her.
And Eva.
For the rest of their lives.
“Maybe that will be inspiration for you,” she said, pulling herself out of her sappy thoughts so she could finish the conversation.
Taylor snorted and didn’t bother responding.
“I’m serious. It’s a pretty amazing thing to happen to a person.”
“I know it is. And I think it’s great when it happens to other people. But it isn’t for everyone, and it doesn’t always last.”
“That’s true. But sometimes it does last. Just because it doesn’t work for some people doesn’t mean it won’t happen for you.”
“I’m honestly not sure I’m cut out for it. You know me, right?”
“Yes, I know you. You’re smart and funny and generous and thoughtful and really good-hearted no matter how much you try to hide it.”
“Right. And I’m also grouchy and rude and hard to get along with.”
“For the right man, that wouldn’t be a problem.”
Taylor gave a dismissive shrug. She didn’t look upset about it. In fact, she looked faintly amused. “Maybe I’ll change my mind down the line, but for now the right man is someone who will fuck me good and then never call me again.”
“Taylor!” Serena exclaimed in a stage whisper, darting a look toward the doorway as if Eva might be lurking.
She wasn’t, of course. She and Keith were reading her chapter before she went to sleep.
“What? There aren’t any children around, and I’m just telling you the truth. It’s too exhausting to do it very often, but I don’t mind an occasional one-night stand. But for now that’s about all I’m interested in.”
“I was saying something similar not too long ago,” Serena reminded her. “Minus the one-night-stand part.”
Taylor chuckled dryly. “You missed out on the fun part.”
“Oh no. I’ve got plenty of the fun part now.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. You and Keith are blissfully happy. I know that already. Just don’t do too much gushing or I’ll have to vomit up all this wine.”
Serena laughed and gave her friend a little tug on her sleeve. “Please don’t do that. I’ve got to go check on Eva anyway. It’s about her bedtime.”
Taylor flipped her hand in a wave as Serena left the kitchen, walking past the living room where about twenty of their friends were gathered and heading down the hallway toward Eva’s room.
The door was open, and she could hear Keith’s voice coming from inside. He was reading from tonight’s chapter in Eva’s book. Serena listened for about two minutes until the chapter was over.
“That was good,” Eva said. “Uncle Keith, why couldn’t I stay at the party with everyone else?”
“Because it’s your bedtime.”
“But a party is a special occasion. I could stay up late.”
“You did stay up late.”
“But I want to stay up later.”
“You can’t stay up any later. It’s your bedtime.”
“But I missed the party.”
“You were at the party for almost an hour. And I’m pretty sure you found it kind of boring.”
Serena was still standing in the hall, just outside Eva’s room, eavesdropping on this little conversation. She felt like hugging herself for no particular reason.
“It was boring. No one did anything but talk.”
“That’s what adult parties are.”
“You should plan games and stuff.”
“Once in a while adults will play games, but usually they just talk and eat. So it’s just as well it’s your bedtime and you had to leave.”
“But I wanted to stay. I could’ve sung a goodbye song like in Sound of Music.”
Serena almost choked in amusement at that comment.
“That would have been quite a scene,” Keith replied.
“It would have been a good scene. I’m a good singer.”
Eva then proceeded to serenade Keith with her rendition of the song in question—with only about half the words pronounced correctly.
Serena was almost doubled over with her silent laughter, and she couldn’t resist the temptation to see their expressions. So she stepped into the doorway to look.
Eva was grinning as she sang the last bars, clearly proud of herself.
Keith’s expression was utterly sober, but Serena could see the unexpressed hilarity barely hidden in his eyes. “That was very impressive,” he told Eva when she finished. “You are a good singer.”
“Told you. Can I go back out there and—”
“No, you can’t,” Serena said, coming in closer to the bed. “It’s already way past your bedtime.”
Eva drooped, but she didn’t appear to be truly upset. “I miss all the fun.”
“You miss very little of the fun. And you should thank Uncle Keith for missing part of the party so he could read your chapter with you.”
“Thank you, Uncle Keith,” Eva said dutifully, her eyes brightening. “I’m glad you’re marrying Mommy!”
“I’m pretty glad about that too,” he said.
Serena put a hand on his shoulder. She still loved that she could do that. Loved that he was hers.
“Because that means I get to be the flower girl!”
Keith chuckled. “Now that’s an expression of devotion if I ever heard one.”
Eva frowned slightly as she tried to puzzle that out. How much she understood, Serena didn’t know, but she must have understood some of it because she burst out, “I love you, Uncle Keith.”
Keith’s face tightened briefly and his voice was just a little rough as he said, “I love you too, Eva.”
Eva turned to look at Serena expectantly.
She had to clear her throat from some of the emotion, but she said, “And I love you too, honey.” She leaned over to give the girl a hug and kiss. “Now it’s time to turn off the lights.”