Chapter 279

’m up first the next morning, but I decide to let Victor have a little more rest. I smile at him as I watch him sleep for a moment, wanting very much to reach out and rub my hand against the new stubble lining his jaw, but holding back. He’s been working so hard lately – he deserves this break as much as anyone.

So, as carefully as I can, I peel myself out of the bed and head for the closet, changing quickly into some soft, casual clothing and then pulling my warm robe on over top of it, knotting it tightly around my waist.

Then, moving slowly so the floors and door don’t creak, I duck out of the room and softly shut the door behind me. I’m eagerly thinking of my single cup of coffee as I start down the stairs. As much as I’m thrilled to be pregnant, I have to admit that I’m looking forward to the day when I can have my two morning cups and my two-o’clock refresher so that I’ve got –

I stop at the landing of the stairs, my mind going blank as I glance into the living room and see –

I can’t help myself then. I burst out laughing.

Rafe and Bridgette are naked on my couch, just a throw blanket casually tossed over their bottom halves as she sleeps soundly on top of his stomach, her head pillowed on his chest. At the sound of my laughter, though, both snap awake. Bridgette, gasps, coming to attention first, sitting up in shock and then pressing herself down quickly – realizing, of course, that she’s topless.

Rafe takes an extra few seconds, blinking into consciousness and then focusing his eyes on me, standing across the room laughing my ass of.

“s**t,” he groans, covering his eyes with his hand and letting his head fall back against the little flat decorative pillow. “Shiiiiiit.”

“Oh, don’t mind me!” I say, grinning from ear to ear and moving to the coffee machine. “I’ll be out of here in just a minute, and then you two can go back to sleep – or whatever you were doing –“

“Evelyn,” Bridgette groans, her face beet red and her eyes terribly embarrassed. “I’m so sorry – we were up talking – and then –“

“No need for details!” I sing out, still thrilled to have caught them. I’m not going to let Rafe live this down for years – maybe ever –

I turn my back to them, then, to let them have a little privacy as I gather the materials to start the pot of coffee. I’ve had my fun, after all, and I honestly don’t care that I’ve found them naked in my living room.

I have myself been caught in more compromising positions and have no room to judge. And beyond that, I’m happy for them – I think Rafe has a ways to go, but I do think that he truly loves her. I have faith, now, after everything that I’ve seen – all our conversations, all of those he’s had with Victor – that he’s moving towards real change and happiness.

Plus, I like Bridgette. I wouldn’t want anyone else as my sister-in-law.

I hear them moving around hurriedly behind my turned back as I press the buttons on the machine.

Then, when I hear the noise of quick footsteps upstairs, I call out to them. “You have about four seconds,” I say casually, “before you have a more critical audience.”

“s**t,” Rafe says again – not a very expansive vocabulary this morning, I think to myself, smirking – and then the boys come flying down the stairs. I glance into the living room to see Rafe pulling up the fly on his pants, though he’s still shirtless. Bridgette, however, is fully dressed and sitting on the couch, smiling at the boys as they go dashing into the living room.

“Auntie!” Alvin says, jumping onto the couch and into her arms. “Did you sleep over?!”

“Why are you naked?” Ian asks Rafe, putting his hands on his hips as he looks up at his uncle with a suspicious eye.

“Ask me again in fifteen years, kid,” Rafe murmurs, reaching out to ruffle Ian’s hair before looking around the floor for his shirt.

“I did sleep over,” Bridgette says, cuddling Alvin and smiling at him. “I wanted to have breakfast with you!”

“I will make you a cereal,” Alvin murmurs distractedly as I lean against the counter, breathing in the deep delicious scent of brewing coffee as I peer into the living room and watch them all. “The best bowl you’ve ever had.”

“I’m sure you will,” Bridgette replies, laughing as he takes both of her hands, spreading out her fingers and frowning. Then, Alvin looks up sharply and makes eye contact with Ian, clearly communicating mind-to-mind.

“Hey,” Ian says, taking up Alvin’s questioning thought and looking between Rafe and Bridgette. He moves closer to look at her hands as well, and then to the floor where their shoes and various pieces of extra clothing are scattered. “Where is it?”

“Where’s what?” Rafe mumbles, pulling his shirt over his head and looking down at his nephews. He runs a tired hand through his hair and I wonder precisely how much sleep they got last night. I smirk, thinking that no matter how much it was, it probably isn’t enough to handle an early-morning twin interrogation.

“The ring!” Ian says, spreading a hand out palm-up, as if it’s obvious. “If she is going to be our Auntie, where is her ring?”

Bridgette blushes, laughing, and puts her hand over her face as Rafe scowls at Ian before slumping down onto the couch next to her.

“One thing at a time, kid,” Rafe says, giving the boys a little glare. “Don’t rush me.”

“But you were engaged before,” Alvin points out, confused. “Why don’t you just –“

“Enough!” I call from the kitchen, grabbing the half-full coffee pot and quickly pouring two cups before replacing it on the burner. “Too early for the full cross-examination, Alvin!” The whole pot of coffee is not ready yet, but I feel like Bridgette and Rafe need this more than I do at this second. Adding cream and sugar to Bridgette’s, I carry the mugs into the living room.

“Thanks,” Rafe murmurs to me, both for the coffee and the ceasefire, giving me a little half smile.

“Anytime,” I say, giving him a warm smile as Ian climbs eagerly up on the back of the couch like a cat.

As I head back into the kitchen for my own cup, the boys continue their questioning despite my instructions.

“Where did you sleep?” Alvin asks, looking around. “The couch isn’t big enough for both of you.”

“That’s it!” Rafe cries, standing up in a rush, laughing and shaking his head at them. “I need a break from this crazy house!”

Bridgette laughs and falls backwards to lay comfortably on the couch as Rafe moves to the front door, pulling it open and striding out onto the front porch, shaking his head as he leans against the banister and sips his coffee in peace.

“He can’t handle us,” Alvin says conspiratorially to Bridgette, leaning against her with a smile. “But you get it. That’s why we like you better.”

“Its true,” Ian agrees, stretching himself across the top length of the couch. “We know he’s dad’s brother but we like you best.”

“I can still hear you!” Rafe calls through the open door, tossing the boys a rueful little glare that I know he doesn’t mean.

“They know!” I call out to him, laughing and walking to the foot of the stairs, two cups of coffee in hand.

I only have to wait there for a few seconds before I hear Victor’s footsteps in the upstairs hall.

“What the hell is going on down here?” Victor asks, bleary, as he comes down the stairs. I hand him his coffee cup, giving him a warm smile.

“The boys and I caught Rafe and Bridgette naked on the couch!” I say with a wide, cheerful smile, taking the first delicious sip from my steaming mug.

“Oh my god,” Victor murmurs, shaking his head and heading directly out onto the porch in stoic solidarity with his brother. They stand together in silence, sipping their coffee and looking out over the foggy morning lawn, embracing the quiet calm of each other’s company.

Laughing, I go and sit with Bridgette and the boys.

“Sometimes papa can’t handle our crazy either,” Ian says happily, peering out the window at the older generation of Kensington men.

“They can,” I say, sinking onto the couch with the three of them. “They just sometimes need a minute.”

Then I give Bridgette a little wink, welcoming her to the family, thrilled to have her as one of us.