Persephone hesitated over sipping more tea as her laughter emerged.
“I saw Belle sketching doll clothes,” he shared.
Surprise widened Persephone’s eyes. “She’s really doing it?”
“Pike says she’d already done at least eight pages before we left my folks place.”
“Wow…” Persephone gave a slow shake of her head before sipping her tea.
“Um…” It was Hill who squirmed a bit in his seat then. “Sabra gave us a room together- at her place um- I know my mom sprung that on you when we were back there. I didn’t want you to go through that again.”
“Well it was no hardship,” Persephone blurted a quick laugh even as her cheeks heated with memory over how much she and Hill enjoyed their shared accommodations.
“Was sharing a uh problem for you?” Her eyes were fixed on her tea mug.
“Have you lost your mind?” Was his immediate response. “I just wanted you to know,” he added once they’d enjoyed more soft laughter.
“Well thanks,” she looked at him then. She knew him well enough to see there was more on his mind.
“Hill?” She called when he moved as if to leave. “What is it?”
He settled. “I’ve been thinking about the girls...they um- they’ve got your last name, right?”
“Right.” Her confirmation was a whisper.
Hill nodded, a jaw muscle clenching noticeably. “That’s not gonna work for me, Sef. I um-I guess I’m old fashioned like that.”
“I agree,” Persephone set down her tea, moved toward the edge of her seat. “I just didn’t want to assume-”
“That one you could’ve assumed all day long,” he smiled then gave a sigh. “I want a say in- I want to know about everything that’s got to do with them. I need that.”
Persephone was nodding. “They need that.” I need that, she cleared her throat when the silent admission emerged in her head.
Hill reached for Persephone’s tea, handed it to her and then tugged a lock of her hair. “Gonna go finish talkin’ to Pike and Smoak,” he didn’t leave straight away, but watched his thumb where it stroked her cheek.
“Thanks Sef,” he gave her
hair another tug and then left.
***
Lake Tahoe, Nevada~
By early evening on the first night of the event, Sabra’s palatial lake house beamed with golden lights that vividly reflected off the surface of the water. The house was large enough to accommodate all the couples with rooms left over. The elders however, had already selected the adjoining guest houses for their accommodations. Roman and Imani would share the east house with Damon and Catrina Ramsey. The couples were excited about getting together under the same roof with their grandchildren.
The newest arrivals in the Ramsey clan would not be joining in the festivities however. Little Tahiri and Tendai Ramsey would spend the long weekend with their grandmother Roberta Lowery in Seattle. The girls’ parents, Quaysar and Tykira would make the trip with their boys Dinari and Dakari. Also in residence would be their cousin Quincee who had been among the first to arrive with her parents Quest and Michaela.
Among the other elders in attendance, the newlyweds Crane and Josephine, Felix and Georgia and the parents of the bride Westin and Briselle. Jasper and Carmen were expected to arrive later in the weekend. The four couples would be residing in the newly constructed west house.
Fernando and Contessa had ventured off for a much needed getaway following the fireworks of the yacht trip. Once they’d celebrated the birth of Quay’s and Ty’s twin girls, they’d headed for parts unknown. When Caiphus and SyBilla’s wedding date was confirmed, the couple set course for Tahoe and arrived just ahead of Fernando’s brothers.
Moses and Johari flew in with Yohan and Melina. Rounding out the travelers, were Carlos and Dena who arrived that evening with Taurus, Nile, Darby and Kraven. The DeBurghs had flown in from California following Darby’s business obligations there. They’d decided to visit a while with Taurus and Nile before heading back to Scotland.
Darby cheered the perfect timing when word
arrived of Caiphus and Bill’s confirmed wedding date. Darby knew
there was no way her husband would pass up the chance to see one of
his oldest friends.
~~~
“So how’s the royal life treating you, Lord DeBurgh?”
Kraven was still outside near the SUVs that had brought them in from the airport. He was wrapping up a call to check on things in Scotland when he heard a voice he hadn’t heard nearly as much of as he was once accustomed to.
Turning, he fixed Hill with a lopsided grin before tugging the man into a crushing hug. Laughter roared between them as they embraced and pounded hearty slaps to each other’s backs.
“Christ man, I thought we’d be on walkers before I saw you again!” Kraven’s jade eyes sparkled with surprise.
Hill’s dark gaze flashed with the same emotion. “Hell, at least we’d still be mobile!”
Sobering some, Kraven stepped back-one hand still clasping Hill’s shoulder as he gave him another once over. “Fucking good as hell to see you, friend. Before…everything was so crazy with Fern.”
Hill reached up to squeeze Kraven’s hand on his shoulder.
Kraven sent a quick look past Hill then. “Och man, I almost forgot-you need to meet Darby-”
“Already did. She told me you were out here.” Approval motivated Hill’s smile then. “How the hell did a flake like you land a woman that incredible?”
“She’s incredible and more,” Kraven sighed. “I still can’t believe she’s mine.”
“I know what you mean.” Something that hinted of melancholy settled into Hill’s gaze.
“I haven’t seen Persephone yet,” Kraven read what was on his friend’s face. “Is she still as-”
