"Lucas, darling, I'm so glad you could make it." A tiny woman who looks like she could be Meredith's sister approaches us.
Luke leans down and kisses her offered cheek. No hug. "Mother, this is my girlfriend, Sophie Tisdale," he says as he puts an arm around my waist.
Girlfriend? Unless I missed it, he did not introduce me to his father as his girlfriend, just Sophie.
"I told you I was bringing her."
"Yes, I'm so glad your friend could join us." She smiles the least genuine smile imaginable and shakes my hand. "I'm Mrs. Miller. Lovely to meet you."
Upon closer inspection I can see she's not as young as Meredith, obviously. She's definitely had work done though.
She turns back to Luke. "The Holletts have joined us with their lovely daughter Kara. Come say hello." We follow her to a seating arrangement in front of a sizable fireplace lit with a roaring fire.
Mr. and Mrs. Hollett are seated on a sofa with their daughter Kara. Mrs. Miller sits on the adjoining love seat, leaving Luke and I to sit in high-backed chairs. Mrs. Estes stops by to offer us drinks. This is the most formal, uncomfortable holiday ever and it's only just started.
"Kara has just moved back to Philadelphia from Los Angeles." Mrs. Hollett beams with pride. "She was just promoted to a director-level position here in Philadelphia." Mrs. Hollett talks for a bit about Kara's accomplishments in the world of charitable fundraising with Mrs. Miller agreeing to every word.
"Lucas, Kara is looking for a place to buy in the Rittenhouse Square area. Perhaps you can help her locate something suitable." Mrs. Miller beams, her eyes bouncing between Luke and Kara as if she's just come up with this idea. Is his mother trying to set him up with another woman right in front of me?
Kara glances at me briefly, looking mortified, before returning her attention to Luke's mother. "Mrs. Miller, that's such a kind idea, but I have a very qualified realtor."
"Well then, Lucas must take you to dinner soon so you two can catch up." Mrs. Miller smiles indulgently.
Wow. I'd be speechless if anyone was actually speaking to me. She really is trying to set Luke up on a date right in front of me. I glance at Luke. He's got a tumbler of water casually hanging from one hand while his other taps against the armrest. He looks completely relaxed, leaning back in the chair with his leg crossed, one foot resting on the opposite knee.
"Sure, Sophie and I would be happy to have dinner with Kara, Mother. We'll arrange something soon."
Kara shoots me another apologetic look. Luke never looks in my direction at all. I'm so confused. I'm excited he shot his mother down by including me in the theoretical plans, but this feels off. Why did he bring me to this train wreck?
"Oh, I think Sophie would be bored, don't you, Lucas?"
Luke sets his glass down with a thud that makes me jump. "Mother," he begins before being interrupted by a screech as a blur of pink tulle flies past.
"Uncle Luke!" A tiny girl wearing a pink party dress and sweet pink ballet flats launches herself onto Luke's lap. Her dark blonde hair is pulled into a ballerina bun and her tiny fingernails are coated in a sparkly pink polish. I'm already a little bit in love with her.
"Meredith, can you control her, please?" Mrs. Miller's perfect composure looks close to snapping.
"Bella, I think we're having too much fun for your grandmother." Luke stresses the word grandmother and I swear Mrs. Miller's botoxed mouth twitches.
Luke stands with Bella hanging from his neck and holds out a hand, gesturing for me to follow. Bella peers at me over Luke's shoulder as we head out of the living room. Her green eyes sparkle when she spots me. "Hi! I'm Bella! What's your name?"
"I'm Sophie." I smile back at her.
"Are you my family or are you my friend?" she asks me.
"Sophie is my friend," Luke interjects, responding for me. He kisses the top of her head and, turning his head, winks at me.
I'm fairly sure I ovulate right then and there.
We walk through the entry hall of the house and Luke asks Bella if she brought any toys to play with. She wiggles out of his hold and sprints down the hall with Luke and I following. We end up in a casual living area on the opposite side of the house with a view of the back yard. I can see a pool closed up for the season surrounded by more immaculate landscaping with a wooded area beyond that.
There's a TV in this room and a big sectional couch. Huge wooden beams cross the vaulted ceiling. It's almost cozy in here. There's a few toys strewn about and a pink blankie on top of the couch. I assume this was where Bella was napping when we arrived. Bella runs to the other side of the couch and scoops something off the floor.
"Found her!" She beams and cradles the toy to her chest as she walks it back to us. "This is my baby. Her name is Lili. You hold her?" This is directed at me.
"I'd love to hold her, Bella, thank you."
"You have to sit down," she tells me. "You can't hold the baby if you're standing."
I sit on the couch and cuddle the baby doll while Bella hovers over me, tucking a blanket around the doll and offering me her bottle so I can feed her. She offers a lot of tips about how I should handle the baby and I'm wondering if Luke's sister is having another when Bella climbs up on the couch next to me and wraps her arm around mine and snuggles close. I'm about to melt, that is how sweet she is being, when she pats my tummy with her tiny hand and asks me if I have a baby inside my tummy.
"No."
That came from Luke. If there's a way to say the word no that is more unyielding than the way Luke just uttered the one syllable I've never heard it. He pinches the bridge of his nose and addresses Bella.
"Bella Love Halliday, you are not to ask women if they have babies in their stomach. Do you understand me?"
"Mommy does." Bella giggles. "It's a see rat."
"What?" Luke is staring at both of us like we've lost our minds. I'm not sure what I've done, and Bella is three so I think Luke's the one who might need to reassess.
"It's a see rat! Mommy is having a see rat!"
"I think Bella means it's a secret." I look at Luke. For a guy who's as in love with his niece as he clearly is he could use a toddler dictionary.
"Yes! One of those! That is what Mommy is having. I no tell anyone," she adds, shaking her head.