Mason spotted the twins first, a boy and girl who looked to be just a little bit older.
“You must be Grace and Mason.” The twins’ mother had one of the friendliest smiles Grace had ever seen. “I’m Sophie, and this is Jackie and Smith.”
Mason was already wriggling to get down with the twins. “Looks like he wants to play.”
“I’ve set up an area over here for the kids with some toys so that it will be easier for us to keep an eye on them.”
Of course, Mason made a beeline for a colorful little drum. Jackie and Smith picked up their own little instruments, and soon the three of them were delightedly playing a song together.
“Looks like they’ve decided to form a band,” Grace joked.
“I should probably have left some of these noisy toys at home. But my kids really love them.”
“So does Mason. The first time he met Dylan’s mom, he immediately went to town playing drums in her kitchen with the pots and pans.”
“Claudia told me how much she adores watching him.”
“She’s really great with Mason. Like the grandmother he never had.” Grace hadn’t realized the words were coming until she said them and flushed hot at the insinuation that Claudia would be playing that role with Mason soon. It was too close to everything her ex had accused her of when she’d told him she was pregnant. But Grace wasn’t with Dylan so that she could become a part of his very important and wealthy family. She was with him because he made her happy. “I didn’t mean to imply that she…or that I...”
Grace finally stopped trying to take her foot out of her mouth when she realized Sophie was grinning like crazy.
“After chatting with Claudia about you and Mason, I’m sure she’d be thrilled if you did imply it! But before I make you any more uncomfortable by basically trying to hogtie you and your son to Dylan, how about I wave over one of the catering staff for a couple of glasses of champagne?”
It was barely late afternoon, but Grace knew a little bubbly would go a long way toward easing her nerves. “I’d like that.”
“I heard you’re a writer?”
“Yes, I write freelance articles. That’s how I met Dylan—I’m writing a piece on the heart of a sailor for Sailing Magazine.”
“I’m a librarian in San Francisco, so I’ll make sure we have extra copies on hand for our patrons.” A pretty brunette walked over with a small baby in her arms, and Sophie quickly made the introductions. “Megan, this is Grace. Her son, Mason, is playing drums with Jackie and Smith.”“It’s so lovely to meet you,” Megan said.
“You, too. Your baby is gorgeous.” Grace moved closer so that she could better see his little face. “How old is he?”
“Logan is six weeks.” Megan gazed down at him, love radiating from every part of her.
Just then a lanky blond girl who had to be around eight or nine ran over. “Mom, everyone is snarfing up my cupcakes like crazy! I told you I should have made more.”
“Next time, we’ll pack the car as full as we can,” Megan promised. “Honey, this is Grace. Grace, this is my daughter, Summer.”
“You’re Dylan’s new girlfriend, right? I’ve never seen him with a girl before. Are you going to marry him?”
Megan’s eyebrows went up. “Summer, you can’t say that to someone you’ve just met!”
“But Brooke and Tatiana were telling everyone that they’ve never seen Dylan so head over heels for anyone. Doesn’t that mean they’re going to get married?” Before her mother could reply, Summer said, “Oh yum, they just brought out tea sandwiches. My favorite!”
“I’m really sorry about that,” Megan said with a little shake of her head. “She tends to speak without thinking sometimes, and she was just so excited that one of her favorite cousins is finally happy.”
“Your daughter is great. You don’t have to apologize to me for anything.” In fact, Grace was thankful for what Summer had said, because now she knew exactly what everyone was saying. And while it scared her a little to think that Dylan had made his feelings for her that clear to his family, it also warmed her to know how special she was to him.
“Maybe I could make it up to you by letting you hold Logan?” Megan offered.
Grace eagerly held out her arms for the little baby wrapped in a soft, blue-and-green striped blanket. “Mason isn’t even a year yet, but it seems like forever since he was this small. I’ve forgotten how tiny they are.”
“And I’ve forgotten how much they eat and poop,” Megan said with a laugh. “Funny how quickly our brains erase that, isn’t it?”
It was true, Grace thought. For all the sleepless nights she and Mason had had in those early months, what stuck with her were the smiles, the cuddling, how much fun they had playing together, and the sweet way he always fell asleep halfway through story time.
An adorable toddler led a pregnant woman toward them by the hand. “Smith! Jackie!” The little girl waved at Sophie’s kids. “I’m here!” A few seconds later she was giving each of the other kids a big hug, including Mason, who clearly loved being with them all. Grace laughed along with everyone else at the little girl’s exuberant and very sweet greeting.
“I’m Chloe,” the pregnant woman said, “and that whirlwind is Emma.”
“I’m Grace. It’s nice to meet you.” Grace was glad she was meeting the women who were parents first, because at least it gave her something in common with them. If she had met one of the other famous Sullivans first, she would have been a lot more nervous.