Summer on Blossom Street (Blossom Street #6)(101)
“We won!” Phoebe cried jubilantly. “The jury came back with their decision less than half an hour ago.”
“Was there ever any doubt?” Hutch asked, raising his eyebrows.
“You’re joking, aren’t you?” Phoebe said to Hutch. She turned to me. “I wish you could’ve seen Clark’s face when I walked into the courtroom this afternoon. He assumed I was there for him. ”
I’d been following the case in the news and getting updates from the local TV station. In my view, Clark Snowden, the plaintiff ’s attorney, was exceedingly full of himself. He seemed to pose for the camera and struck me as both overconf ident and egotistical. Even if the case itself hadn’t been so ridiculous, his attitude alone would have swayed my opinion. I knew from talk around the shop that others shared my feelings. I’d recently learned how Phoebe was linked to Clark, so of course I’d studied him on TV with avid interest.
“Phoebe’s presence shocked him,” Hutch was saying. Her eyes gleamed with exhilaration. “When I walked over and sat behind Hutch, Clark didn’t know what to think.”
“He did once I told him you’d agreed to marry me.”
“Congratulations!” I said, but I could see they were bursting with news from the trial and I was anxious to hear what had happened.
“It’s a good thing you waited to show Clark your engagement ring until the recess—otherwise I’m betting the judge would’ve expelled him.”
Phoebe agreed with an exaggerated shudder. “I thought he’d start frothing at the mouth.” She went from jubilation to a moment’s sadness. “I do feel bad for his father, though. This was yet another humiliation for Max. Clark’s performance in the courtroom today was nothing to be proud of.”
“Yeah, his closing argument was as weak as any I’ve ever heard,” Hutch said. “It’s no wonder the jury decided in my favor.”
“I’d like to see anyone try and take my chocolates away,”
Margaret said, stepping up to join us.
I would, too. Clark Snowden was a fool if he expected to come between a woman and her chocolate. Having seen both men in action during the trial snippets on TV, I was f irmly convinced that Phoebe had made a wise choice in Hutch. I loved seeing them together. They seemed a good match in so many ways, and I was thrilled to discover I’d been right in my assumptions of a romance between them.
“We came over to tell you the news and congratulate you, too,”
Hutch said. “This seems to be a day for celebrating.”
“It is.” Brad invited Hutch and Phoebe to join us for a celebratory lunch. Unfortunately, Susannah had to get back to the shop. When the rest of us entered the restaurant, Brad explained to Mr. Wong, the proprietor, why we were there. In short order we were ushered into a private room.
Mr. Wong said we wouldn’t need menus, and before long, plates and chopsticks were distributed and tea was poured.
“To family.” Brad offered a toast, lifting his teacup. Everyone around us raised theirs.
“We have an announcement,” Jordan said, smiling fondly at Alix, who actually blushed.
“I’m pregnant,” she said. “Jordan and I are having a baby.”
“Congratulations!” everyone yelled.
“To enlarging families,” Brad offered next.
“We have an announcement, too,” Hutch said, taking Phoebe’s right hand in his.
“You’re pregnant, too?” Margaret asked, sounding shocked.
“Not yet,” Phoebe said with a laugh. “But I hope to be soon after Hutch and I are married. The wedding’s in October.” She held up her left hand to show off her diamond engagement ring.
“Can I be the ring-bearer?” Cody asked.
“Cody,” I whispered, “you should wait to be asked.”
“Oh! If Cody’s the ring-bearer, can I be the f lower girl?”
Ellen squealed.
“Ellen!” Anne Marie said, obviously embarrassed.
“It’s okay if I’m not,” the nine-year-old assured Phoebe. “I want to be in another wedding, but if I’m not in yours I’ll be in Mom’s.”
Anne Marie’s face reddened. “Ellen!”
“Is your mother getting married?” Brad asked in a teasing voice. Ellen blew on her tea and sipped it carefully. Then she nodded.
“Only we don’t know who she’s going to marry yet. There’s my dad and then there’s Mel. But I like my dad better.”
“I think it would be a great idea for both of you to be in the wedding,” Phoebe told the children. She spread out her arms to include everyone at the table. “I want you all there.”
“Guess what? Our wedding cake’s going to be chocolate,”
Hutch said.
The group laughed.
The food started to arrive then, platter after platter brought by an entire staff of waiters. As the dishes were set on the table, I saw that Casey had gone very still. She sat next to me and I reached for her hand.
“Is something wrong?” I leaned close to ask her.
“No.” She shook her head. “I was just wondering if I’d always feel this way.”
“What way?”
She pressed her free hand over her heart. “Happy,” she whispered. “Really, really happy.”