Surprise Delivery(109)

“Thank you for this,” I say, turning to Regina. “This has been the most amazing night of my life.”

With a mischievous twinkle in her eye, she gives me a sly grin. “I hope this comes in second to your honeymoon night.”

I laugh heartily, nearly doubling over. Regina is one of the most refined women I’ve ever met, but she still has a wit and a wicked streak that rivals anybody I know. And I love her for it.

“After all,” she winks. “I think Aurora needs a sibling.”

“Perhaps,” I say. “Duncan and I are still negotiating about family size. He wants a football team – offense and defense, but I’m not sure my body could manage that. I’m looking for something slightly under your average basketball team. Or perhaps just doubles tennis.”

It’s Regina’s turn to laugh and she grabs onto my arm, giving it a gentle squeeze. “As long as I get more grandbabies to spoil, I’ll be a happy woman.”

I take a sip of my champagne, my spirits lighter than they ever have been before. “Speaking of Aurora –”

“She’s fine. She’s with Desiree upstairs in the nursery. You don’t have a thing to worry about. Desiree is a wonderful woman,” she says. “No, tonight is all about you, dear. This is for you, so I want you to enjoy yourself and not have a care in the world.”

“Thank you, Regina,” I tell her. “I mean – that’s so insufficient. I don’t even know how to thank you.”

She turns and looks at me, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Just keep making Duncan happy,” she says. “You have brought about such changes in him, dear. I’ve never seen him more content, more satisfied, or more – alive, really. You have given him purpose and reason. You’ve given him happiness and love. For that, I can’t thank you enough. What you two have is special, Alexis. Hold onto it and never let it go.”

My cheeks flush and I can’t keep the smile off my face. “That’s my plan,” I say. “Because even though you say I’ve wrought changes in him, he’s wrought just as many in me. It’s something I plan on holding on to forever.”

She squeezes my arm again and smiles warmly. “That does my heart good to hear, Alexis,” she says. “You’re a good woman. The kind of person I always hoped Duncan would find.”

We stand together in silence for a couple of moments and I soak in her words. Regina has no way of knowing or understanding just how much her words mean to me. I can’t even fully express it. But she’s touched a chord deep within me and set off a bomb of emotions.

“How are my two best girls doing?” Duncan asks as he steps between us, an arm around each of our shoulders.

“Enjoying this amazing evening,” I say. “It’s like something out of a fairy tale, honestly.”

“Except, in this one, you don’t turn into a pumpkin at midnight,” he replies.

He and his mom exchange a warm expression and a wide smile. I really love that he’s so close with his mother. I think their relationship is a beautiful and amazing thing.

“Can I have everybody’s attention please?” a sudden voice echoes around the grounds.

I recognize the voice instantly. A cold chill runs down my spine as I look up at the stage. I feel Duncan’s body tense and feel the anger radiating off of him. He lowers his arms and both his mother, and I grab a hand, holding him in place.

Henry is standing on the stage, dressed in a tuxedo, holding a flute of champagne in one hand, the band’s microphone in the other.

“Who invited him?” Duncan growls, his voice low and tight with anger.

“I invited him, dear,” Regina says. “I thought it important he be here for such a momentous occasion.”

“Mom –”

She holds her hand up. “Just keep an open mind and hear him out,” she says. “I think you’re going to be surprised.”

“Yeah, I’ll believe that –”

“When you see it, I know,” Regina interrupts, then looks straight into Duncan’s eyes. “People can have a change of heart, you know.”

“They have to have a heart to be able to change it,” he snaps.

I stand there completely frozen, not sure what to do. If Regina is willing to give him a chance – and says we should – I know we should. On the other hand, knowing who – and what – Henry is, I don’t want him to ruin our special night.

Duncan and I exchange a look and I can see the same debate going on in his own head. I purse my lips and give him a small smile. I can tell he’s worried about what is going to fall out of his brother’s mouth and how it’s going to impact me.

“Let’s just wait for a minute,” I whisper. “Let’s hear what he has to say.”

He gives me a small nod. “If you’re sure.”

“Your mom is, so I am,” I say, earning a smile of thanks from her.

The crowd falls silent and everybody gathers around the stage. Duncan, Regina, and I stand near the back of the dance floor, watching what we all hope doesn’t turn out to be a train wreck. When the crowd settles down, Henry holds the mic up and starts to speak.

“I stand before you tonight to tell you all something many of you already know – I’m an asshole,” he says, drawing laughter from the crowd. “No, really. Some months back, I said and did some things that in retrospect, I’m not proud of. I made horrible assumptions, terrible judgments, and was pretty much an all-around asshole.”