Calamity Rayne Knocked Up (Calamity Rayne #4)

18. Aunt Bethany, would you like to say grace?

Aunt Bethany, would you like to say grace?

D inner was a little too somber for my liking. The china was gorgeous, and the tablescape was over the top, but there was a shroud of awkwardness cloaking the festivities. This was probably on account of all the unnecessary formalities and how sleepy some people were from drinking since dawn.

There was no normal chatter. No pass the potatoes or this year I’m grateful for… Unfamiliar servants served the food in silence. The music was some orchestra crap instead of Judy or Bing or even Mariah. And why the hell did I have five forks at my place setting?

“Where’s Marta?” I asked when I realized she wasn’t seated at this cold Citizen Cane table .

Remington frowned. “She’s eating with her family, Meyers.”

But we were her family. “Isn’t this table big enough for her and Raoul to join us? They’re only two little people.”

Some unfamiliar guests glanced up from their plates as another course was butlered about the table. Remington’s grip tightened around his spoon. I met his stare head-on, still pissy with him about his behavior the night before.

I glanced at Odette. She wasn’t her usual pleasant self today, and I worried she might have figured out what Remington was up to at the party. He was such a fool. The man didn’t have a clue how to keep a good woman.

“So,” my mother said, trying to break the chill in the room. “Did anyone watch the game today?”

I jumped on the distraction. “I watched the first quarter.”

Xander met my stare and smiled. “Do you like football, Rayne?”

“I like big men in tight pants.”

Seraphina laughed, and Hale scowled. Barrett glared suspiciously at Xander.

I shrugged and stuffed a sauteed bean in my mouth. “No other football fans at the table?”

Hale cleared his throat and wiped his mouth. “We have a game planned for tomorrow in the west field.” He cleared his throat. “Hopefully, my pants are tight enough for you.”

My grin widened. “You guys are playing football?”

“It’s tradition,” Barrett explained. “The winner gets Leilani Falls.”

I frowned. “Who’s Leilani, and why is she falling?”

“It’s a private island,” Hale explained. “The winning team gets it for the year. Sort of like a timeshare.”

“Well, that’s neat.” I liked islands. “Are you any good? I’m assuming the island’s nice.”

“It’s gorgeous,” Phina said. “Just outside of Bora Bora. Remember the year we had it? That was the best winter.”

“The year you were caught with the Tahitian groundskeeper?”

“Shut up, Barrett.” Phina smiled nervously at Xander, but he showed no reaction to Barrett’s comment. “You’re such a jerk,” she hissed at her brother .

My dinner was delicious, but it bothered me that Marta wasn’t here for me to thank her. “Excuse me.” Like the wave at a baseball game, all the men stood when I stood. “Oh. I, uh…” I hitched a thumb over my shoulder. “I just need to check on something in the kitchen.”

“What is it, Meyers? One of the servants will get it for you.”

“It’s okay.” I left my napkin on my seat and left the formal dining room before anyone else could stop me.

When I pushed through the kitchen door I was greeted by laughter that quickly silenced. Raoul looked up and Marta’s smile shifted to concern. “Ni?a, do you need something?”

Hugo was eating with them. So I sat down. “I just wanted to see how you were doing.”

“Your dinner is okay?”

“My dinner is flippin’ delicious, Marta. I’m already fantasizing about the leftovers.”

She hugged me tight and kissed my head. “Good! You’re finished already?”

“No, but you guys were in here, and I wanted to say hi.”

The three of them looked at me like I was crazy.

“Rayne?” Hale appeared in the doorway and frowned. “What are you doing?”

“I was just checking on Marta and Raoul and Hugo.”

Marta dropped her gaze, but the men watched Hale. “Your dinner’s getting cold.”

The seating arrangement bothered me more than anyone else, including Marta. I sighed. Sometimes, I hated etiquette.

Kissing Marta’s dark hair, I hugged her again. “Thank you for cooking for me. The bean is very happy.”

She patted a loving hand on my belly. “ De nada, Ni?a. Me alegro que el bebe este feliz. Now, go back where you belong.”

I followed Hale back to the dinner table. When I entered the dining room, all the men stood again, and I blushed. Getting up sure caused a stir around here.

My mom kept the conversation going at Remington’s end of the table while the men mainly discussed social policy and upcoming land interests. By the time I finished eating, I was ready for sweatpants and a blanky, but this group had other plans.

The men went to the parlor for more cordials and cigars. I sent Hale along, because Elara was with his mom and I could tell he wanted some manly time after baking pies all afternoon. The smell of smoke was seeping through the house and making me nauseous, so I took a blanket and moved outside to the front porch, where the air was fresher.

Rocking on the porch swing, I leaned my head back and sighed. The sky was a perfect golden glow at sunset and I was too comfortable to move inside once it got dark.

The glowing cherry of a cigar blazed in the distance, and I sat up, realizing I wasn’t alone. A plume of smoke drifted through the air and Xander appeared.

“We have to stop running into each other like this.”

I smiled tightly. “I needed some air. The smoke was getting to me.”

He glanced at his cigar and pinched off the tip, extinguishing it. “Do you mind if I join you?”

Like there was a polite way to decline. “Not at all.”

He settled next to me on the porch swing, using his long legs to rock back and forth slowly.

I lasted about twenty seconds in the awkward silence. “How was your afternoon with Seraphina?”

“Hale’s sister is very nice.”

“She’s single, you know?”

“She made that very clear.”

“You don’t think she’s attractive?”

“I think she’s beautiful. But she’s not my type.”

“What’s your type?” Realizing that my question could be misconstrued as interest, I quickly said, “I mean, who do you normally date?” That was no better. “What do you like? Gah, I’m terrible at small talk.”

He laughed and glanced down at my stomach. “Let’s just say I have very particular taste.”

The front door opened, and Odette came out holding a suitcase. I abruptly stood. “Odette, are you leaving?”

“Rayne. I didn’t see you there. I’m… Yes. I’m going home.”

I had so many questions, like, would I ever see her again? “Are you coming back?”

She laughed, the sound humble and cold. “No. I’m too wise for foolish games at my age.” She glanced at Xander. “You are too. Careful of that one.”

I didn’t look at Xander to see if he took offense. I crossed the porch and hugged her tightly. “I’m so sorry things didn’t work out.”

“So am I, but I’m not surprised. He’ll never change. I knew that coming into this.” She cupped my cheeks. “I wish you and Hale all the happiness in the world. Send me pictures when the baby’s born.”

“I will.”

She kissed my cheek, and then she was gone. I wanted to cry.

“You okay?” Xander asked as her taillights faded in the distance.

I sighed, my heart heavy with disappointment. “She was one of the good ones.”

“If that were true, he never would have kissed someone else. Men like Remington know how to hold onto a good thing.”

“Men like Remington— ooh.” My hand went to my stomach, and I gasped when the baby kicked. “Oh, my God.”

Xander stood. “Should I get Hale?”

“Yes.” It happened again and I gasped louder. “No. I’ll go.” As soon as I stepped inside, Hale stepped out of the parlor in a cloud of stale smoke.

“I was about to get some air?—”

I grabbed his hand and pressed it to my belly. “Feel! ”

His breath caught. “Oh, my gosh!” He laughed, then brought his other hand to my stomach, his smile stretching across his beaming face. “Incredible.”

“It must be all the spicy food I ate at dinner.”

“It’s something. What does it feel like to you?”

“Sort of twitchy and tumbling, soft like butterflies, but somehow more. Kind of like I’m driving over a steep hill.”

He met my stare, and we shared a smile, our expressions one of complete awe. “I love you,” he said leaning in for a kiss.

“I love you too.” I covered his mouth with my hand. “Did you smoke?”

“No.”

“Okay then. Kiss away!”

He gathered me in his arms and pressed his lips to mine. “Mmm.” He was such a good kisser. As soon as he let me go, I asked, “Is your father smoking?”

“We’re not doing this now, Rayne. It’s Thanksgiving. You’re off the clock.”

But Remington’s heart was on the clock. “Hale?—”

“No, Rayne.”

I huffed. “Fine. I’ll kill him tomorrow.”

“Come on.” He took my hand. “I’m taking you home to bed.”

“I need my coat.”

“I’ll get it. You warm up the car.” He handed me the keys and went to find our coats.

When I turned, the dark cherry of a cigar glowed on the other side of the window that framed the door. Xander watched form the shadows. How long had he been staring at us? He had to know I saw him.

Refusing to be intimidated, I walked back outside. “Goodnight, Xander.”

“Good night, Rayne. I’ll see you in the morning,” he said as if purposely ensuring I thought about him after this.