Nel’s smile faltered. "No, Nique. We’re getting a surrogate. Can you just be happy for me? I’m about to give you a niece or nephew."
I looked at my twin, seeing the genuine excitement in his eyes. I wanted to scream about Harvey's double life, but after the daywe’d had, I didn't have the heart to tear him down. I swallowed my pride, forcing a small smile.
"Congratulations, Nel," I said. "I’m happy for you."
He beamed. I didn’t say anything else. I just looked at my brother and my mother sitting together in a villa in Mexico and thought that Grandma Anne would have loved this. She would have said something about God’s timing and made us all cry harder than we already had.
Chapter thirty-four
The Tide Turns
The bridal suite was a beautiful mess of silk robes, half empty champagne flutes, and the heavy scent of hairspray. London sat in the center of it all looking like a dream even before the dress was on while her glam team worked like they were prepping for the Met Gala.
Nel was hovering near the vanity adjusting his lapel in the mirror. He was the official flower man for the day, a role he had taken entirely too seriously.
“I’m just saying London,” I said, leaning back as the makeup artist finished my lashes. “When Heavyn grows up and sees thepictures and realizes you made Nel the flower man instead of her she’s going to be pissed.”
“Well, you can make her the flower girl for your wedding,” Nel teased, smoothing down his vest. “We all know you’re probably next down the aisle.”
“We’re taking things slow,” I reminded him, though the memory of floating in that jungle pool with Dex was still sitting somewhere warm in the back of my mind.
“Slow my ass.” Nel rolled his eyes. “The man already has you popping Plan Bs.”
London’s head snapped toward me, her eyebrows nearly hitting her hairline. “You got something you want to tell us?”
“I just told y’all I’m taking things slow,” I repeated.
Nicole laughed from the corner, shaking her head. “Girl you are so bad at lying.”
Paris looked up from her champagne glass, her voice careful. “I love you Nique and Dex is family. You know I want nothing but the best for both of you. I just need you to remember that Demi is always going to be there, which means Amina is always going to be there. That’s the part I want to make sure you’re ready for.”
“I told her the same thing,” Nel said from the mirror without even turning around.
“And I hear you both,” I said, meeting Paris’s eyes. “I know what I’m signing up for.”
Paris held my gaze for a second then nodded and picked her glass back up. That was enough for her. It was enough for me too.
I switched the subject back to the one person who could always bridge any gap in this room.
“Anyways back to what I was saying about Heavyn. London I still can’t believe she’s not here to see this.”
London pouted, her eyes welling up for the fifth time that morning. “Don’t start. I miss my baby so much it hurts, but with the way Grandma June’s arthritis has been acting up she just couldn’t handle the long flight. She was heartbroken to miss the wedding, so we decided the best thing was for Heavyn to stay back in Mobile with her. It gives Grandma some company while she rests and honestly Heavyn is in that phase where she thinks no is a suggestion. She’d be a handful in this heat.”
Paris let out a soft laugh. “I saw their gardening pictures on Facebook this morning. Even with her hands hurting that woman had Heavyn out there in the dirt. The baby was covered in more mud than the actual plants.”
“To be in her seventies Grandma June sure does know how to operate social media,” I said, shaking my head. “But at least Heavyn is being an angel for her. If she were here, she’d probably eat the flower petals instead of throwing them.”
The room laughed and the conversation drifted for a few minutes the way it does when women are getting ready together. Someone commented on London’s veil. Nicole asked who did Paris’s nails. The makeup artist hummed something under her breath while she worked on London’s liner. It was easy and comfortable. The kind of morning you want to hold onto.
Nel set down his champagne glass and turned away from the mirror. Something about the shift made the room go quiet without him having to ask.
“Since we’re all here,” he said, his voice dropping into that softer register he used when something actually mattered to him. “I want to make an announcement.”
London’s makeup artist paused her brush mid stroke. Nicole looked up from her phone. Paris set her glass down.
Nel let the moment breathe for a second, the way he always did when he wanted to make sure everybody was paying attention. Then he said it.
“Harvey and I are officially starting the process for a surrogate. I’m finally going to be a dad.”