Foxy.”
The room quiets down before roaring to life with congratulations.
Noah plucks me out of Everett’s embrace. “We’re having a girl?” The spark in his evergreen eyes is something I don’t have the guts to stick a pin in.
“Maybe?” I shrug.
Mayor Nash belts out a Santa-worthy ho ho ho. “I’m having a granddaughter! I’ll crack the champagne.”
Carlotta holds up a finger. “Now, now, that’s my private reserve. We don’t want to lose our heads just yet. The head witch went up against a lesser witch who thought Lot Lot was having a baby boy that belonged to the man of the gavel.”
Everett’s chest puffs with pride. “A son.” His blue eyes penetrate mine, and my heart suddenly swells with emotion at the prospect.
Keelie looks my way. “If you have a boy, you should plan ahead to name him after his father.”
“I agree.” Lainey gives a frenetic nod. “That will cut your naming the baby chore list in half.”
“Oh!” Mom waves my way. “If it is a girl, feel free to call it Miranda. I don’t mind one bit sharing my name with my darling new granddaughter.”
“Who are we kidding here?” Carlotta’s expression grows stern. “We’ve got two generations of Carlottas going strong. Now that’s a streak we don’t want to break anytime soon. You’ll name her Carlotta. Don’t worry. We’ll give her a cutesy nickname like your mama did for you, just to mix things up.”
Evie does a little hop. “We can call her Carlie or Charlie, or Charlotte. Heck, we can call her Tilly or Milly, Buffy or Tuffy. None of the girls at my old boarding school used their real name.”
Lainey nods. “Josie will probably never go by Josephina.”
My shoulders hike a notch. “All things to consider, I guess.”
A knock erupts at the door and Evie skips that way.
Noah leans in. “Please tell me there wasn’t a noose involved.”
“Or flaming weeds,” Everett demands.
My goodness, have I mentioned how hot this man is in that flannel and jeans?
“There was a little of both,” I’m sad to assure them.
A round of cheery hellos explodes, and we turn to see Lily coming in with her on-again, off-again boyfriend Seven, a beefy bouncer once hired by Noah and Everett to protect me, and the two of them each has an armful of pink boxes from my bakery.
“We brought dessert!” Lily chimes, and the room lights up with another round of cheers.
Naomi, Keelie’s twin, walks in right after, brandishing a brown bottle in her hand. “And I brought the whiskey!”
Carlotta chuckles. “You always were my favorite niece. Let me take that from you.”
Before I can greet them, there’s another knock at the door and Noah heads over and opens it.
This time it’s not such a friendly face—not that Naomi has ever been all that friendly to me, but still nothing compares to this torment.
It’s not one but two terrible socialites, Cormack and Cressida.
“Ladies?” Noah looks bewildered by their presence. He glances to Everett. “Did you order up a double helping of chaos?”
Everett takes a measured breath. “Not unless I was having a brain malfunction.”
“Oh hush, you.” Cressida stomps her way inside with a thick silver leather coat and matching thigh-high boots. “I need to see for myself the humble abode my daughter will be living in.”
Evie retches—on purpose, I’m assuming. “Are you, like, stalking me, Cressi-duh?” She looks my way. “There’s one name I won’t approve of for my new baby sister.”
Cressida pretty much dropped Evie off at boarding school and left her to rot. Last September, we celebrated Evie’s sweet sixteen, and it was the very first birthday party she’s ever had. I have a feeling this will be her first Christmas celebration with family, too.
“Baby sister?” Cressida looks amused. “I’ll send over some infant couture and Louis Vuitton bags. I can’t have Everly’s sister in rags and cheap bags.”
Everett opens his mouth to protest, and I lift a hand.
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” I mutter his way.
I can’t help it. I’ve been having a serious hankering for a few baby gifts, and if Cressida wants to toss a few clothes and purses my way, I’ll be the last to protest.
Cormack bucks with a laugh as she strips off her coat, showing off a red lacy dress that looks more negligée than it does street-worthy.
“It seems Cressie and I have interrupted a party. We won’t stay long.” She winks at Noah. “We could head straight to your place afterwards, Big Boss. I hear a vacancy just opened up in your bedroom.”
“Fat chance,”