I’m about to say.” She took another big breath and shouted, “Tiny and I are having a baby!”
The room was silent for a speck of a second, then erupted with well-wishers shouting well wishes. Gloria giggled and bobbed, and waved her hands, shushing them. “Wait, there’s more. There’s more. This dear man of mine . . .” She gazed lovingly at Tiny, all three hundred muscle-bound pounds of him, and dabbed at her tears. “When I told Tiny that he’d knocked me up and was going to be my baby daddy, well, this handsome fella didn’t hesitate for a second. He dropped right down on one knee and he said, ‘Glo-glo, baby, what the hell. Let’s get hitched.’ So, we’re getting hitched!”
The second round of cheering was even louder and more raucous than the first.
“So, if you’re not busy Friday after next at four o’clock,” she shouted over the din, “my fiancé and I will be over at the courthouse making it all legal-like, and then we’ll be having a reception someplace. I don’t know where yet, but you’re all invited.”
Laughter and cheering circulated around the bar once more, bouncing off the walls and ceiling. Shots were poured, toasts were made. The sadness of Bridget O’Malley’s passing gave way to the celebration of a new family being formed. I felt that pesky pang of longing as I saw the way Gloria and Tiny gazed into each other’s eyes. I wanted what they had. Well, not exactly what they had, because those two were unique in some rather unflattering ways, but I did want to experience the kind of love they obviously felt. Someday.
I smiled over at Leo as he passed a tray of drinks to Clancy. “That is a match made in some weird alternate universe heaven,” I said. “But I think they’re going to be very, very happy.”
“I hope so,” Leo said, shaking his head. “But that is going to be one huge baby.”
Chapter 7
Leo and I had agreed to meet at Tate’s Tavern on the Bluff at seven that evening, giving me plenty of time to get home and waste half an hour agonizing over what to wear. I wanted an outfit that would say fun and flirty, but not too flirty. Nothing that would say I was trying too hard, but not something that would say bookish civil servant, either. I thought about calling Emily for advice but scrapped that idea pretty quickly. She’d have me in something strappy and low-cut, and that just wasn’t me. Last time I took her advice, I ended up barefoot, so I settled on jeans that made my butt look good and a flowy red shirt that I’d bought ages ago and never really had a reason to wear. I put deodorant on three times, brushed my teeth twice, then reminded myself that I was being utterly absurd. It was just dinner. Dinner was all I wanted. And besides, he’d only asked me because he didn’t know anyone else.
The walk to the restaurant would’ve only taken about fifteen minutes, but the wardrobe decision had taken more time than I’d realized, and so, like most islanders would do, I hopped on my bike and arrived on the dot. During the summer tourist season, Tate’s was always crowded, but as I entered the room, I discovered only a few dozen diners. I spotted Judge Murphy and his wife at one table, and Link and Patty Sommerville at another. I waved and kept going because I’d also spotted Leo over in a corner booth. Good choice. We’d have a sliver of privacy there.
Leo stood up as I approached, and there was an awkward second where I wondered if we were going to hug or something, but since I’m not much of a hugger, I just smiled and kind of fumbled with my purse as I slid into the seat.
“You look nice,” he said.
“Thanks, so do you.” I laughed a little too breathlessly and decided to blame that on the exertion of biking here, and not on the fact that he did look nice. Nothing special about his outfit. Just jeans and a striped collared shirt, but still. Mmmm, nice.
A previous student of mine brought menus to our table and offered up a broad smile.
“Good evening, Miss Callaghan. Sir. Can I get you something to drink?” She gazed at Leo for a long second, then all but winked at me. Cheeky girl.
We ordered wine and made small talk while we looked over the menu.
“That’s quite