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Chapter Eight

Luke

Everyone we invited to the party had already arrived by the time Alexa ca room were Dana and little James, Mr And Mrs Thorpe, John and Felicia, my father and Candace, Mara and Jan who had taken an Uber out to the beach house, refusing to letthem out despite my offer The three of them would stay with us for the entire weekend, and would be couished in bed and I worked in my office

"There she is," roup turned and saw Alexa "My beautiful daughter-in-law and her handso and kiss"

Alexa s him happily I think she felt heartened that he came to her defense after my mother treated her so badly Alexa went around to each of our guests and spoke with thein Pina Colada, which was her favorite, and we all sat together and got caught up on everyone's business while the caterer and servers got our dinner ready

Alexa held baby Ja our own baby One day, our two children could play, and I happily envisioned our two little faether

"It s, if you don't ?"

"It's a rilled learlic chicken, or a tenderloin Take your pick, or have all three," I said "Alexa and I couldn't decide, so we decided not to decide"

"Sounds good to me," Mr Thorpe said "I'll have soht Watchers points all week for this"

We all laughed, and I exa that he had, in fact, lost weight

"There's less of you than the last time I saw you, Mr T," I said

"I hope so," he replied, holding up his glass "I've been good for the past three ht loss My doc said it was either lose the gut or kiss the world goodbye So I'ut"

"Congratulations," I said and shook his hand "That's quite an acco up those points all week"

"I'm sure it will be"

I held James for a while, and watched Alexa with Candace, Mara and Jan, glad to see the old crew together They sat at a couple of sofas in one corner of the living rooht up with each other, while I entertained my side of the new family