“We’ll be fine. It’ll be a good practice run for Chadwick.” Sam laughed.

“Marty can be a handful.” I frowned.

“I’m just going to sign some papers and then we can go fishing.” Sam smirked. “Unlike some people, I actually know how to fish.”

“Hey. I know how to fish.” Max lifted his fork and pointed at her. “It’s just been a while since I did it.”

“Right.” Sam shook her head. “The point is, you’re busy tomorrow and I’m not.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah! I miss being outside. I haven’t been out for anything fun in a while.” She dug into her food. “I’m getting antsy.”

“That’s true. She gets crabby when she’s been stuck doing desk work for too long,” Cathy added.

“If you’re sure.”

“Absolutely.” She nodded her head. “Please let me take him with me? It’ll be nice to have the company. Chadwick refuses to fish.”

Cathy snorted. “He loves to fish. Just not with you.”

“What?” Sam looked startled.

“He fishes when he goes on vacation. I’ve seen the pictures of him and Daniel.” Cathy took a sip from her water glass. “Deep-sea fishing.”

“You’re kidding.” Sam’s eyebrows were creeping up toward her hairline. “He refuses to fish with me.”

“That’s because you are competitive.” Alex walked into the room and kissed his wife on top of the head.

“So?” She scrunched up her nose.

“It’s not relaxing to go fishing with you. It’s a competition.” Alex sat down in an empty chair.

“That’ll be good for Marty.” I bumped him with my elbow. “He’s all about winning at things.”

“It’s on!” Sam winked at my son and he blushed.

If I’d been forced to guess what a dinner with the royal family would be like, I would have thought it would be formal, punctuated with talk about politics and serious issues. I would have been very wrong. It was as if there was an unspoken rule to leave work at the door. The only time they talked about serious issues was if it involved something they were passionate about.

I didn’t do a lot of talking. Partly because I was exhausted, but also because I was enthralled watching how this family worked. If I didn’t know better, I would think they were a normal family getting together for a weekly dinner. Cathy asked about Max’s art show in London, Max teased Alex about carrying a diaper bag, and Sam asked my opinion about the nursery.

“Did you co-sleep? I’m scared I’ll squish her.” Sam sighed. “Alex’s family all co-slept when they were little. He thinks I’m silly.”

“I didn’t really have much choice.” I shrugged. I’d been lucky to have a bed at all. My father had kicked me out as soon as he found out I was pregnant. I’d lived with my granddad until I could stand on my own two feet. “There are things you can buy to help with that. Little beds that go on your bed so you can’t roll over and hurt him. Or bassinets that go right next to the bed.”

“It must’ve been very difficult.” Sam looked at me with compassion-filled eyes. “But what an amazing job you’ve done.”

“Thank you.”

By the time dinner was finished, I could barely hold my eyes open. Marty was leaning against me, his little fingers wrapped around my arm as he fought to stay awake.

“Come on, big guy.” Max stood up from his seat and swooped Marty into his arms. “I think it’s time for bed.”

“I just need ’nother nap,” Marty mumbled into Max’s shoulder.

“Sure.” Max smiled at me over my son’s shoulder. “You look tired too.”

“Gee, that’s what every woman wants to hear.” I raised an eyebrow.

“Come on. I’ll tuck you in.” Max held a hand out to me with a mischievous smile.

“What did he say he was going to do to her?” Sam mock-whispered loudly.

“Tuck. He said he was going to tuck her in,” Cathy answered in a stage whisper.

“Ah.” Sam nodded her head. “I thought he said f—”

“Cut them some slack, ladies.” Alex didn’t bother to hide his smile.

“You guys are a riot.” I shook my head. “Pay back is a b— not good.” I shot a look at Marty and changed my phrase.

“Ignore them.” Max rolled his eyes. “Come on.”

“Good night.” I took Max’s hand and let him pull me from the room.

He didn’t say anything as he took us up the stairs and to Marty’s room. He set Marty down on the edge of the bed and undid his shoes. My heart did something funny as I watched him. The tender way he pulled the shoes off and talked quietly to Marty made my mind spin. I swallowed hard and tried to keep my emotions in check. To keep myself from staring I went to the dresser and pulled out a pair of pajamas.

“Brush your teeth, buddy.”

“But I’m so tired.” Marty fell back on the bed and covered his face with his arm. “I don’t wanna.”

“Marty,” I said his name in warning.

“Please? I can just brush them twice as much in the morning.”

“You could be done if you’d stop arguing with me.” I put my hands on my hips. “And change into your pajamas.”