Love Is Always Write Volume 4

work.
    Phillip's friends could wait a few minutes. They'd probably quiz Mellady and find out she was Emily's mother, but he didn't have a problem with that.
    He did have a problem with Emily's uncle acting as if he was…well. Emily's uncle.
    As Stefan finished squeezing lemons into the pitcher of Arnold Palmer, Greg came back into the kitchen and squatted next to the little leaning sling-back chair thing someone had given Emily. He tossed aside the head support and strapped her in. The baby began to whimper.
    Stefan wanted to go to her, but his hands were covered with lemon juice. "Pick her up. Pick her up!"
    "Naw, she's fine." Greg bounced the seat lightly with the heel of his well-polished leather shoe. His foot was less than six inches from her face. But far worse was the sight of Emily's face going red as she wailed.
    "Oh, no. She's screaming." Stefan rushed to the sink and washed his hands, but by the time he made it over to the seat, Emily's eyes had drifted shut.
    "See? I told you. Nap time," Greg said.
    Stefan stared down at the baby. She'd never managed to fall asleep without much bouncing and singing. "How did you know?"
    "She yawned a couple of times as I changed her. What can I do to help?"
    Stefan sent him out with the drinks and the last of the savory roll ups. He was arranging the toasted French bread pieces when Greg came back.
    "You got another couple of people out there. They want to know about Phillip, and Mellady's telling them he's fled the country."
    Stefan sank against the counter and groaned. "I guess I should be glad there won't be a lot of speculation. It's out in the open right away."
    Greg, supremely unconcerned, twisted around, looking at the tiled floor, the floor to ceiling cherry cabinets and the granite countertops. "This is a great kitchen. New, eh? Must have cost a bundle to build it."
    Was he fishing for money figures? Maybe he'd try to get cash in exchange for not making a fuss. Pay me, and I won't try to yank Emily from you.
    "I built most of it myself," Stefan said coolly. "So no, it didn't cost as much as you'd think."
    Greg's deep-set eyes widened. "Really? You do good work."
    "I was a carpenter and cabinetmaker right after college." Stefan crouched by Emily. "I'm afraid to move her and wake her up."
    "So don't move her. If she starts to wail, we'll hear her in the next room."
    No way. It would be too noisy with the guests now. What if she cried and he didn't hear her? Stefan scooped up the bouncy seat and walked into the dining room.
    Fifteen people stood in a circle. They burst into applause as he came in. Emily started, her eyelids fluttered, but she eased back and fell asleep again.
    Stefan gingerly put the seat on the billiard table, which he could see from the dining room, holding his breath as he lowered her, then straightened. Greg watched him with a grin. Well, at least he didn't resent the fact that Stefan totally ignored his advice.
    Stefan walked around the room filled with his friends and Phillip's coworkers, shaking hands, hugging people, explaining once again that, yes, Phillip wasn't going to be here.
    He wondered if he could wait until everyone had arrived to make a big announcement. I don't know where he is. I don't actually give a damn either.
    As he talked and laughed with everyone, he realized that was mostly true. He didn't miss Phillip. And neither did most of the people at the event. Except for Stefan and the work-buddies, Phillip didn't have a lot of friends at the moment. He'd make more fast. He was good at making them—and sloughing them off.
    Maybe sheer anger was the only thing that kept his sense of loss at bay, but Stefan doubted it. Phillip's timing was for shit, but he hadn't been wrong. He and Stefan had been over for a while. They hadn't even really been friends for the last few months. Only Emily had kept Stefan asking too many questions about their life together.
    He got through the hour before the ceremony with more ease than he'd have guessed. And then Danny, the officiant, rose to her feet and began the welcome to Emily.
    There was a flower, some salt, and other little items on Danny's tray. The service lasted for fifteen minutes as they dedicated Emily to love and the community. Cat and Janet were the godmothers and Jacob the semi-godfather. Everyone laughed when Jacob promised to be a good godparent once the kid got through puberty .
    It wasn't exactly the sort of christening Stefan had wanted—he preferred something in an actual