Josh expected to be teased by either Oliver or JJ, but they were too busy to talk, never mind to tease. Any jealousy Ann might have felt disappeared when he reported he had a horseback riding lesson.

When she asked why, he explained, "She was too shy to invite me over in school, but she remembered I wanted to ride."

"That's cute. At least she didn't think she was buying an actual boyfriend."

Josh stopped from mentioning she was married. He disagreed with Ann's statement. If they were both available, it would have been a great first date. If he were planning it, he might have chosen wine and not peanut butter for lunch. He liked the bonus guest. Peanut was adorable.

He tried to convince Ann to have dinner with him on Thursday night. "Your loss. I'll be away until Sunday."

He always spent Oliver's birthday weekend in Newport. Gone were the days of drinking downtown and trying to pick up girls using their nicknames. He was the wingman and the third choice behind Ace and Duff.

He drove south towards Rhode Island on his own. Oliver had Emma and the baby. They'd arrive with the car loaded, which made no sense. Daphne was a small human and Alicia had a crib and baby paraphernalia at the house.

Alicia met him at the door as he carried his overnight bag. "Joshua, I thought you'd bring your girl."

"We're not at the weekend with the family stage." Not his family, but almost.

Ann wouldn't like the rule at the Newport house: no working, no talking about work. Josh had thought of himself as a workaholic, but since meeting Ann, he realized he wasn't. There was always work to do, but social plans trumped it. Oliver was just like him until he met Emma. Josh would run out the door at five if Ann was waiting for him. He'd been seeing her long enough to know he would never have what Oliver had with Emma.

"Are you ready for a drink?" Kenneth held up an expensive bottle of scotch.

"Oliver's not here."

Alicia stopped chopping vegetables. "By the time he got home and loaded the car, they made a late start."

Kenneth poured the amber liquid. "The birthday celebration is tomorrow night. Are you planning to golf?" Oliver hated golf, so he usually declined. "JJ will be here in the morning. We can play while Oliver goes to visit with Emma's father."

Emma grew up near Newport. Dex had met her father and stepmother a few times, including at their wedding. Oliver never complained about her family. Josh wondered if Ann would complain about his. She and his mother, Jill, were similar. His mother had her own career she took seriously. It was not a high-profile job, but it was important. She was the director of Special Education under the Commissioner in the Department of Education for the state. It was a long climb from being a teacher in her twenties.

Alicia smiled. "I'm looking forward to having Daphne for the weekend. When's your date with the McManus girl?"

Dex smiled at the memory. "Last Sunday. I drove to Dover so I could ride a horse."

"Did you like that?"

"I loved it. They invited me back. Did you know they use horses for therapy? I read about it after my visit. Mrs. McManus rides her horse."

"We attend an event to support Sarah's therapy charity. Sarah McManus has always been a strong woman. I never understood why her daughter was so shy."

"They've invited me back to ride."

Kenneth handed a heavy glass to Josh. "Does your agent ride?"

"No. She thought my date sounded horrible, and I left out the details."

Alicia raised her eyebrows. "Details?"

"A four-year-old and PB&J."

Kenneth's eyes grew wide. "She served peanut butter?"

Josh chuckled as he thought of Tansy's face. "Not exactly." He turned to Alicia. "If Daphne offered you PB&J in a few years, what would you do?"

Alicia smiled. "I'd eat it or at least a bite."

"Her mother looked embarrassed." With a lovely hue on her cheeks.

"Sounds like an enjoyable time. You could have done worse. There are a few women who expect favors for their donations. I'm worried about JJ."

"When's his date?"

"Tonight. I don't know Carolyn Douglas. I wonder why she chose my son."

Kenneth said, "We'll get the details in the morning."

Joshua felt at ease with the older Sumners. A thud interrupted their conversation.

"I think I've become a pack mule." Oliver appeared laden with bags.

"Joshua, help Oliver. Where's our baby?"

"Emma's waking her."

Josh went out the door Oliver had entered. Crying filled the air. Emma looked at him and sighed. "She's off schedule."

"Alicia will take over. I've come to carry things in."

"Will you take her?"

He had held her plenty of times, but her open mouth and wet eyes scared him. He wasn't afraid of Kendall, so how could he be afraid of a baby? When he reached out and took the small body in his arms, she stopped crying for a second when she looked up at him. Then she let out a louder cry, so he ran into the house.

"What did you do to my daughter?"

He shook his head. "Not me. Your wife."

"Come to Gran, baby girl."

Joshua happily passed her off and turned his head when he heard a loud thud.

"I'm okay."

Oliver smiled and ran to the door. No one else bothered. Emma tripped over cracks in the sidewalk. Both appeared carrying more bags. Meanwhile, Alicia had disappeared with the crying baby.

Josh asked, "Are you moving in?"

"No." Oliver answered, annoyed. Probably because he knew it was too much stuff but was too whipped to stop it. "Dad, are you pouring?"

After they disappeared to stow their belongings in their room, Oliver returned without Emma. Kenneth handed him a glass.

"Happy birthday, son."

"Thanks, Dad."

"Will the baby be okay?" Josh felt concerned.

Oliver nodded. "She slept in the car, so now she thinks it's nighttime. Emma will feed her, and she'll either zonk out or get a second wind."

"I bet a second wind?"

"Dad! You want to wager on my child?"

Josh smiled. "What are you betting?"

"Make is small. Twenty?"

The Sumners threw down wagers all the time. Josh loved being a part of it. "I'm in for her falling asleep."

Oliver smiled. "I'm in for both. A short nap and then a second wind and a long night ahead."

Josh felt like he'd been had, but it was okay. He'd be betting about golf scores, so he learned to carry cash. The best was when the cards came out.

The men enjoyed their scotch and worked at not mentioning work. They discussed baseball instead. Both women appeared.

"She's asleep."

Kenneth frowned. His wife didn't notice as she returned to the stove. Josh watched Emma move to Oliver's side. He put his arm around her and drew her in. They fit as if they were one person. Two parts making a whole. He wanted to be a part like them.

"Josh was telling us about his date."

Oliver turned him. "I was so busy this week I never asked. Where did you take her?"

"Nowhere. She invited me for a riding lesson."

Oliver laughed. "You and horses. You must have been in the cavalry in another life."

Emma looked excited. "Do you like her?"

"I'm dating, Ann."

Emma waved her hand. "That's not going to last."

Josh frowned. "Why do you say that?"

"Because she's not right for you. You're fun, and she's all work. She ignored me, thinking I'm powerless."

Oliver gazed at Emma. "That was a mistake. You hold all the power."

Joshua turned away from the ogling. Oliver was right, his future with Ann would be short if she didn't get along with Emma.

Oliver took Josh's mind off Ann. "So how was the shyest girl in school?"

Joshua thought about how to answer. Was her rocky marriage private?

"She's okay."

Alicia added, "Her father passed recently and unexpectedly. I attended the funeral. I met her husband."

Curiosity got the best of Josh. "What's he like?"

"Glossy. I overheard him working the room for some business deal or another. Meanwhile, his wife looked devastated with her daughter clinging to her. She acted as shy as her mother."

Josh smiled. "Tansy wasn't shy with me."

Oliver laughed. "I guess she remembered your tutoring."

Josh looked at his friend's goofy smile. "What?"

"Zygotes and gametes."

Josh remembered the reproduction chapter. He had been inexperienced and Oliver teased him.

"Oliver, don't tease poor Joshy."

Oliver frowned when his wife defended his best friend. Just as they sat down to dinner, crying came through the baby monitor.

"I'll get her." Oliver stood. A moment later, the crying stopped and Oliver's voice came through. "There's my girl. Do you have a smile for Daddy? You have a stinky diaper don't you."

Emma snickered. "He volunteered."

Oliver murmured, and Daphne giggled.

Kenneth said, "He earned himself forty dollars."

Emma shook her head. "You bet on my daughter?"

Alicia scoffed. "You know they'll bet on anything."

Joshua laughed. He had brought a lot more than twenty bucks.