“All I know is that she stood right in front of me and cut up her credit cards,” Jason said.
“All of them?”
“Every one,” Jason confirmed. “Believe me, I checked. She’s out of the shower now. Want to speak to her?”
“Sure,” Seth said. “Good luck, pal. I mean that.”
“Thanks. Here’s Laura.”
“Hi,” she said hesitantly.
“I am so proud of you,” Seth said. “What finally got through to you?”
“The lawyer told me what you’d said. I know it was nothing you hadn’t said before, but he explained that he was starting to see that I didn’t stand a chance of winning. He asked me if I hadn’t lost enough without paying him a fortune just to lose in court. I guess I needed to hear it from an objective outsider, or maybe even more from someone I was paying to be on my side. I weighed winning against getting Jason back. It was no contest.”
“How come you haven’t told Meredith you’re dropping the suit?”
She hesitated, then admitted, “I don’t want to listen to her gloating.”
“Laura, she’s not going to gloat, any more than I am. We’ve both always wanted what’s best for you. Sounds to me as if you finally have it.”
She laughed. “I really do, don’t I? Who knew I didn’t need all that stuff to be over the moon? All I need is Jason. Now, tell me about you.”
“Do you realize this is the first time you’ve asked about what’s going on in my life in months?”
“I know. I know. Selfish me. But I’m asking now.”
Seth filled her in on his plans to marry Abby. “She wants you and Meredith at the wedding. Jason, too.”
“I can’t speak for our big sister, but Jason and I will be there. I want to meet this woman who was smart enough to grab the second best man on the planet.”
Seth laughed. “Meaning Jason tops the list, I assume.”
“Of course.”
“Abby might take exception to that, but you two can battle it out when you meet. See you soon.”
“How soon? When is this wedding?”
“Soon, if I have my way. I’ll keep you posted.”
He drew in a deep breath after he’d hung up. Knowing that Laura and Jason had worked things out was a huge relief. Not only was he happy for the two of them, but it reassured him that even complex differences could be resolved if two people worked at it with open hearts.
* * *
Abby’s presentation to the council was much more succinct this time. She figured there was very little to add to what she’d already told them, collectively and, in Sandra’s case, individually.
She sat back down next to Seth, who took her hand in his. Luke and Hannah were seated on her other side, along with Jenny, Kelsey and Jeff. Jack Ferguson and Lesley Ann were beside Seth. Mary and Kyle Whittier were beside them. It was an impressive show of support that didn’t go unnoticed by anyone on the council, least of all the mayor.
“I’ve had some time to think about Abby’s proposal,” Sandra said to her fellow council members and the audience. “The concerns I had about the changes this would bring to Seaview Key have been resolved, at least in my mind. I see the benefits and those outweigh any disadvantages I perceived. I think this community can handle a development of this limited scope, that it would be a boon to our economy. I’m prepared to vote. Is there a motion for approval?”
“So moved,” one of the original supporters said.
“Second,” another backer added.
Abby held her breath as the vote was taken. Sandra called on her two backers before casting her own vote, then smiled as she added her own “Yea” to make it unanimous in favor of proceeding.
Seth turned to Abby and kissed her soundly. “Congratulations!”
Abby was immediately surrounded by well-wishers.
“Drinks are on me at The Fish Tale,” Jack said. “I’ll see you all there.”
As the crowd filtered out, Abby noticed that there were messages on her cell phone, which she’d turned off earlier and forgotten about.
“I’d better check these,” she told Seth. “You want to go on ahead?”
He shook his head. “I’ll wait.”
She listened to a couple of messages that were routine, then realized that the next one was from the doctor she’d seen. Heart pounding, she listened to it.
“Oh my God,” she murmured, then played it again. No, she concluded, she hadn’t misheard.
“What?” Seth asked. “Are you okay? What’s going on?”
She handed him the cell phone. “Listen,” she whispered. “Then tell me if I heard it right.”
As his jaw dropped and his eyes widened, she knew there’d been no mistake. He stared at her.
“You’re pregnant?” he whispered.
“Apparently so,” she said, her astonishment mirroring his.
“You saw a doctor?”
“I went to see an infertility expert to see if I could get pregnant. She ran some tests. I had no idea I might already be pregnant. It must have been really early because she missed it in the exam, too.” She stared into Seth’s eyes. “Are you okay with this?”
He laughed. “I’ve never been more okay with anything in my life,” he told her, picking her up and twirling her around.
Just then Luke and Hannah walked back, regarding them curiously.
“Everything okay?” Hannah asked.
“We’re having a baby,” Abby blurted.
“And getting married,” Seth added hurriedly. “But not in that order. We’re getting married first. I’m thinking tomorrow would be good. Or the next day.”
Luke laughed, then slapped Seth on the back. “Boy, once the two of you get with the program, you don’t waste any time, do you?”
Hannah nudged him with an elbow. “No gloating.”
“Hey, who’s gloating? I’m just happy they saw the light.”
“He’s gloating,” Seth said. “But you know what? I don’t care.” He grinned at Luke. “Are you interested in being the best man?”
“I’m there,” Luke confirmed.
Abby turned to Hannah. “And you? Matron of honor?”
Hannah’s smile was almost as wide as the one Abby could feel on her own face. “Done,” she said at once. “Anything you need, you
