13. CONGRATULATIONS

The news was not entirely unexpected. Charity had known her friend long enough to sense the glow on her features was more than simple excitement over a long-belated dinner appointment. A hint of amusement filled her murky green eyes as she reached across the table, offering her hand in friendship. She was earnest in her comment of, �Carissa always did promise me that she would have a family one day, and here we are. How time has passed. It seems like only yesterday we were having sleepovers, and now she�s a mother-to-be.�

�Soon it will be your turn,� teased her friend. Richard responded with a sound that might have been him choking on his shrimp. Charity reached over and touched him on the shoulder in reassurance, responding, �I heartily doubt it. But as to your little bundle of joy� of course, it shall be a girl, to carry on family tradition.�

�Horton family tradition, perhaps, but not necessarily the family tradition of my husband.� Carissa smiled and reached for Garrett�s hand where it rested on the table between them. His eyes softened in response and he turned to Richard, inquiring, �Do you come from a large family, Richard?�

�An only child, I�m afraid.� The attorney was still regarding him with a hint of suspicion.

�That must have been lonely,� remarked Carissa with a touch of empathy. Richard shrugged in the manner his wife was accustomed to when he desired to evade the subject and skillfully injected, �I believe my wife is wrong in this instance. It�s going to be a boy, and his father will take him camping.� His lips twitched as he lifted his water goblet, and the handsome man across the table from him, blushing slightly, replied, �Whichever our child may be, it will be warmly welcomed.�

�And into a most loving and generous family,� Charity added. Her friend sensed she wanted to say more, for a mischievous glint came into her eyes, eerie as they were in the candlelight, but she did not share her thoughts. It was agreed and the sound of crystal gently clicking was heard around the table before conversation resumed. The three-piece orchestra had begun to play a waltz and the floor was slowly filling with dancers. Richard extended his hand to Charity and she accepted. They left Garrett with his arm around his wife, face close to hers in the silence of unspoken wonder at the tiny form kicking against the hand laid covertly at her waist, and passed onto the floor.

Sliding her fingers up his arm to rest on his shoulder, Charity allowed him to guide her, resting her head against his chest. There was nothing to indicate he held her more tightly that night than any before it, but Richard could not shut out the ominous voice on the phone. His gaze flickered to the table and the man seated with his wife�s best friend. Garrett�s appearance at the end of his volatile conversation had unnerved him, a rare occurrence when he was accustomed to constant surprises. In a world of subpoenas and suppression motions, he had forgotten that natural kindness existed beyond the courtroom. The boyish individual that had dared press further than most meant it kindly, was even concerned on his behalf.

He became aware of his wife studying him intimately, sensing the melancholy nature of his thoughts. �I�m sorry about the trial,� she said softly. �You did everything within your power. You cannot win them all, Richard.�

He smiled, faintly. �I realize that,� he said, �but it doesn�t prevent me from trying.�