Was Rose right? Kate's obstetrician was one of the best in Boston, and he'd approved of our travel to New Hampshire. "Go," he said. "Get married." Like it was no big deal.
Now, I'm internally panicking. We considered about having the wedding earlier, but Kate was wrapped up in completing a series of paintings for an exhibition and she didn't want to be distracted from the wedding.
Besides, the idea of a winter wedding was romantic.
We thought we'd have plenty of time, since she wouldn't be due until forty weeks. Kate assured me that a first baby never came early, and the obstetrician echoed that sentiment.
I make a mental note to call the obstetrician first thing in the morning.
"You look like you've seen a ghost," Kate says when I come inside with the luggage.
"I'm fine," I say. Okay, I lie. I'm not fine at all. As much as I've been trying to do stuff to get ready for the baby – Daddy Boot Camp, the whole nine yards – the thought of being responsible for caring for another human being does scare me slightly.
And the thought of that human being arriving early, or medical complications with Kate or the baby, or shit…the thousand things that could possibly go wrong… is terrifying.
"Cookies," Rose says, handing a plate to Kate. "Go sit."
"I can stand, Rose," Kate says. "I'm pregnant, not bed-ridden."
"Don't sass me, Katherine Harrison," the housekeeper says, her back to us already. "Your father is in the office with Ella. I'll go get them."
"What?" I ask. "Ella is here?"
Kate wrinkles her brow. "I thought she wasn't coming until later this week."
"You know Ella," I whisper. "She's a free spirit."
"I can feel my ears burning," Ella says, striding into the living room, her long sweater rippling behind her like a cape. "What were you saying about me?"
I hug her, before she moves me aside, kissing Kate on the cheek. "How are you, darling? What do you need? Are you feeling okay? How's the sonogram looking?" Ella looks at me. "Why aren't you massaging Kate's feet? The mother of my grandchild should be pampered."
"Yeah, Caulter," Kate says, smirking. "Pampered."
"I pamper her," I say. "I pampered her this afternoon, even."
I get a perverse sense of satisfaction when a blush rises to Kate's cheeks.
"The two of you," Ella says, shaking her head.
"Hi, dad," Kate says, changing the subject quickly away from our sex life.
The Senator hugs her. "How is everything?" he asks. "What do you need? How are you feeling?"
Kate laughs. "Seriously, you guys," she says. "I'm fine. Everything is absolutely fine."
"How far along are you now?" Ella asks.
"Thirty four weeks."
Ella shakes her head. "You have to keep your stress level down," she says. "Planning a wedding so close to the due date is going to send your stress level through the roof."
"Ella," I warn, and Kate puts her hand on my arm.
"I'm just trying to help!" Ella protests. "I was going to suggest my wedding planner. She's fantastic, and I can pull her on short notice, I'm sure. With the publicity from my television show right now, any planner would jump at the chance to do your wedding. My planner has done…let's see…about five weddings for me."
"And a lot more engagement parties," I can't help but add.
Kate slaps me on the arm, but Ella just laughs. "And…seven engagement parties," she says. "That's not terrible. Is it terrible?"
The Senator clears his throat. "Ours was one of the weddings," he says, his face impassive.
Ella turns and puts her hand gently on his arm, beaming at him, and his expression softens when he looks at her. "That was my favorite wedding of them all."
Kate looks at me, mouthing "what the fuck?"
I think the last time Ella and the Senator were together, Ella was throwing a vase at his head. She's always been chilly when I've mentioned the Senator, and now suddenly they're cozy?
Senator Harrison puts his hand over hers. "It wasn't so bad," he says. "Other than…"
"Our scandal?" I ask.
My voice interrupts whatever the hell that little moment was between them, and Ella moves her hand like she was just shocked by electricity. "Oh, that's old news," she says. "No one's even interested in that anymore. Now, you go unpack, Caulter. Kate, I want to hear all about the wedding plans."
The Senator raises his eyebrows at me. "This seems like our cue to leave, Caulter," he says. "I have a couple of nice cigars and a bottle of Scotch in the office."
What the hell? The Senator has been cordial with me the past year or so, but we're definitely not best friends. I've never smoked cigars or drunk scotch in his office. We don't hang out. All the friendliness radiating from the Senator and Ella is weirding me the fuck out.
"Scotch and cigars sound perfect," I say, glancing at Kate. She winks at me from the sofa and gives me a little "go away" gesture with her hands, as Ella begins to pepper her with questions, demanding Kate model her wedding dress.
I get out of there as quickly as possible, before I'm sucked into hours of conversation about floral arrangements or seating.