“Ouch,” Tara said.
“You have lousy timing, Jenna,” Gavin said as he sauntered downstairs and into the living room.
“Hey, Tara’s here, too, you know.”
“Yeah, but you’re my sister, so I’ll blame you.”
He gave both Jenna and Tara hugs and asked, “Who wants coffee?”
“I definitely do,” Jenna said.
Tara nodded. “I’d love some.”
“Tea for me,” Liz said.
“Since when do you not drink coffee?” Jenna’s eyes widened. “Are you pregnant?”
“No. Just working on putting healthy stuff into my body just in case it happens someday. Which, so far, it hasn’t.”
Jenna squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry. I should stop asking you all the time about it. I’m as excited for you to have a baby as you are.”
Liz looked into the kitchen, then returned her attention to her sisters-in-law. “I took a test this morning because I was a little late. It was negative.”
Tara frowned. “I’m sorry. That has to be frustrating to want it so badly. But you just need to relax and give it time.”
Liz gave her a look. “When have you ever known me to relax?”
“Good point. But maybe if you did try to relax a little, it might happen?”
“I don’t know. We’ve been trying for a while. And I know I’m not in my twenties anymore, so maybe there’s something wrong.”
“Did you ask your doctor?”
Liz waved her hand. “She ran tests on both of us. Gavin’s fine. She said I’m fine, and that there’s no reason I can’t conceive. And she also said I should relax.”
Jenna laughed. “Okay, so just enjoy the sex thing and let it happen.”
“That’s the problem. It’s been a year. I’m not pregnant. Clearly I’m not trying hard enough.”
Jenna gave her a look. “I can’t imagine there’s anything you try to accomplish that you don’t give your all to. Even this.”
“Maybe.”
Gavin came in with drinks for all of them. “Thanks, babe,” Liz said.
“My pleasure. What were you all whispering about in here?”
Jenna gave Gavin an innocent look. “My wedding stuff, of course. Do you want to take a seat and hear all the details?”
Gavin looked horrified. “God, no. It’s bad enough you’re putting me in a tux and making me take part in it. Do I have to hear details, too?”
Liz loved the terrified look on his face. Like Jenna would ask him to go over invitations or something. “No. You’re dismissed.”
“Thank God. I’m going to the gym.”
He grabbed his gym bag and kissed Liz good-bye.
After he left, Liz motioned to the bag sitting next to the sofa. “So, what’s going on with the wedding stuff?”
Jenna grinned. “Tara brought over the place cards the other day. I thought you might want to see them.”
“You know I do. I can’t believe the wedding is only a few weeks away.”
“I can’t, either. Ty and I put it off for so long. The whole wedding thing just wasn’t important, because we love each other and are committed. I really wanted to just go to city hall or maybe to Vegas for a quickie wedding.”
“But then there’s your mother,” Tara said. “Who would have never forgiven you.”
Jenna nodded. “Exactly. Denying her a wedding, especially for her only daughter, just wasn’t an option, especially after the two of you married Mick and Gavin in such elaborate ways.”
“Uh, sorry?” Liz said with a grin. “I never thought I was the fancy-wedding type. Or even the marrying type. Until Gavin came along.”
“I can relate, believe me. I never believed in the whole commitment thing until Ty. And marriage wasn’t all that important to me, but I loved Ty and he wanted to get married, and then there’s Mom. So I caved.” Jenna took a deep breath. “And so here we are.”
Tara dipped her hand into the bag and pulled a place card out, handing it over to Liz. “With these.”
The place cards had a purple border, matching the color of the tips of Jenna’s hair, and the ink was in Ty’s hockey team color. The upper quadrant had a musical note and a hockey stick coming up through it, signifying parts of both Jenna and Tyler, with their initials woven through it.
“I love these. So much,” Liz said.
“Me, too,” Jenna said. “You don’t think they’re hokey or stupid?”
“Of course not. They’re you. And Ty. And perfect.”
Jenna grinned. “Thank you. I love them, too. Tara helped me with the design.”
Liz slid her glance over to Tara. “It’s what you do best.”
“Thanks. I’m ridiculously excited about this wedding. At least this time I’m not pregnant.”
“And how is our gorgeous nephew?”
“Pulling himself up to stand.”
“Oh, my God. Already?”