Page 58 of Eye on the Ball
Alejandro handed the baby boy to Jack, who looked equal parts fascinated and terrified. “His name is Jack, right?”
Alejandro laughed. “Afraid not, my friend. His name is Alejandro Justice Cardinal Vasquez. Carrying my lovely wife to the helicopter doesn’t rise to the level of Tess’s gift to our family.”
“Ah. After Lord Justice. That makes sense.”
“If we ever get another pet, though, you’re in, my friend.”
“A cat. A big, gorgeous cat,” Jack said.
“I was thinking hamster,” Alejandro countered. “Maybe gerbil.”
“You did good,” Jack said, staring down at the baby in his arms with awe. “Obviously the babies get their good looks from their mother.”
“And their brains, undoubtedly,” Alejandro said. “Lucky for them.”
I held baby Jasmine Tess and watched Jack with baby Alejandro Justice, and something inside me twinged. Just a tiny twinge—barely noticeable.
But gosh, did Jack look good holding a baby.
When I realized where my thoughts were going, my eyes widened. Just then, baby Jasmine opened her tiny mouth and let out a surprisingly loud yell.
“She’s got great lungs.” I laughed and handed the baby back to her mother.
Rose expertly popped a light cloth over her shoulder, opened her robe, and put the baby to her breast. She arranged the cloth for privacy and sighed when Jasmine latched on.
“My breasts feel like footballs. Hard footballs,” she murmured to me. “This is such a relief.”
“That means you shouldn’t have any problem nursing twins, at least.” I’d been around a lot of moms.
Rose glanced over at Jack and Alejandro, who were still discussing which progressively smaller animal was going to be named Jack at the Cardinal-Vasquez home. Alejandro was proposing a hissing cockroach now.
I shuddered.
“Tess. I’d like to tell you something,” Rose said, still in a very quiet voice. “A gift, for the gift you gave me.”
“You don’t owe me anything,” I protested. “I was so happy I could help you and baby Jasmine.”
“No. I know, and I love you for it. You’ll always be another sister to me.” She held out a hand, and I took it and squeezed. “Did Alejandro tell you about my particular magic?”
I was confused. “You’re a garden witch.”
“Yes, but more than that. I have a special talent. I can tell a person’s deepest desire when I meet them.”
Before I could think, I jerked my hand away from her. “I don’t?—”
“No, not you. The protection spell works both ways; you can’t read us, and I can’t read you. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply that. It’s just … when you ran away after hearing that Jack hadn’t told you about the job offer …”
“I didn’t …” I trailed off. That was exactly what I’d done.
“It’s new for me. Being in love,” I admitted.
“I know. It was the same for me with Alejandro. So hard to think about giving up my independence, even a tiny bit. But so, so worth it.”
I was confused. “You’re telling me this because?”
“I’ve met Jack before; did you know that?”
I nodded. Jack had mentioned it.