"Uh... Mom", Xavier swallowed a hard lump. He was on a roll blabbing things left and right.
Amy was thrown into a case of nerves and internal panic. She wasn't prepared for such a situation but now that she was faced with it, she felt honesty was the right path to take. She was not up for making up things, it was tiring. She looked to Zach who gave her an encouraging nod before he took her hand in his.
"That was really you?" She asked in clear disbelief.
Amy swallowed a hard lump and nodded, "Yes."
"How?" She asked immediately.
"I used a voice changer. It was my way of pushing him away by then", she explained.
Silence. Victoria looked around and saw their serious faces. It seemed they all knew, of course, the boys were close. But,
"And none of you thought to tell me?" She looked at the three men and they dropped their heads in shame. "Amy, is this really true? It was you the whole time?"
"Yes."
Silence fell upon the room. Victoria let the truth sink in. So, it really was Amy? The latter knew how upset the woman was and could not help but feel nervous. What would she think of her now?
Victoria started laughing. All four looked at her strangely. Was she so angry to the point of laughing? She went to Xavier and smacked him as she laughed.
"Mom! You can hit George or Zach too!" He moved away and rubbed his shoulder.
Victoria let out a huge sigh in relief and wiped her tears. "I was feeling guilty for nothing!"
"Guilty?" Xavier asked.
"Yes, I thought Zach had fallen for another man and left him for Amy. And when I saw how kind Amy is, I decided to let things be but I was walking on eggshells around her trying not to bring up their awkward past. And I felt bad for that poor man Zach had won over only to be dropped by him again!"
Everyone: "..."
"You should have told me sooner!" She smacked Xavier again who cried out in pain.
"Mom, it's all my fault. I'm really sorry", Amy said with remorse and a sincere heart. She walked to meet her halfway.
"Awww", Victoria was moved as well. She took Amy's hands in hers and patted them with one. "It's okay dear. It's okay. You have one heck of a story to tell your kids about how you got together."
Amy exchanged a glance with Zach and they both smiled. That sounded so pleasant to their ears. Victoria cooed when she saw their little exchange. It's always been Amy that Zach was in love with. This is all she ever wished for: Zach settling down with a good person.
"Ah! Speaking of kids, I got the baby a cute little onesie on my way back from the golf club", she said excitedly.
"Ooh! Let me see!" Amy was excited as well. She pecked Zach's lips before following the older woman out of the kitchen.
"Mom! It must be hard to not brag about Zach and Amy especially to Kris!" Xavier said.
Victoria stopped, looking cool as she said, "Xavie, not everything is a competition. But, if we consider this as one, I already won."
George and Xavier chuckled at her proud demeanor while Zach shook his head. Even Amy, who had learned about Victoria and Kris's relationship, could not help but laugh. Victoria was about to move when she stopped again.
"Don't you have a date tonight?" She raised her brows at George.
"Oh! I'll leave in a bit", he answered.
"Alright! Enjoy! If she's not to your liking, let me know. I've got a few more girls", she promised.
George's smile stiffened. Where was she getting all those women? Xavier shook his head at George, feeling sorry and envious at the same time.
"You guys should help Zach with cooking. We only got started on the soup", Amy said.
"I came here to have dinner and not to make it!" Xavier grumbled.
"On that note, I'll be on my way", George said as he stood up.
Amy left the two to argue while she and Victoria disappeared out of the kitchen walking arm in arm. Victoria led her upstairs on the third floor where hers and Zach's rooms were. They walked past it down the corridor and reached the first room to the left.
Amy gasped when she opened it. This had been turned into their baby's room. They had temporarily settled on creamwhite walls until they learn of the gender. There was a little bed, a rocking chair, bathroom, a section for keeping toys, a mini playground, and a massive wardrobe. But this was not what Amy was shocked with, it was the sea of shopping bags on the floor.
"I thought you said you bought a onesie?" She said, mentally counting twenty bags or more.
"Yes. Let me....", Victoria moved about looking through the bags.
Amy watched on as she stood with a hand on her hip and the other caressing her belly. Victoria grew embarrassed not remembering which shopping bag it was.
"It's somewhere in here but I promise, it's so cute I just had to buy it! And the rest, well...."
Amy chuckled and nodded in understanding. "Thank you Mom. I'll have Margaret get these washed and set up."
"Great! We should have space", she went to check in wadrobe as the doors slid open. Then something caught her eye. "New clothes? Oh? I didn't know Js make baby clothes too."
"It was a special request", Amy said with a smile.
"Ah!" Victoria nodded.
With her son's influence, she was sure that request was easy to accept. After all, he had brought more exposure to their brand at the gala when he wore their suit. Amy smiled, she didn't know what conclusions the older woman was making.
They returned to the living room and chatted until dinner was ready. While they settled down on the table, Henry's steady footsteps echoed as he approached. They all turned to look at him when he walked in.
"Oh? I thought you'd be out with your friends", he said to Victoria.
"I was then I stopped by and thought to have dinner. What are you doing here?" She countered.
"Same thing", he answered.
Zach gave up the head seat and sat next to Amy while Henry replaced him with Victoria immediately next to him, followed by Xavier. George had actually left for his date. He exchanged greetings with the couple and exchanged a nod with Xavier.
"Xavier", Amy called out earning his attention. She gave him thumbs up making him give a proud nod.
Amy started with the soup and hummed. "Babe, the soup is amazing."
"Thank you", he said with a smile.
"Zach made this?" Henry pointed at the soup with a worried expression. "Is it edible?"
Zach threw him a glare making him chuckle in amusement. Amy smiled, "I promise, you won't regret."
"I'll take your word for it."
And so they ate. In no time, the plates were cleared. The table was cleared for dessert to be served. Victoria smiled at the three men.
"Just reminded me of the old days, when you guys would finish my cooking within minutes and your plates would be clear like there was never food there in the first place", she let out a soft chuckle.
Amy was amused by this. She looked around the table to find Zach and Henry maintain an impassive expression while Xavier busied himself with his phone, hiding the guilt on his face. These crooks!
"Thank you", Victoria said when the dessert was served. Then she cleared her throat. "Since we're all gathered here, I have an important announcement to make."
That statement got the attention of the four. Amy didn't stop eating as she looked at her, she couldn't help help herself. Victoria looked around nervously before getting a glass of wine to down it before letting out a deep breath.
"I'll be going out with someone. As in romantically."
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