After getting dressed for the party, Tom left to join Bryan in the living room as they waited for the ladies who were together in Jade's bedroom to join them.
Sonia had invited Lucy into her and Bryan's bedroom so they could have a moment together alone before leaving for the party, but Jade had insisted that they all converge in her bedroom instead to help each other dress up and get their makeup done.
"So, how did your house hunting go?" Jade asked Sonia as she applied her mascara.
"It was fun. The realtor was capable and understood his assignment. We checked out a couple of houses, but one in particular stood out for us both. You're going to love it when you see it," Sonia said with a wide smile.
"How many bedrooms are there?" Lucy asked curiously as she put on her contact lens.
"Oh, don't worry. There are five bedrooms. And one of the bedrooms is specially reserved for you. You do realize you are going to be sleeping over a lot and babysitting, right?" Sonia asked, and Lucy giggled when Jade stopped what she was doing to look at Sonia with a raised brow.
"And what about me? Don't I get a room?"
"Sure. There is a room reserved for anyone of the Hanks. So, you can use it when you come visiting or Evelyn and Desmond can use it. We gave it a lot of thought. Lucy's bedroom is exclusively hers! She is going to be my chief babysitter," Sonia said, and Lucy eyed her uncertainly.
"You do realize that unlike you who babysat for your neighbors in high school, I don't have any such experience with kids, right? How am I supposed to care for your baby in your absence?" Lucy asked, and Sonia rolled her eyes.
"Our baby, Lu. Ours. What makes you think I have any experience either? I babysat kids around Jamal's age not babies. So, we are both going to learn all about it. You realize this baby is ours, right? We are both pregnant and you're going to be with me every step of the way. You will be going with me to my prenatal classes in Bryan's absence too," Sonia chattered excitedly as she rubbed her abdomen dreamily while Lucy turned away from her without saying another word.
If she was alone with Sonia, she would have used this opportunity to bring up the issue about Tom's supposed daughter, but she couldn't do that in front of Jade.
"Jade, how did your meeting with Anita's sister go?" Lucy asked, changing the subject.
"Oh, that! It went better than I expected, and I can assure you that by this time next week, Rebekah will be where she deserves to be. Locked behind bars," Jade said, and Sonia looked at her with interest as she applied her red lipstick to her lips.
"Speaking of Rebekah, I heard she sent someone after you yesterday," Sonia said, and Lucy turned to look at Jade immediately.
"She did? Why?" Lucy asked, and Jade rolled her eyes.
"It wasn't a big deal. Don't worry about it," Jade told Lucy, but Sonia wasn't having that.
"That wasn't what I heard. I heard you looked pretty shaken. And I heard it was thanks to Harry who drove in like your knight in shining armor, that you're in one piece," Sonia said, and this time Jade scowled.
"Bryan and his big mouth. I told him to keep it to himself. He obviously can't keep a secret," Jade said with a shake of her head.
"You could have been hurt," Lucy said, and Jade sighed when she saw the worried expression on Lucy's face.
"But I wasn't. Besides, it was probably for the best that she sent him after me. Now we have him in our custody and he will testify against Rebekah," Jade assured Lucy.
"We should hurry up. Harry will be here soon," Jade said as she glanced at the wall clock in her bedroom, wanting to change the subject.
They all turned to the door when a knock sounded on it before it was pushed open.
"Hello, ladies! Are you ready?!" Candace greeted as she walked into the room.
Candace giggled when she saw the stunned expression on their faces, "Well, I wish I could capture the look on your faces right now. It goes without saying that I look good, huh?" Candace asked with a grin as she swirled around to show them her dress.
Her dress was simple, classy, and beautiful. It was a red long-sleeved, high-slit maxi long velvet bodycon dress, with a deep V-neckline both in front and behind.
She had a pair of gold earrings on her ears, and a necklace with a matching pendant. And strapped on her feet were a pair of high-heeled gold sandals.
Sonia was the first to find her voice, "You look radiant!" Sonia exclaimed excitedly.
Candace laughed softly, "Harry got the outfit," Candace said with a grin.
"Harry sure has a good taste in women and clothes. But I don't think the clothes could have looked better on anyone else," Lucy said, earning her a sweet smile from Jade and Candace.
"That's such a lovely compliment," Sonia said with a grin.
"I think every male in that hall is going to be drooling over you. Thankfully, Harry is your twin brother so I don't have to worry," Jade said, and Candace giggled.
"Well, Bryan would be drooling over me, as I'm sure Tom would be drooling over Lucy. You can have any of the other guys," Sonia said making all four of them giggle.
"By the way, I received a text from Andy earlier," Candace told Jade as she helped Sonia zip up her dress.
Jade who was helping Lucy add a finishing touch to her makeup turned to her, "You did? When? What did she say? Did she tell you where they are?" Jade asked excitedly.
"After you left. She didn't give me any details. She just wanted me to know she was alright," Candace said, and Sonia raised a brow.
"Are you sure she sent the text?"
"Yeah. She spelt my name as Candacey. That was what she used to call me when we were little," Candace said, and Jade frowned.
"How about you give the number to Harry? Maybe he can trace…."
"I already did. He already tried doing that too. But it seems Cassidy knew we would do that. It line can't be traced," Candace said, and Jade nodded.
"That makes sense. He used to own a tech company after all," Jade said, and Candace nodded.
"That was the same thing Harry said. I'm relieved to know she is alright," Candace said, and Jade smiled.
"Me too. Hopefully you will hear from her again very soon," Jade murmured as she held Candace's gaze.
"Since we are all here together right now, why don't we talk about tomorrow's hangout? When are we meeting and where?" Candace asked, wanting to change the subject.
"Why don't we go clubbing?" Jade suggested, but Sonia shook her head.
"What am I supposed to do in a club if I can't have alcohol?" Sonia asked with disapproval making them laugh.
"You could have nonalcoholic wine and dance. And it wouldn't be a bad idea to have someone sober with us in case the rest of us get drunk," Jade said, and Candace nodded in agreement.
"That's right."
"I thought our hangout was meant to be during the day?" Lucy asked, and Jade shrugged.
"We can go to a daytime club. It's all the same to me. And it would be less rowdy too. I don't care whether it's night or day, all I want is to dance to loud music and try out new cocktails," Jade said, making Lucy and Candace giggle while Sonia scowled.
"And I'm supposed to just watch?" Sonia asked.
"No. You're supposed to be sober as you watch over us, and then call the men to come take us home when we are done," Lucy said, earning her a high-five from both Jade and Candace.
Before Sonia could respond to that, a knock sounded on the door and they all turned to the door to respond to the housekeeper who had been sent to remind them to hurry up.
"Tell them we will be down in a minute," Jade said as they all looked at each other to be sure everything was in place.
"Why don't we give them a show?" Sonia suggested and Jade grinned.
"I like that idea. Candace can go down ahead of us since they've all seen her," Sonia said, and Candace rolled her eyes.
"I think what you mean to say is that I should go ahead of you because I don't have a man waiting for me downstairs," she hissed as she walked away, making the rest of them giggle.
"Lucy, you can go first," Sonia said, knowing that Lucy was itching to go down already.
"Lucy, you go ahead. I don't mind going last," Jade said with twinkling eyes.
As Candace walked down the stairs, Tom, Harry, and Bryan went to stand by the foot of the stairs to meet their girlfriends.
"Where are they?" Bryan asked with a frown when she came down alone.
Candace shook her head, "You want my advise? I think you all should break up with your girlfriends. They don't know how to keep to time," she said as she went to join them at the foot of the stairs while the guys cast her amused expressions while wondering what their girlfriends had done to her.
Their gaze reverted to the staircase when they heard the clink of heels, and even though Tom had seen Lucy in the dress before that day, when she tried it out during their indoor shopping, he was still stunned by her overall appearance.
Her dress was a beautiful long-sleeved black sequin mermaid evening gown with a deep V neckline and an open back.
She had let her hair fall in loose waves just the way he loved it, and she had replaced her glasses with her contact lens.
A diamond necklace adorned her neck, and on her feet were a pair of limited edition black sandals.
She smiled as her eyes met with Tom's and took the hand he offered, "You look exquisite," Tom said, and she grinned as he kissed the back of her hand.
"I feel expensive. I've never worn outfits that cost so much," Lucy said and Tom chuckled.
"Get used to it," he said as he turned to lead her away.
"You guys can join us outside," Tom called to them as they left.
Bryan grinned when Sonia appeared, dressed as he knew she would be in a black strapless dress that clung to her body like a second skin and stopped on her mid thigh, and attached to the side was a flowing train.
"You're going to catch a cold in that," Bryan said with a shake of his head.
"Good thing my human heater is my escort," Sonia said with a suggestive smile as she slowly descended the stairs, and Candace rolled her eyes.
"Can you girls hurry up? We don't have all night," Candace yelled so that Jade would hear her, and Sonia giggled.
"You're just jealous," Sonia said to Candace as she stopped in front of Bryan and kissed him.
"You look like mine," Bryan said as she pulled away.
"Of course I'm yours," Sonia said as she took the hand Bryan extended and let him lead her outside.
"Should I go and drag her down?" Candace offered Harry, and he chuckled.
"Let her be," he said as he waited patiently for Jade to make her entrance.
Jade held Harry's gaze as she slowly descended the stairs, dressed in a flowing plum-colored spaghetti strap satin dress with a thigh high slit.
"Did I keep you waiting?" She asked, and Candace rolled her eyes.
"Of course, you did!" Candace said, while Harry smiled.
"I could wait an hour longer if I get to be rewarded with such an enchanting sight," Harry said, and Candace shook her head.
"Lies! You are all a bunch of liars," she declared, making both Harry and Jade laugh.
"I will wait in the car," Candace said as she walked away leaving them, while Harry smiled at Jade.
"I didn't come empty-handed. I brought you flowers but your brothers hid it because they didn't want their girlfriends to see it and get mad at them for not getting them any," Harry said, and Jade laughed.
"That sounds like something you would do, and something they would do," Jade said as she took Harry's hand.
"Are you ready to leave?" He asked, and she nodded.
"Yes, I am."
"Make sure you stick to me all night long. I don't want anyone making advances at you," Harry said, and Jade giggled they walked out of the house together.
"Candace seems very excited tonight," Jade observed.
"I guess she had a nice day," Harry said, and Jade grinned when it occurred to her that Candace had been with Matt earlier.
It seemed like things had worked out fine between them. She hoped to find time to quiz Candace about it before the night was over.
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