Page 62

TWENTY
You guys were so cute with the kids,” Adelia told Skylar and Franky when the last of the trick-or-treaters had gone for the night.
Franky stood behind Skylar with his arms wrapped around her waist and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “We need at least three of our own for our Incredibles family to be complete.”
She smiled over her shoulder at him. “Maybe we’ll start with one and see how that goes.”
He shrugged his shoulders. “Or we could do that.”
“The kids loved you too, Adelia,” Skylar said.
“They were so adorable in their little costumes,” she gushed. “I can’t wait to have kids of my own someday.”
“How about you, Oliver?” Skylar asked.
Adelia gave her a look, knowing her friend was putting Oliver on the spot.
“I’m fine with them stopping by my door once a year for candy, but that’s where I draw the line.”
Adelia looked at him in surprise, thinking he must be joking, but there wasn’t a hint of jest on his face, and the disappointment of that hit her harder than she expected.
She tuned out of the conversation after that. Having kids was non-negotiable for her. She might not want a traditional marriage, but she still wanted a family. Always had. And now she was wondering if she needed to add that to the list of things keeping her and Oliver apart.
Skylar’s mention of the song Franky had written for her brought Adelia out of her thoughts.
“Speaking of music.” Adelia looked at Franky. “Once I get the okay for my next movie, I’ll be needing a composer to work on the musical score, and I wondered if you’d like to do it.”
Franky’s mouth fell open, and his eyes bulged out of his head. “Are you serious?”
“Of course, I’m serious. You are amazingly talented, Franky. I’d love to hear what you can come up with for it.”
“That’s … I don’t even know how to respond to this.” He looked at Skylar. “Am I dreaming?”
“I think it’s real, babe,” she replied with a smile.
“It’s very real,” Adelia replied.
“I love that you want to tell Margaret’s story, Adelia,” Skylar said. “I’ve admired her work for a long time.”
“I know you have. I just hope I can do the story justice.”
“You will.”
Skylar had been into photography for as long as Adelia could remember, and she had an amazing eye. Adelia always thought she should pursue it professionally, but Skylar was happy working for the family business and having photography as a hobby.
“What do you say, Franky?” Adelia asked.
“Yes!” He walked over and wrapped Adelia up in a hug. “Yes! Thank you.”
Adelia laughed and squeezed him tight. “You’re welcome, Franky.” She let go and eyed him. “Don’t let me down.”
“I won’t!” He went back to his fiancée, who opened her arms to him, and he hugged her and bounced them up and down.
Adelia looked over at Oliver, who was observing Franky’s little dance.
“I think someone’s a little excited about this project,” she said.
“I couldn’t tell,” he replied with a chuckle.