[ Grace bit back a stab of jealousy and answered as nicely as she could. ]

No, the boys have an outing of their own planned. I have to work tomorrow. We are expecting a difficult C-section for sextuplets.

[ Anthony smiled at her, brave lady that she was heading off to work to deal with something as important as that. ]

Yeah, but my Grace will see all those cute babies through it...

[ Those sweet words soothed everything over nicely so that she was smiling at Anthony again and thinking herself silly for that earlier twinge. ]