Xander hung up the phone, unable to keep a smirk off his face, especially as he pictured the look of complete bewilderment that must've been plastered across Dan's face just moments ago.

Yvonne shot him a glare. "You really get some twisted pleasure out of riling him up,

don't you?"

"It's not about pleasure it just feels good," Xander replied with a grin, pulling her into his arms.

She rolled her eyes, but before she could say more, he added, "After all the crap he put you through, I think he's overdue for some payback."

At that, Yvonne paused, her expression softening. For a moment, something gentle flickered in her eyes as she looked at him again. She hadn't realized Xander was standing up for her.

Noticing the look, Xander grinned. "What? Admiring your incredibly handsome husband?"

She snorted. "You wish."

He laughed. “So, about that whole road closure thing... what exactly did you mean?" As he spoke, their car rolled past a cordoned-off exit, and out of the corner of his eye, Xander was pretty sure he glimpsed Shawn's car stuck behind the barrier. Then it hit him-Shawn had called earlier, ranting that Yvonne had deliberately blocked the road. But on the phone, she'd said she blocked off every exit. Did she actually mean the main highway out of the airport? Was she really shutting down the entire route?

Yvonne crossed her arms, fuming. "Shawn called me a total bitch."

Xander's jaw practically dropped. Is that kid crazy? How could he say something like that to Yvonne, especially right now?

"He can forget about taking the highway," she said icily. "Let him try the backroads if he's so tough."

Xander could only imagine. The minor roads were rough, narrow, and wound clear through the mountains. The main road stretched close to twenty miles as it was- taking the back way would easily add another twenty, if not more. The poor guy would be lucky to get home before sunrise.

He hesitated. "Well... maybe we don't need to make it that hard on him..."

"So you're defending him now?" Yvonne cut in, glaring. "He called me a shrew. Do you know what that means? Since he's so keen to find out, I'll show him exactly how much of a nightmare I can be!"

That was that Any attempt Xander might've made to intercede on Shawn's behalf died right then and there. He wasn't about to argue, not with Yvonne pregnant and, truth be told, still stewing over what happened the other night.

Her

brother would just have to suffer for a bit-between Shawn and the baby, there was no contest. Truthfully, Xander figured letting her get this off her chest was probably what she needed most anyway. He weighed the situation in his mind, and decided: Sorry, Shawn, you're on your own.

When they returned to the Quinns' estate, the place was unusually quiet-Lottie and Ronald were out leaving only Stella at home. Stella was just beginning to get up to greet them her belly already prominent but Yvonne stopped her with a quick, "Don't move, just stay where you are."

Triplets, Yvonne thought. No wonder her bump was so much bigger than everyone else's meanwhile, Yvonne's own stomach was still flat and unchanged.

She strode over and settled beside Stella, reaching out to rest a hand gently on her belly. "Wow, you're really getting big."

Stella's smile lit up her entire face. "I had the kitchen make all your favorite dishes," she said, radiating happiness.

All through the car ride home,

Yvonne had quietly worried about Stella. After what Berry had pulled she'd been afraid Stella might be upset and when you were carrying triplets even a little stress could be risky. But looking at her now it didn't seem like she was the least bit downcast.

"Where's Ronald?" Yvonne asked.

"Upstairs with Finley," Stella replied.

"Finley Yoder is back?"

Even Yvonne had to admit, Finley was a handful his tongue was as sharp as they came, and if something crossed his mind, you could bet he'd say it, no matter how

blunt.