“Well, you’re not alone.” At Loch’s words, Fox nodded. There wasn’t really anything else to say because there was such promise behind those words, they meant everything.
“And I take it you’ve known about this for probably less than a day. You don’t need to have all the answers now. And I’m sure there will be more questions before you can even figure out the first answer, but like Loch said, you’re not alone. And you know Mom and Dad are going to be over the moon at the thought of having another grandchild. Plus, with Tabby pregnant, it’s gonna make for cousins, so they’ll be beyond excited…even if it’s scary. But, Fox, you’re going to be a dad. That’s really fucking awesome.”
Fox smiled but leaned back and grinned with his brothers. Because, yeah, things would get even more complicated soon, but the fact that he was going to be a dad…that was pretty damn amazing.
Chapter 14
Melody needed to just bite the bullet and get this over with. Because the more she hid within herself, the worse it would be when the time came. Or at least that’s what she had learned after so many years of not being the best person. She hated lying and keeping secrets, and that meant she needed to tell her grandmother about the baby. Because it changed everything.
She’d come to town because her grandmother had said she needed her, even though Melody still wasn’t 100% sure that was the case. She’d also come to town to open up her own studio, and all of that might be derailed because of the baby growing inside of her.
She placed her hand on her stomach and let out a deep breath. It isn’t the baby’s fault, she thought. But the timing sucked.
Fox was telling his brothers tonight about the pregnancy, and now it was her turn to tell her grandmother. She had a feeling her grandma already knew something was off, but Melody figured there was no way she could guess this.
She did her best to shake off her nervousness and left her room to make her way through the house to where her grandmother sat by a small fire, reading a book.
Grandma Pearl had once been a showgirl, but she had been the classiest one in Melody’s mind. Now, her grandmother looked as if she belonged in Regency England, reading or cross-stitching and waiting for tea after ringing the bell for the butler. If that was how that all worked. The only real Regency era information she knew came from romances, and she usually paid more attention to the dukes than the tea.
“If you don’t come in and tell me what’s on your mind, I’m going to have to start making guesses myself, and we both know that could end up terribly. For all I know, you’re going to leave me to go join the circus and get tattooed from head to toe. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but I might talk you out of it so you can stay in Whiskey.”
Melody grinned despite herself and took a seat across from her grandmother. “Have I said thank you recently? Thank you for taking me in. Thank you for offering to take me in many times before this even though I didn’t deserve it. Thank you for always sending flowers and coming to all of my recitals and performances at Juilliard. Thank you for believing in me when I said I was ready to open up a studio in a small town that I wasn’t part of. Thank you for making this place a home for me. Have I said all of that recently?”
Her grandmother smiled softly, a single tear tracing down her cheek. Melody hated to see it, so she got up quickly and used a tissue from the side table to wipe her grandmother’s face.
“Don’t cry.” Please don’t cry, because you might start crying again soon when I tell you that I’m pregnant and unwed. Not that her grandmother was very traditional, but one never knew in this type of situation.
“I’m going to cry if I want to. Because, yes, you said thank you recently. You always find ways to say thank you even if it’s not words. But your words just now were beautiful, and I love you so much, Melody. I’m so glad that you’re finally here. It’s like my home has been waiting for you. You fit right in. Now why don’t you tell me what’s on your mind, because I know it wasn’t just to say thank you? Something’s wrong, baby. You can tell me. I promise I’ll be here for you no matter what.”
This time, it was Melody who let a few tears fall, but she didn’t bother wiping them away. She had a feeling there would be more soon.
“I don’t know how to tell you this, so I’m just going to say the words.” She took a deep breath. “I’m pregnant.”
Her grandmother blinked for a few moments before nodding. “Now your nausea and your little hospital visit that you did not tell me about make sense. Are you okay? Are you feeling okay?”
Melody sat there for a second, trying to figure out exactly what had just happened. “How on earth did you find out that I went to the hospital? Isn’t there some patient confidentiality thing?”
Her grandmother rolled her eyes as if she were Melody’s age or younger. The movement was just so much like her own that Melody couldn’t help the small smile that played on her face, even though her nerves were worse than ever.
“Your doctor didn’t tell me, if that is what you’re worried about. A friend was there picking up a prescription and happened to see you. Remember, granddaughter of mine, I have ears and eyes everywhere. I see and know all. That is the mysteriousness of Ms. Pearl.”
She waved her arms around her face as if she were a fifties starlet, and it sent them both into a fit of soft laughter. Then her grandmother stood up and went to sit by Melody on the loveseat.
“You’re pregnant. Going to have a baby. I am going to be a great-grandmother. Possibly the most gorgeous great-grandmother out there, but that is neither here nor there. Really, how are you feeling?”
“Like I’m going to throw up, but I don’t know if that’s because of the morning sickness since it doesn’t actually happen only in the mornings, or the fact that everything is happening all at once. I’m really overwhelmed.”
“Well, that makes sense. It wouldn’t be a pregnancy if you didn’t feel like you had to throw up every five minutes. And since you just found out, I assume that it hasn’t really hit yet, and you have more questions than answers, and even more questions that you don’t even know you should be asking yet. What does Fox have to say about it?”
Melody froze. “Fox?”
“Yes, Fox.” Her grandmother patted her hand. “You know, the father of your child. There’s only one man in this town that I’ve seen you go doe-eyed over. And I do not need to know all the details, though you can tell me. I have probably seen and done more than you could ever dream of, but that is for the next editorial.” She winked, and Melody laughed again. “But, yes, Fox. I saw the way you two looked at each other. And that look had nothing to do with first meetings and simple crushes. And the timing does make sense. So, what does Fox have to say?”
Grandma Pearl really did see all and know all. Melody should have known she wouldn’t be able to hide her feelings, whatever they were, for Fox from her grandmother for long. But it turned out she hadn’t hidden them at all.
“He’s supportive. I really don’t know more, other than the fact that he rambled like I did and said he’s going to be here for the baby and me no matter what. We haven’t actually had a chance to talk about all the details of what that means because I don’t know the details or anything. I never thought I’d be a mom. Not that I thought I wouldn’t be a mom. It was more like my life was just about dancing, and then when that changed, having a family didn’t really factor into the picture. And having a baby with a man that I only know somewhat and I’ve only been with once? I feel like I’m two steps behind and can’t catch up.”
Her grandmother wrapped her arm around Melody’s shoulders and held her close. “When I found out that I was pregnant with your mother, I thought my world had shattered. Yet it bloomed all at the same time. She was a surprise, but never a mistake. And I feel like maybe you feel the same way. So take a couple of days to let yourself roll in the chaos and then be the woman that I know you are and conquer everything. You’re going to make mistakes, I sure as hell did. But I know you’re going
to be a wonderful mother because you’ve been through hell and back, and you know what it means to make the wrong choices. You’re going to make sure your children never have to make the choices you did. Those babies will never feel like they aren’t enough. So take time to breathe, then do what you need to do to become prepared, and then figure out what you want with the father of your child—the man who looks at you like he wants to eat you up. Because, baby, I did not miss that look, and I have a feeling you did not miss it either.”
Oddly relieved, Melody talked with her grandmother for a few moments more, and then it was time for Grandma Pearl to start her nightly routine and head to bed. It was still early yet, but her grandmother liked to read in bed with a facemask or two. Melody was trying to learn the same routine because she wanted skin like that when she was her grandmother’s age.
The doorbell rang, the gong startling her as always right as her grandmother walked upstairs. Melody waved her off so she wouldn’t have to come back down. She didn’t know who would be at the house at that time of night, but it might be Fox. The two of them did need to talk, and if he was as scattered as she was, it would make sense that he would show up without warning. But when she opened the door, it wasn’t Fox.
“Kenzie. Ainsley. Hi.”
Kenzie winced, and Ainsley waved. “Sorry we’re here unannounced.”
“But Fox told us the news. I don’t know if he was supposed to, but we sort of walked in on the guys talking and being secretive, and we’re really good at ferreting information. So, sorry we made him spill the beans, but we’re here for you.” Ainsley beamed, looking far too gorgeous for her own good.
“Oh.” Melody’s mouth went dry. “You know.”
Kenzie nodded then opened her arms. “Yep. And we’re here for girl time, so hug me, and then we can talk, eat junk food, or sit and watch movies.”
And because this town had once again opened its heart for her in the form of these two women, Melody went straight into Kenzie’s arms and held the other woman tightly. Ainsley hugged her from behind, and the three of them stood on her porch, not saying a word, yet saying plenty.
Melody might not know what she was going to do about being a mother, and she had no idea what to do about her relationship with Fox, but the strong women surrounding her and the strongest woman she knew being upstairs in the house, meant that she wasn’t alone.
And that might not mean much to someone else, but for a person who hadn’t had a single friend—not really—because she was too focused on dancing competitions, it meant the world to Melody.
And when the three broke apart, she let her new friends into the house and listened as they talked about nothing at all. And they didn’t actually talk about why they had come in the first place. Somehow, they just knew she needed to breathe. Somehow.
Her phone buzzed.
Fox: The girls are on their way over or already there. Didn’t want you to be alone, and figured you needed time away from me to think.
Not so mysterious after all, Melody thought. The man knew her more than she thought possible, and they’d only been texting and in each other’s lives for a short while. She knew that could be dangerous, but she also knew she would risk it anyway. At least for now.
Melody: Thank you. They’re taking care of me.
Fox: Good. They’re great women. Two of the best in my life. Glad you aren’t alone. See you tomorrow?
The girls were staring at her as she texted, and she knew she’d tell them afterward, but she ignored them for now, her attention on her phone and Fox. Did she want to see him tomorrow? Of course, she did. And not just because their lives would be forever intertwined. She’d wanted to know more about him before, even if she wouldn’t have had that kind of time with how things were, and now things had changed. And she really wanted to know Fox. Wanted to know the man that was the father of her child. Wanted to know the man himself.
So she texted him that she would see him tomorrow, knowing that they might be taking a step into something that could possibly hurt them both, or at least change everything. She didn’t have the answers. As it turned out, she didn’t have the answer to many things. Seeing as she had spent most of her life focused on something that had turned out to be wrong for her soul, maybe it was time to figure out who this new person in the mirror was, and see how Fox and their new future could fit together.
Chapter 15
Fox probably shouldn’t have been nervous to show Melody around town, considering they had already slept together and had spent time together, but he was still nervous as hell. After he had told his brothers the news, Kenzie and Ainsley had shown up soon after, demanding to know what had the three Collins brothers so on edge. And because Dare didn’t want to hide things from his woman, and Loch had a strange relationship with his best friend, Fox didn’t bother keeping secrets.
The two of them had looked shocked for a moment and then had squealed before hugging him. Then they had left the three guys alone because they wanted to talk to Melody. Sure, it had been his idea because he didn’t want Melody to be alone while family surrounded him, but the girls had made it sound as if it was their idea, as well. He didn’t mind because while Melody had her grandmother, Fox had so many more people in his life. And that meant there were many more shoulders he could lean on. And while he wanted to be a shoulder Melody could lean on, he had a feeling that they’d both needed space the night before. At least she might have needed space from him. He could be wrong, but by sending the girls over there, at least he’d known she wasn’t alone.
And now, Melody was on her way over to his office so they could take a late lunch/early dinner together and so he could show her around town. She’d been living in Whiskey for a little bit now and had visited before, but she had said that she didn’t know some of the little histories that came with each block and building. She might know the tourist’s version of the bootlegging stories, but there was so much more to Whiskey than its namesake.
The grand opening of her dance studio was soon, and he knew she was beyond nervous and frazzled. He had offered to help, and other than putting a notice in his paper that she had paid for, that was all she had allowed him to do until the day of. She planned to have a party to celebrate all of the new students and the building itself. And figured that would be a great time for everyone to get to know her as well as for her to check out who would be entering her classrooms. Fox would be there to be her errand boy, and he didn’t mind. Loch had also offered, even though he was also going as the father of one of the students. Fox had a feeling his entire family would show up and make sure Melody wasn’t alone for even a moment. She had no idea what she had signed on for when she slept with him, but neither had he. He hadn’t known he would find the most interesting, intelligent, sexy woman he could’ve ever hoped for. And he was glad that they would have this afternoon to get to know each other.
And that meant he needed to make sure that she enjoyed herself. Because if he made the town sound like a dull place today, she might think that he was dull and never want to see him again. Hell, he sounded as if he were back in high school again, worried about what the girls thought about him and his skinny limbs. He might’ve filled out in the muscle department, but apparently, the nerves department hadn’t changed much.
Melody had said that she would meet him in front of the office so she wouldn’t bother him at work, and since it was time, Fox packed up his things and headed out past his writers’ desks. Nancy looked up, narrowed her eyes, then went back to work. He barely resisted rolling his eyes at her. They would have to figure out a way to work together, especially if she continued to act as if she could write anything she wanted and however long she wanted it. Sometimes, he really hated the whole being a boss thing.
He had a feeling Nancy wouldn’t be staying at the paper much longer. He didn’t plan to fire her because she did damn good work. But he figured she wouldn’t stay because the small town just wasn’t enough for her. She’d end up moving to a bigger paper with bigger
news eventually, and that was just fine with him. Whiskey wasn’t for everyone—the town or the drink.
Melody was standing on the sidewalk right outside his building when he walked out. She wore leggings, ballet flats, and this tunic thing that cinched in at her waist and showcased her figure. He’d always known she was sexy. Had felt her sweet curves beneath his hands, but right then, he couldn’t help but think she was even sexier. And, yeah, he couldn’t stop his gaze from darting to her stomach, nor could he ignore the warmth filling him. Yeah, he was nervous and scared, but he was also damn excited. They were going to have a baby. He loved kids. And at this point in his life, he’d thought he would’ve had kids of his own by now. The fact that Melody was going to have his child made him feel like a Neanderthal, wanting to pound his chest and say that, yes, he had done that. And that was why he was never, ever going to tell Melody that train of thought.
“Hey there. I’m glad you came.”
Melody turned at the sound of his voice, her eyes brightening. He was glad they did that rather than having her shrink away in fear or whatever. He was seriously nervous about this day, and he just hoped that he didn’t screw it all up.
“I’m glad I came, too. I want to know more about the town since I’m planning to stay here for a good while. And I could use a walk. I’ve been inside that studio for so long now, that I think I’ve paced every single step. It’s pretty much done, and I’m so nervous for tomorrow.” She rested her hand on her stomach, and his gaze couldn’t pull away. He wanted to put his hand over hers, but he had a feeling that neither of them was ready for that. Or maybe they were and he was just scared.
“I’ve seen the place, remember? It looks great, and you’re going to do great.”
Whiskey Reveals Page 12
