Love Lessons in Good Hope : A Good Hope Novel Book 14

by Cindy Kirk

  Adam stroked her hair. In his heart, he believed their child was healthy.

  He wasn’t sure how long they sat there as her sobs turned to tears, then to shuddering breaths.

  “We’ll get through this.” He placed a kiss on top of her head. “Together.”

  The next two weeks went by quickly. Charlotte saw Adam every day. Sometimes it was just for a quick lunch on the terrace behind the salon, other times for a burger or pizza at Bayside.

  The smell of pizza always took her back to that night when Adam held her in his arms and comforted her, when he promised he’d be there for her and their baby.

  They’d become a couple in the eyes of the community, and she didn’t mind that at all. She’d reached the end of the first trimester, and her stomach was pooching out—just a little. Surprisingly, she didn’t mind that either.

  Last week, Dr. Swanson’s nurse had called to say the results should be in on Monday. Charlotte set the appointment for Tuesday, her day off.

  If the news was bad, Charlotte wanted time to process.

  Charlotte glanced around the doctor’s office and forced a calm she didn’t feel.

  Adam sat to her right. Though he was just as stressed, he’d appear totally calm to a stranger. But Charlotte knew him now. She saw the tiny muscle jumping in his jaw and how his hands clenched and unclenched.

  She was prepared for the news, good or bad. Adam had been right about not only acknowledging potential worst-case scenarios, but about saying them aloud. Voicing her fears had eased them. While they hadn’t gone away, she’d been able to push them to the back of her mind these past two weeks.

  Or, maybe it wasn’t speaking her fears that had made it easier for her to cope. Maybe it was his reassurance that she wasn’t in this alone.

  She reached over and rested her hand on his, wanting him to know he also wasn’t alone in his worry.

  Flipping his hand over, he interlocked his fingers with hers.

  “We’ve got this,” she whispered.

  “Yes.” His gaze searched her face. “We do.”

  Charlotte told herself to look away. Instead, she found herself drowning in those warm brown depths. The connection that had been there since the beginning only continued to deepen.

  The door opened, and Charlotte and Adam shifted as Dr. Swanson swept into the room and took a seat opposite them.

  “I’ll not keep you waiting. Everything looks good.”

  “Everything?” Charlotte cleared her throat. “As in—”

  “The ultrasound measurements were all normal, and the blood you gave us has been analyzed. I’ve made a copy of the results the lab sent us. I have one for each of you.” Dr. Swanson leaned forward and handed them each a sheet of paper.

  Adam glanced down at the numbers, then back at the doctor. He cleared his throat once then cleared it again.

  Dr. Swanson offered an understanding smile and repeated the reassuring words. “Everything is normal. No evidence detected of any chromosomal abnormalities.”

  Tears filled Charlotte’s eyes, and she expelled a shuddering breath. “That is good news.”

  Adam cleared his throat. “Thank you, Dr. Swanson.”

  “Now, I know you weren’t sure if you wanted to know whether your baby is a boy or girl. This test also gives us the gender. I left that off the report, but I have that page right here. If you want it.”

  “It’s up to you,” Adam said when Charlotte glanced at him. “I’d like to know, but if you want to wait, that’s what we’ll do.”

  Charlotte decided that knowing the sex ahead of time would be like knowing the genetic results—it’d just make it easier to plan. “I-” She glanced again at Adam. “We’d like to know.”

  “Congratulations.” Dr. Swanson smiled and handed them the sheets with the gender results. “You’re having a boy.”

  Charlotte held hands with Adam as they left the doctor’s office. When they stepped out of the building, she just stood there. “I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.”

  His face had broken into a big grin at the doctor’s announcement. Now, his expression stilled and became unreadable. “You wanted a girl.”

  “I wanted—want a healthy baby.” She cocked her head, pulling her brows together as the implication behind his words hit her. “I’m relieved our child is healthy. That’s why I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. I think a little boy will be wonderful.”

  She could picture him. Dark wavy hair. Big brown eyes. And a smile that would melt his mother’s heart.

  “When the doctor said he was healthy—” Adam grinned. “I wanted to get up and swing her around.”

  “We should celebrate,” she said, then stopped herself. Just because she had the day off didn’t mean he did. “That is, if—”

  “I’d love to celebrate.” He blew out a breath. “The thing is, today is my dad’s birthday. I was going to pick up a cake. I’d love it if you’d come and help us celebrate.”

  Charlotte paused. “Are you sure I won’t be in the way?”

  “You’re part of the family, Charlotte. It’ll make his day extra special if you’re there.” As if Adam could see the wheels turning in her head, spitting out questions, he answered without her having to ask. “He’s grilling salmon and vegetables, so if you’re hoping for pizza, you’re out of luck.”

  “There won’t be enough.”

  “He put on enough for three.” Adam winked. “He was hoping I could convince you to come.”

  “I don’t have a gift.”

  “Your presence will be all the gift he needs.” Adam hesitated. “If you’re ready to tell him we’re having a boy, that’d be an amazing gift. If not, I bought him a gift certificate to Muddy Boots.”

  “Why there?”

  “During the winter, he meets a group of guys for cards once a week.” Adam opened the truck door for her and waited until she was settled before rounding the front.

  “That’s a lovely gift. Very thoughtful.”

  Adam appeared pleased by her comment. Instead of turning onto the highway headed out of town, he turned in the opposite direction.

  “Where are we going?” she asked, then remembered the cake. “Did you get it from Blooms?”

  “I had Anita make it,” he said somewhat sheepishly. “Cakes are her specialty.”

  It felt strange, knowing Anita and Adam had once dated. Then she remembered how she’d once lusted after Max Brody and now had only fond feelings.

  Adam hopped out of the truck when they reached Crumb and Cake.

  She pulled out her phone and began scrolling through her messages.

  Her door opened, and she jumped.

  “Aren’t you coming?” he asked.

  “I don’t see the need.”

  “I’m sure Anita has already spotted you in the truck.”

  Charlotte chuckled and dropped her phone back into her purse. “We can’t have Anita reading all sorts of things into my sitting in the truck.”

  “You know her well.” Adam’s jovial tone had Charlotte grinning.

  The smile was still on her face when Adam held open the door for her.

  Anita looked up from behind the counter. For a moment, surprise flickered across her face. Then she rounded the counter and held out both hands to Adam.

  He took them, then kissed her cheek. “You look absolutely amazing, Anita. That’s a new hairstyle. I like it.”

  One hand rose to her hair, and she flushed prettily.

  “This one is a genius with hair.” Anita gestured with her head toward Charlotte. “I didn’t realize you and Adam were still dating.”

  “I can’t wait to see how the cake turned out.” Adam’s comment spared Charlotte the need to respond. “Chocolate Nutella with chocolate ganache.”

  “The perfect cake for a chocolate lover,” Anita pronounced.

  “That’s my dad.”

  “I guarantee it will taste every bit as good as it looks.” Anita slipped around the counter and returned with a bakery box. S
etting it on a shiny chrome table, she carefully lifted the lid. “Six layers of pure decadence.”

  Charlotte gazed at the cake, then refocused on Anita. “It’s a work of art.”

  “Cakes are my specialty.” Anita lips lifted in a feline smile. “No one does them better.”

  “Thank you.” Adam handed Anita several bills.

  “Let me get your change.”

  “I don’t want any.”

  Her dark brows pulled together. “This is way more than what I quoted you.”

  “This cake is a masterpiece, and he’s going to love it.” Adam gave her arm a squeeze. “It’s worth every penny.”

  “If you insist.” Anita slid the bills into the pocket of the green apron she wore, then carefully placed the lid back on the cake box. “Do you need help out with this?”

  “Between Charlotte and me, I think we can manage.” Adam shot Charlotte a smile. “Ready?”

  “It was good seeing you again.” Charlotte reached around Adam to open the door. She didn’t trust herself not to drop that beautiful cake.

  “Stop by anytime.” Though her words were directed to Adam, Anita widened her smile at the last second to include Charlotte.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Adam couldn’t stop smiling. He’d helped his dad finish grilling while Charlotte set the table on the patio so they could eat outside.

  Conversation flowed easily over salmon and grilled carrots. Charlotte had agreed they could tell Stan about the baby’s gender, but the right moment hadn’t yet arrived.

  It seemed almost a shame to put candles atop the tiny flourishes of chocolate on top of the cake, so Adam just put one in the center, then lit it.

  “Happy birthday to you…” His and Charlotte’s voices blended together, but it was Molly’s howling that had them all laughing by the time the song ended.

  Adam leaned over and gave his dad a hug. When he kissed his father on the cheek, he saw Charlotte blink.

  “I love you, Dad. Happy birthday.”

  “Thank you, son.” Stan extended a hand to Charlotte and drew her close. “Thank you for being here. It means a lot to this old man.”

  “I have a gift for you.”

  “Aww, you didn’t need to bring me anything.” Stan gave her hand a squeeze before releasing it. “Having you here celebrating with me is enough.”

  Adam didn’t know what to say or where she was going with this. He decided to sit back and see what happened.

  “Adam and I got some good news at the doctor today.” She cast a quick glance at him, and he nodded. “Our baby is completely healthy. All the tests to check for chromosome abnormalities were normal.”

  “That’s wonderful news and a lovely gift.” Stan sought his son’s gaze before returning his to Charlotte. “Though I know you’d have dealt with whatever challenges life threw at you, I’m happy for both of you.”

  “I believe we would have,” Charlotte agreed. “But that isn’t your gift. I thought—we thought—you might want to know that Madame Gitana was right. In the spring, you’ll have a grandson to spoil.”

  “A boy.” Stan’s face lit up like fireworks over Green Bay. “A healthy little boy.”

  “We’re pretty jazzed.” Adam reached over and gave Charlotte’s hand a squeeze.

  “Congratulations.” Stan swiped at his eyes. “This is the best birthday gift I’ve ever received.”

  Later that evening, Charlotte stepped with Adam onto the wooden porch outside the Ding-A-Ling bar. Gazing through the large front windows, she saw a sizable number of people inside. Sizable, considering the tourists were gone and it was a Tuesday night.

  When she’d lived here before, Charlotte wouldn’t have considered setting foot in the bar.

  The two-story structure at the end of Wrigley Road—which she remembered as only a gravel road on the outskirts of Good Hope–had been a dive with nothing to recommend it. But three of Good Hope’s most prominent citizens had seen the potential and turned it into a popular honky-tonk.

  “I still feel bad leaving your dad.” Charlotte hesitated outside the saloonlike doors leading inside.

  “When he told you that he goes to bed early, he was giving it to you straight.” Adam leaned against one of the outside posts, apparently in no hurry to rush inside. “Part of post-polio syndrome is fatigue. Some days are better than others. We did him a favor by leaving. If we’d stayed, he’d have tried to stay up and be the good host.”

  Charlotte could see Stan wanting to make sure she didn’t feel slighted. “That makes me feel better. Though I hope he knows me well enough to be honest.”

  “He’s gettin’ there. Otherwise, he’d never have even mentioned going to bed.”

  “Okay, then.” Charlotte glanced at the doors, but made no move to go inside.

  “If you don’t want to go in here, we can take a walk or do something else. Your choice.” Adam’s expression turned uncertain. “I know we both were in the mood to celebrate after the doctor’s visit. A family birthday party could hardly be what you had in mind.”

  “I enjoyed the dinner and spending time with your dad.” More than she’d thought possible. Stan was easy to be with and so, she was beginning to realize, was Adam.

  She glanced at the doors leading into the Ding-A-Ling. Adam wanted to give her a memorable evening, but the truth was, he already had when they’d celebrated with Stan.

  Just being with him was enough. She’d be content simply going back to her apartment and watching a movie with him. She thought about telling him just that, then she reminded herself this night wasn’t only about her.

  Adam had suggested this place. He was clearly in the mood to commemorate the moment.

  Putting her hands on his shoulders, she kissed him. “Let’s go have some fun.”

  “I was so excited when I saw you and Adam walk through the door.” Marigold spoke loudly to be heard over the song blaring from the karaoke machine in the far corner of the bar.

  “She nearly knocked over her soda.” Fin lifted her own glass of 7UP. “I’m keeping mine out of reach.”

  Marigold protested when the server brought Charlotte her own soda. “Just because Fin and I can’t drink doesn’t mean you shouldn’t.”

  Charlotte lifted the glass of clear liquid. “To solidarity.”

  The three women clanked their glasses together.

  “Did Marigold tell you that Jeremy and I are having another boy?” Fin asked.

  “No, she didn’t. Congratulations.” Charlotte shook her head. “Two boys.”

  “Jeremy and I are thrilled,” Fin explained. “He’d always wanted a brother when he was growing up. I loved having sisters, so I can understand the appeal of same-sex siblings.”

  “You and Ami were always close growing up,” Marigold acknowledged. “Being the first two and all.”

  “What about the two of you?” Charlotte focused on Marigold. “You’re the youngest, right?”

  “I am. Fin is second-oldest. Prim is between us.” Marigold hesitated. “There’s enough of an age difference between—”

  “What my baby sister is attempting to say,” Fin interrupted, “without coming out and saying it, is that she and I have spent much of our lives at odds.”

  Marigold chuckled, then shrugged. “Fin always did have a way with words.”

  “You seem close now.”

  “We’re like this.” Marigold held up two fingers close together. “We’re a lot alike. That caused a lot of clashes when we were younger.”

  “Not to mention Marigold was the baby and therefore spoiled by our parents.”

  “Delphinium was the girl who thought life should revolve around her.”

  Charlotte held up a hand, fascinated by this insight into the life of two of the Bloom sisters. “Do you really think the issues were compounded because you were so much alike?”

  Marigold and Fin exchanged a glance. Both nodded.

  “Fin and I only got close as adults,” Marigold added.

  “Not rig
ht away, though,” Fin corrected.

  Marigold rolled her eyes. “I stand corrected.”

  “I simply wanted to make it clear to Charlotte that forging a new closeness didn’t happen overnight.” Fin spoke in a clipped, measured tone that had her sister grinning.

  “Seriously, though,” Marigold smiled at Fin, “I love being able to talk to her about life and babies and jobs and babies.”

  “Lately, we talk more about pregnancy and babies than anything else.” Fin shook her head. “When I lived in LA, I never imagined I could be content with this kind of life.”

  “Are you content?” Charlotte asked bluntly.

  “I’m more than content, I’m happy.” Fin’s lips, painted a rich shade of red, curved. “I find my work fulfilling, and I love being Jeremy’s wife and Eddie’s mother.”

  “As Fin is currently in the trenches, she’s my go-to for all my little-boy questions. The day after we brought Caleb home, his penis and testicles appeared swollen. I called her, and she was able to reassure me.”

  “That would have worried me, too.” Charlotte looked at Fin. “What did you tell her?”

  “I told her the swelling can occur because of maternal birth hormones and birth trauma. It usually goes down in a few days.”

  “Thankfully, it did.” Marigold pretended to wipe sweat from her brow with the back of her hand. “Cade was just as freaked.”

  Charlotte thought of all the conversations she and her friends had had over martinis or wine. Most of those had revolved around men. She supposed, in a way, this conversation did, too. Only on a much smaller scale.

  “Just wait until you see an erection on your–”

  “This conversation sounds much more interesting than the one we were having at the pool table.” Jeremy shot his wife a teasing smile. “Have you been telling tales about me again, my darling wife?”

  Marigold snorted out a laugh. “She’s been telling all sorts of tales.”

  “You were the one who brought up swollen testicles,” Charlotte reminded Marigold.

  Cade’s eyes widened, then he grinned. “You’re talking baby boys.”