It was a good question, Nessie thought. ‘Stunned, mostly. I was so sure it was the takeaway that was making me feel so awful that I never stopped to consider anything else.’ She gnawed at her lip. ‘How do you feel?’
He didn’t answer. Nessie felt tears prick the back of her eyes; surely he wasn’t going to remind her he didn’t want any more children? She blinked hard, determined not to cry. And then his hand moved to curve protectively around her belly and he gave her a smile so wide she thought her heart would crack. ‘How could I be anything other than over the moon, Nessie? We’re – we’re going to have a baby!’
She burst into tears. Owen pulled her into his arms, raining kisses onto the top of her head as she sobbed into his chest. Moments later, Luke and Kathryn appeared in the doorway, their startled faces pale.
‘What’s going on?’ Kathryn demanded. ‘What’s wrong?’
Owen turned to beam at her. ‘Nothing’s wrong.’ He took a deep breath and gave Luke an encouraging nod. ‘Do you remember what you said about being a big brother?’
Luke’s face lit up. ‘Seriously? SERIOUSLY?’
‘Seriously,’ Owen laughed and looked at Kathryn. ‘And I’m afraid that means you’re going to an auntie again.’
‘I knew it!’ Kathryn crowed, her expression shining with happiness. ‘Bloody hell, I can’t think of anything I’d like more.’
It was all too much for Nessie, who broke into a fresh peal of sobbing that only subsided when Owen tilted her face upwards and gently wiped her tears away. ‘I can’t think of anything else I’d like more, either,’ he said, planting a soft kiss on her lips. ‘You’re going to be a wonderful mother, Nessie. Everything is going to be fine.’
He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. And her feeling of panic vanished, to be replaced by a lightness she hadn’t felt for weeks. She touched her stomach wonderingly and allowed herself the smallest of smiles. ‘I’m not sure I believe it yet,’ she whispered back. ‘But everything is going to be fine.’
End of Part One
COMING SOON
CHRISTMAS KISSES AT THE STAR AND SIXPENCE
AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOW!
Also by Holly Hepburn
The Star and Sixpence Series
Snowdrops at the Star and Sixpence
Valentine’s Day at the Star and Sixpence
Summer at the Star and Sixpence
Autumn at the Star and Sixpence
Winter at the Star and Sixpence
The Picture House Series
Brief Encounter at the Picture House by the Sea
Singing in the Rain at the Picture House by the Sea
Dirty Dancing at the Picture House by the Sea
Some Like it Hot at the Picture House by the Sea
The Castle Court Series
Snowy Nights at Castle Court
Frosty Mornings at Castle Court
Stormy Weather at Castle Court
Starry Skies at Castle Court
First published in Great Britain by Simon & Schuster UK Ltd, 2018
A CBS Company
Copyright © Tamsyn Murray, 2018
The right of Tamsyn Murray to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
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A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
eBook ISBN: 978-1-4711-7995-2
New Beginnings at the Star and Sixpence Page 9
