Baby Dreams in Good Hope (A Good Hope Novel Book 13)

by Cindy Kirk

  Though Marigold had vowed to keep her eyes on the badminton game and off of Gladys, she found herself shifting to face the woman.

  Tonight’s menu had been developed with children in mind. In addition to the sliders, there was pizza monkey bread and baked mac and cheese. The only relatively normal addition to the menu was the pink lemonade birthday cake Marigold had baked.

  “Lynn must be proud when she looks out on such a lovely family. You’ve all done a fine job of merging the two.” Gladys expelled a satisfied breath.

  The merging had taken some effort, but hadn’t been difficult, as most of the adult children of both Steve and Lynn were already friends. Marigold refocused on the badminton game. Brynn had entered the game and was proving to be a fierce competitor. She was showing the boys and the two men just how the game should be played.

  Marigold’s heart gave a ping. Yes, even the grandchildren were forging a closeness.

  “Ruby is thrilled you’ll be giving her another great-grandchild early next year.”

  Gladys’s words were like a knife to Marigold’s heart. Selfishly, all she could think was it should have been her. Fin had a baby, right there in her arms, while Marigold’s arms remained empty.

  “Jeremy and I are super excited.” Fin gave a little laugh. “Though we’re definitely going to be busy.”

  “Hoping for another boy?” Gladys arched a brow. “Or a little girl this time?”

  “A healthy baby.” Fin nodded for emphasis. “That’s all we want.”

  Marigold knew her sister meant every word. Years after the fact, the family had learned Fin had suffered a miscarriage in high school. Her sister had borne that pain all alone, not even telling Jeremy until years later.

  That was one thing about her and Cade, Marigold thought. They’d been together in this battle to have a baby from the beginning. He’d gone with her to her doctors’ appointments and experienced the heartbreak with her when the pregnancy tests turned up negative time after time.

  When Gladys turned that assessing gaze to her, Marigold braced herself. “I understand you and Cade will close on the Dunlevey house on the fifteenth.”

  Marigold exhaled the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. Talking about houses was something she could handle. “We can’t wait. The house is amazing. It will make a wonderful home.”

  “Plus, you’ll be just down the road from Ami and Beck,” Fin pointed out.

  Marigold laughed. “A cross I’ll have to bear.”

  The truth was, both she and Cade were excited to live so near to Ami and her husband. Though selling the property they’d owned that faced Green Bay had been a difficult decision, she and Cade really didn’t have the money to build.

  Now, they owned a beautiful historic home close to her salon and the sheriff’s office. A large home they hoped to one day fill with children.

  That was the plan. Marigold’s gaze shifted to Cade.

  As if her husband felt her eyes on him, he turned and grinned, offering a wave and a wink before refocusing on the game.

  A rush of love enveloped Marigold.

  “He’s a handsome devil, your husband,” Gladys said to Marigold.

  “That he is.”

  “He’ll make a wonderful father,” Gladys added.

  “Yes.” Clearing her throat, Marigold smiled brightly in the direction where Steve Bloom was bent over, setting up the croquet course. “My father appears to need my assistance. I’ll be—”

  Before Marigold could beat a hasty retreat, Gladys’s bony fingers curved around her arm in a tight grasp. “Change is coming. Big changes. Be ready.”

  Big changes. What did Gladys mean?

  Only a few times in Marigold’s life had she found herself unable to catch her breath. The first had been when she’d been ten. She’d lost control of her bike and slammed into a telephone pole. The force of the impact had knocked the air from her lungs.

  The second had been when her mother was diagnosed with leukemia. Marigold had been in middle school. When her parents had broken the news to their daughters, Marigold had cried until she couldn’t breathe.

  And now.

  Somehow, Marigold managed a jerky nod and hurried off. She wanted to run, to sprint across the yard to her dad. To have him wrap his arms around her and reassure her that everything was going to be okay. Tell her that her husband loved her more than life itself.

  But she was twenty-eight, not eight, and he was busy setting up the croquet game. Ami’s Sarah Rose and Prim’s Adelyn hovered close, “helping.” When Marigold was far enough away that she didn’t think Gladys would follow, she veered off and headed down to the water.

  Rakes Pond was where groups played pond hockey and where children of all ages skated whenever ice covered the water. It was deserted now, and when she sank onto one of the benches along the perimeter, Marigold finally found her breath.

  “Is everything okay?”

  Bea Appleton, one of Marigold’s friends, stood a distance away. The sparkling diamond on her left hand caught the rays of the sun and sent them scattering in a rainbow of color. Several weeks earlier, Bea had become engaged to Lynn’s son Clay.

  Marigold had been excited that her friend, the sweet and gentle Bea, would now be a part of the family. Never one for high fashion, the bookseller sported one of her favorite graphic tees. This one showed a stack of books and announced, “Books…Because Reality Is Overrated.”

  “Everything is fine,” Marigold told her friend. “I just need some alone time.”

  Bea’s eyes, appearing almost violet in the light, were solemn. “I came down here for the same reason.”

  Marigold appreciated that Bea didn’t ask a lot of questions or push for answers. She simply made it clear she was available should Marigold need her.

  “I won’t be long,” Marigold assured her.

  What was wrong with her? Marigold wondered as she watched her friend trudge up the hill. Those fertility drugs really had done a number on her system. And her psyche.

  Sitting alone when there was a party going on? Crying at the drop of a hat?

  Not to mention being so exhausted she could barely make it through a day without a nap. She was aware such fatigue could be a sign of depression. Yet, she didn’t feel particularly depressed.

  And then all the PMS symptoms that simply wouldn’t go away. Last night, she’d snapped at Cade when he’d asked a simple question, then cried when she saw the confused look on his face.

  Marigold would consult with her doctor, that’s what she would do. She would make an appointment tomorrow and get something to start her period. Once her cycle was regular, hopefully she’d start feeling like herself again.

  Maybe her worry over Cade was justified, but one conversation did not an affair make. The trip to Milwaukee? Well, there was a logical explanation. Once they had a chance to sit down and talk, he’d tell her all about it. She might even confide her fears.

  Marigold trusted her husband. She loved her husband.

  Once she got her hormones under control, things would be better.

  Chapter Three

  On the way home from the party, Cade detoured to the Dunlevey mansion. Though that’s what everyone in Good Hope called the old Victorian, it wasn’t really a mansion, simply a large brick home built in the late 1880s. It was only one of a handful of homes in the county to survive from that era.

  “I can’t believe it’s ours.” Marigold stood with Cade in the driveway of the now-empty house.

  “It does seem surreal.” Cade chuckled. “I never thought I’d own a home with a cupola.”

  He’d positioned himself at Marigold’s side once they got out of the truck, and his arm was slung around her shoulders.

  Marigold knew he loved this house, but couldn’t help wondering if he harbored regrets over selling the land they’d both loved. “I know you really wanted to build a home facing the bay.”

  “I want a home with you now. Not in five years.” He surprised—and pleased—her by be
nding down and kissing her gently on the mouth. His arm tightened around her shoulders. “That’s how long it’d have been before we could afford a house that would do justice to that lot. This way, we have a beautiful home just down the street from your sister.”

  “No regrets?” She searched his eyes and realized she wasn’t just talking about the lot, but their life together.

  “Not a one.” His gaze lingered on her face, and she saw the puzzlement there. “You’ve seemed different lately. Everything okay?”

  He’d asked her basically the same question in a dozen different ways over the past few weeks. Each time, she’d assured him that nothing was wrong. Each time, he’d pretended to believe her.

  “I’ve been feeling really strange lately. Dr. Swanson warned me that might happen, coming off the drugs, but I find myself wanting to sleep all day. And I cry all the damn time.”

  Cade smiled at the disgust in her voice before his hand cupped her cheek with a gentleness that made her want to weep.

  “I love you, Marigold. Anytime you feel sad or alone or just need a shoulder to cry on, I want you to come to me.” He brushed her lips with his. “You’re my heart. It kills me to see you hurting.”

  She leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his neck, feeling his love and his strength. Marigold drew from that strength, and as she stood there in the warm evening breeze with a million stars overhead, she felt herself steady.

  For the first time in weeks, her doubts and fears disappeared.

  Marigold never did ask Cade about Alice that night. When they’d gotten home, there hadn’t been time for talking. She’d wanted him as much as he’d wanted her. When he’d scooped her up and carried her into the bedroom, planting kisses all over her face, she’d embraced the moment.

  Now, her husband was on duty, and she had a contract to negotiate.

  Charlotte McCray glanced around Muddy Boots. She studied the interior with the intensity of a pawnbroker pricing an object.

  She and Marigold sat in a booth of cherry-red vinyl. Cobalt-blue splashes of paint on the white walls simulated rain. On the far wall was a mural of a happy young girl in a raincoat kicking up water.

  Though a workday, the iconic café on Main Street was hopping. The calendar might have barely flipped to June, but thanks to the above-average temperatures, tourist season was already in full swing on the peninsula. “The place looks better than I remember.”

  “Beck and Ami are always looking for ways to update or make improvements to the café. Without changing the feel of the place, of course.” Marigold sipped her tea. Coffee was another thing that no longer tasted the same.

  Darn fertility drugs, she thought. This newly acquired aversion to wine and coffee hadn’t started until after she’d bombarded her body with the drugs.

  “I went by Golden Door this morning.” Charlotte gave an exaggerated shudder. “It made me sick to see how far it’s fallen.”

  “Well, look who’s back.” Adam Vogele paused tableside. “When did you blow back into town?”

  Charlotte studied the man from beneath lowered lashes for several long seconds.

  Tall and rangy, the organic farmer was a handsome guy with dark hair and intense brown eyes. He ran a thriving business, but he hadn’t, as far as Marigold knew, been a part of Charlotte’s circle of friends.

  The admiration for Charlotte in Adam’s eyes made perfect sense. With her thick tumble of walnut waves, bright blue eyes and pretty features, Charlotte drew men’s glances wherever she went.

  What surprised Marigold was that Adam knew Charlotte well enough to stop by the table to chat.

  “I’m considering moving back.” Charlotte arched a brow. “What do you think?”

  “I believe you will do exactly what you want.” Though his tone remained easy, Marigold caught an undercurrent of…something. One thing was for certain: These two knew each other a whole lot better than she’d thought.

  “You’re right.” Charlotte gave a little laugh, then waved a dismissive hand. “Good to see you again.”

  Though astute enough to understand he’d been dismissed, Adam turned to Marigold. “It’s good to see you again. Give my regards to Cade.”

  “I will.”

  Charlotte watched him stroll off before refocusing her attention on Marigold. “You’re married to the sheriff. I don’t remember him.”

  That wasn’t surprising since Cade had come to town shortly before Charlotte had moved away. Even when Golden Door had been flourishing, she’d spent more time tending her Chicago salon than she had the one here.

  “He’s—” Marigold stopped and smiled when she saw Cade emerge from the back room of the café with Beck. Her smile faded when she saw the serious looks on their faces and watched them shake hands. “Right over there.”

  Charlotte shifted her gaze and studied the two men. “Looks like the conclusion of a business meeting. What would a sheriff have to do with a restaurateur?”

  “Beck is also an attorney. When you lived here, he wasn’t practicing. He is now and consults with law enforcement…occasionally.” Rarely was actually more accurate, but Marigold didn’t want to open the discussion with Charlotte up to more questions.

  This clearly wasn’t a social visit. Yet, this morning Cade hadn’t mentioned a meeting with his brother-in-law. A hard lump formed in the pit of her stomach, but Marigold managed a smile when the two men headed their way.

  Because it had been a while, Marigold performed quick introductions.

  “You cut my hair before my sister-in-law came to town,” Beck recalled, offering a warm smile.

  “I lost a lot of business to the amazing Marigold Bloom.” Charlotte smiled, then shifted her gaze to Cade. A look of pure female appreciation filled her bright blue eyes.

  If Cade noticed—and how could he not?—it didn’t show. He smiled at Marigold as he responded to Charlotte. “She is amazing.”

  When he leaned over and kissed her briefly on the mouth, Marigold wasn’t ashamed to admit her heart swelled. “See you tonight,” he said.

  “Be safe,” she told him, as she did most mornings when he left home for work.

  “Nice to meet you, Charlotte.”

  The woman across from her didn’t say a word until the two men were out of earshot. “I always did love a man with broad shoulders and a weapon.”

  Marigold laughed. “I think it’s time to get down to business.”

  Once their discussion concluded and Charlotte had driven away in her shiny red BMW roadster, Marigold stepped into Book & Cup.

  The bookstore, owned by her friend Bea, would be relocating to Wrigley Road at the end of the summer. A move Marigold knew Bea both dreaded and eagerly anticipated.

  In September, Bea would become part of the Bloom-Chapin family when she married Clay, Lynn’s youngest son.

  The bells over the door jingled as she pushed it open. The unexpected scent of blueberries filled the still air.

  “I’ll be with you—” Bea popped up from beneath the counter. A bright smile lifted her lips. “Marigold. I didn’t think I’d see you this morning.”

  “I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d stop by.”

  “I’m glad you did.” Bea gestured to the coffee machine behind the counter. “Would you like some coffee? Blueberry is the flavor of the day. It’s become Clay’s new favorite.”

  Marigold did a momentary self-assessment. As the day progressed, her stomach had felt more settled. She might be able to have some coffee. “I’d love to give it a try.”

  Only minutes later, they were seated on stools at the counter, each with a mug of steaming coffee before them.

  “I thought you’d be busy cutting and curling.” Bea cocked her head. “But I’m glad you’re here. We didn’t get much of a chance to talk last night. There’s something I want to ask you.”

  Marigold sipped her coffee and found it delicious. “What is it?”

  “Will you be one of my bridesmaids?” Bea offered an imploring look. “Britt will co
me back to be my maid of honor.”

  That, Marigold thought, had been a given. Bea and her twin might be separated by distance right now, but that sisterly bond was a strong one. “How’s life in Denver going for her?”

  Bea’s smile remained on her face. “It’s going.”

  “Did she get her social media job with the Grizzlies?” Marigold couldn’t believe she hadn’t asked before now. Then again, she’d had a lot on her mind.

  “Not yet, but she’s still hopeful,” Bea continued. “Will you do it?”

  She didn’t give Marigold a chance to ask if Britt had connected with the team owner’s son, JR Driskill, who’d recently been in Good Hope.

  “I’d be honored.” Marigold met Bea’s gaze. “I know I’ve said it before, but I’m thrilled you’ll be part of the family.”

  Bea’s lips curved. “I like to tease Clay that him having a large family was a huge selling point in his favor. With my parents back East and my sister not living here, I like the idea of our children having lots of cousins nearby.”

  Over the past couple of years, Marigold had plenty of experience keeping a smile on her face when friends and family spoke of getting pregnant. Especially when they seemed to assume that would happen exactly when they wanted it to.

  Marigold constantly had to stop herself from warning them that it might not be so easy, that even when you were young and healthy, sometimes there were problems.

  Keeping that smile, Marigold inclined her head. “Do you plan to start trying for a family right away?”

  “We’ve discussed it.” Bea’s smile turned soft and sweet. “For now, I want to enjoy being with Clay. I love him so much. I can’t imagine my life without him.”

  All the way to the salon and all the way home, Bea’s words echoed in Marigold’s mind. Like Bea, she couldn’t imagine her life without the man she loved.

  She left the salon early, eagerly anticipating a nap before Cade arrived home at six. The nausea that plagued her off and on was back. She wondered if not eating since her morning meeting with Charlotte had something to do with the queasiness.