Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 107803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“Goodness,” she said softly, as she leaned back in her rocking chair. “You are in a pickle.”
“I know.”
“May I offer you some advice?”
I nodded. “Please! Offer it up.”
“First, I can see how you might be hesitant to move in with Caden, but I think that’s the right course of action. You’re about to be a mother, Lilibeth, and you own your own store. I’m not saying you couldn’t handle it alone, but your life is about to become unbelievably busy. Do you really want to deal with owning a home, having a newborn, and running a store? If you move in with Caden, he’ll be there to help. You can help one another.”
Chewing on my lip, I thought about a dream I’d had of him just last night. I woke up so freaking horny, and I couldn’t imagine having him just a flight of stairs away would make me feel any less so. “I think I should wait until the second trimester.”
“Oh no,” she said, picking up her mug once again and taking a sip before going on. “In the first trimester, you can get tired pretty quickly. And you don’t want the stress of moving hanging over your head. If it were me, I’d move in as soon as possible.”
I narrowed my eyes at her. “Wait a minute. Are you playing matchmaker?”
Laughing and waving off my question, she replied, “Don’t be silly. Once you get settled in, you’ll feel more at ease and less stressed. Your parents have good intentions, but sometimes they don’t know how to step back and let their kids live their lives. Trust me, I’ve seen it time and time again. I even did it with my own daughter, and I’m sure you’ll do it with your child someday, as well.”
“So you think I should move in with Caden sooner rather than later? What do we tell people as the reason I’m moving in?”
She paused. “I didn’t think of that. The truth? It’s just family, correct? No one else needs to know.”
I bit my lip. “You’re technically right. And it would be less stressful. And Caden’s house is lovely. I could stay there for a little while after the baby’s born and maybe save up to buy my own place.”
“I’m sure once Vivianne Wilde finds out she’s about to be a grandmother, she’ll be planning a nursery in her house, as well.”
I sighed. “Thank you for listening.”
She reached for my hand and squeezed it. “Always here for you, my dear. Always.”
Feeling better than I had in the last three days, I cupped my mug of peppermint tea and smiled.
Caden
I rode along the north pasture fence line as the snow fell lightly around me. It was peaceful and quiet. The only sounds I heard were that of Draco’s hooves moving through the snow. When we stopped, I swore I could hear the snowflakes as they hit the ground.
Draco snickered, and I reached down and rubbed his neck. “What is it, boy?”
He threw his head up and down, and I looked around. Fifty feet from where we stood was a massive bull moose. He was staring at us with what looked like a quizzical expression.
“Easy,” I whispered to Draco, who took a few dancing steps. “He’s just out here doing his thing, like we are.”
His short, deep grunt caused Draco to stop in his tracks and stare intently. After another few moments, the bull moose started to walk away, and I could feel Draco relax under my seat. We both watched as the majestic animal moved on.
Giving him a light squeeze with my legs, I urged Draco to start walking again. My cell rang, and I reached into my jacket pocket.
It was a call from Lilibeth. I jerked my glove off with my teeth and answered.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Caden. Are you busy?”
“No. Is everything okay?”
“Oh yeah, everything’s fine. I wasn’t sure if now was a good time to talk?”
Draco slowly moved on. It was almost like he wasn’t in any rush to get back to the barn.
“Now’s fine. What’s up?”
“I told my parents this morning.”
Her voice sounded so sad. “I take it things didn’t go well?”
“They went okay. They’re insisting on buying me a house.”
I nearly choked. “A house?”
“My mother doesn’t think I should move in with you.”
“Why.”
“She’s worried I’m going to fall head over heels in love with you and you’ll end up breaking my heart.”
I closed my eyes. “I’d never purposely do anything to hurt you, Lilibeth.”
When she didn’t say anything for a long moment, I asked, “Are you still there?”
“I am. Um, Mrs. Harper, on the other hand, thinks I should move in sooner rather than later…but what would we tell people? Oh—did you tell your parents?”
I closed my eyes and tried to picture what Lilibeth looked like at that moment. Her hair would be tied up in braids or a ponytail. I knew she’d have a flower in it somewhere. “I did, last night. And Mrs. Harper knows now?” I laughed because I probably should mention I’d told my brother as well.