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My father would rather die than admit he was afraid of anything. And my mother accepts his emotional distance as simply the way things are. Tess and I are already breaking those patterns just by having this conversation.

"We're in this together, babe," I say, testing the words, and liking how they feel.

"Partners," she agrees, leaning back to look at me. The sunlight catches in her hair, turning the brown strands to amber and gold. "In parenting and...everything else."

I look at her beautiful face and realize this woman who started as a convenient date has become important to me in ways that I never imagined.

"I’m in love with you, Tess," I blurt out, the words tumbling over each other in their rush to be spoken. "I think I have been since that first wedding."

Her eyes widen, surprise flickering across her features before softening into something warmer. For a horrible moment, I think I've overstepped, moved too fast. Then her hands come up to frame my face, her touch achingly gentle.

"Charlie Astor," she says, her voice just above a whisper, "I’m in love with you too."

The world narrows to just this: her eyes on mine, her hands on my face, the slight tremble in her voice matching the tremor in my chest. All the fears and worries that have been circling me since we learned about the pregnancy seem to recede, not gone but less overwhelming in the face of this new certainty.

I lean down and kiss her, right there in the parking lot with the afternoon sun warming our shoulders and the ultrasound photos pressed between us. It's not our first kiss, not by a long shot, but it feels new somehow—with all our fears and hopes laid bare.

Chapter 29

Tess

Charlie and I are tucked into a corner booth at Portage Bay Café, my favorite breakfast spot. I've been craving blueberry pancakes and just finished off a stack of them while Charlie nurses his third cup of coffee.

“Want a little sip? It’s really good coffee,” he asks, a playful look on his face.

“I still don’t like coffee and you know that. And God knows I’ve tried enough times.” He gives me a stern look and I roll my eyes at him.

The last few days have been so charged with meaning after our parking lot confessions. I'm not sure what happens next—how do you navigate falling in love with someone when you're already having twins together? We're doing everything in reverse.

"I actually need to talk to you about something," Charlie says, setting down his coffee cup. His serious tone makes my stomach tighten for a moment before he continues. "It's nothing bad. Just...there's one more wedding we need to attend this season."

"Oh?" I reach for my water glass, relieved it's just another wedding. "Whose?"

"My cousin Anna. She just sent out invitations yesterday. It's next weekend."

"Next weekend? That's pretty short notice." I frown, mentally checking my calendar. "Wait, is this the cousin who's been dating that tech guy for like, what, nine months?"

Charlie nods, a knowing smile playing at his lips. "Eight months, according to my mother. And yes, very short notice for a full-scale wedding at The Edgewater."

"Huh." I tilt my head, watching his expression. "Someone pulled some serious strings for that."

He agrees, and then lowers his voice conspiratorially. "My mother is beside herself trying to figure out why the rush. But she won't say what we're all thinking."

"Which is...?"

Charlie raises his eyebrows meaningfully. "That dear cousin Anna might be in a similar situation to us. Minus one baby. Unless of course, they’re having twins too."

The irony hits me and I start laughing, covering my mouth to keep from disturbing the other diners. "Oh my God. Your mother must know that’s what's going on."

"I’m sure she knows. She just doesn’t want to say it." He reaches across the table to take my hand. "What do you think? Feel up to one more wedding? At least this one’s local."

"I think I can manage that." I squeeze his fingers. "Should we start telling people about the babies yet? I'm fourteen weeks..."

"You're really only barely showing though," Charlie says, his eyes dropping to my middle. "Maybe just a little, but nothing someone would notice if they didn't know."

I run my hand over my stomach. There's definitely a curve there now. Some of my looser clothes still fit, but my jeans require some creative buttoning techniques these days.

"I was thinking we could wait until after Anna's wedding," Charlie continues. "Seems rude to steal her thunder, especially if she is pregnant.”