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“Spit it out,” Dad says impatiently as if he can’t enjoy his dinner until he hears whatever it is I came down to say.
“Asher and Bug are going to move to Calloway Creek.”
Mom’s eyes narrow to slits. She senses that’s not all. “Aaaaaaand?”
“And I’m moving out.”
Mom claps her hands together, happily. I once told her that it would take one hell of a guy to get me to move out of Montana Manor. So she knows. She knows Asher isthatguy. Hell, she knew it even before I did. “Oh, that’s fantastic. We’re so happy for you.”
Asher and I share a look.
Dad doesn’t fail to notice. His eyes dart back and forth between us. “Aaaaaand?”
I blow out a cleansing breath. “And I’m pregnant. With twins.”
My parents’ reaction is somewhat expected. It’s a mixture of surprise, excitement, and deep, deep concern.
“It’s okay,” I say. “I had the blood tests. They’re fine. No abnormalities.” I smile at Asher. “We’re happy about this.”
Mom breathes a huge sigh of relief, hops out of her chair and practically topples me out of mine. “I’m so, so, so happy for you.” She reaches over and touches Asher’s arm. “Both of you.”
Once my mother calms down, we settle in and eat as I fill them in on the reality of what I’ve been dealing with over the past few weeks. Other than Mia and Jason—and now Asher—my parents are the only people who know about Christopher, so they fully understand what I was going through. That doesn’t mean I don’t get a few harsh looks and stern statements about not coming to them earlier.
“We need to have a family dinner.” Dad claps his hands once like he’s making a proclamation. “We’ll make it a celebration.”
“That would be nice,” I say. “I think I’m ready to tell everyone.”
“Well, I’d hope so.” Mom stares at the ultrasound photo. “With twins you’ll hardly be able to hide it much longer.”
“That’s not what I meant. I mean, yes, we’ll tell them I’m pregnant.” I turn and take Asher’s hand. “But I’m ready to tell everyone about Christopher.”
Chapter Twenty-two
Asher
I haven’t stopped smiling for two straight days. While I had to extend my time in New York for a day to finish the business that took me there, most of the visit was spent with Allie. Contemplating our situation. Planning our future.
Ourfuture. One that involves us being together. Thus, the smile.
It was hard leaving her this morning. But I have a lot to do. I have to finish a few home renovation projects, sell the convertible, and put the house on the market. But most importantly, I have to tell Bug.
As the plane touches down, I wonder how she’ll take the news. I think she’ll be happy about having a little brother and sister. But she’s a teenager. I don’t pretend to know anything about the workings of an adolescent brain. Not even when I was one myself.
I pull into Mel’s driveway and exit the car. Mel’s mom is weeding the flowerbeds.
“Thanks for keeping her an extra day.”
“It’s fine. I know they appreciate every minute they have together.” She sits back in the grass, rubs her knees and shields her eyes from the sun as she looks up at me. “You’re not really considering moving to Oregon, are you?”
I laugh a little. “Is that what Bug said?”
I’m not sure why I’m surprised. For the entire week after she found out Mel was moving, she left not-so-subtle hints. Printouts of Crater Lake National Park and Mount Hood. Information about schools. Even house listings.
She shrugs. “Teenagers say all kinds of crazy things.”
“It was a bit of wishful thinking on her part. She knows I can live anywhere since I’m not tied to an office.”
“You like it here?” Barb asks.