Page 4 of Under the Island Moon (Brookwell Island)

Molly made it to work in the nick of time. Dashing straight to the restroom, her stomach rejected the half cup of coffee she’d sipped on the short drive into work.

In the mirror over the sink, she barely recognized herself. Couldn’t blame it all on the fluorescent lighting. She was looking paler than any of the little ghosts that would be running around the Fall Festival this weekend.

And felt even worse.

She rinsed her mouth and vigorously dried her face, trying to rub a little color into her cheeks.

Bad move. Now she looked like a ghost who’d played in an old makeup kit.

After another round of cool water, a gentler drying off, and some slow, deep breaths, she told herself she was ready to face the day.

The centerpieces and other pieces for the first annual Haunted Tea at the Inn weren’t going to make themselves.

She opened the door and jumped back, hand to her heart. “Don’t do that.” Her boss Nina Reynolds was waiting for her—arms folded and a stern expression on her face.

“That’s three days running,” she accused. “If you had the flu, you’d be staying home. And don’t even try to tell me it’s a sinus thing.”

Molly slumped against the door jamb. “You can’t say anything.”

“Of course not. And definitely not unless you tell me something .” She wagged a finger at Molly’s face. “Although it’s so obvious.”

“So far only to you and me,” Molly grumbled. “And I need it to stay that way.”

Nina beamed and did a fast happy dance. “I knew it! You’re pregnant. Congratulations! I’m hosting the baby shower.”

“Thanks.” Molly groaned. “A shower?”

“Do you have the baby stuff anymore?” Nina challenged.

“Well, no.”

“Then that’s what we’re doing.”

Molly’s protest was halted by her efforts to convince her stomach it was empty and had no reason to keep on churning. “How can I be so miserable and so happy at the same time?”

Nina shrugged. “One of the perks of being a woman?”

Molly swiveled around, kicking the door shut. Her stomach was sure it had one job this morning.

“You can’t tell me Miles hasn’t noticed this,” Nina said when Molly exited the bathroom again.

“Not yet.” She tried to smile. “Y’know, it only happens when I get here. Maybe I’m allergic to work.”

“Ha. Ha. I know better. Shame on him.” Nina got right back on topic. “Because you can’t possibly be waking up looking like freshness personified.”

Molly wasn’t insulted. Her boss and best friend only spoke the truth. “Not exactly. He’s been concerned that I’m working too hard.”

“Are you?”

“No.” She glared at Nina. “Don’t you even think of cutting my hours. I only dozed off in front of the TV the other night. I intend to work straight through to delivery just like you did.”

“You’re not nearly as funny as you think you are,” Nina countered. “And every woman, every pregnancy is different.”

“Don’t I know it,” Molly said. “I know it’s been a minute, but I don’t remember being this horribly sick with Bryce.” She accepted the bottle of water Nina handed her, sipping carefully. “Of course, I was a kid back then. What did I know?”

Nina laughed. “I get it. Do you need to take time to go to the clinic? Or into Charleston to your normal OBGYN?”

She nearly choked on the water. “Not the clinic,” she said. “Miles would find out before I got home.”

“That’s not true.” At Molly’s hard glare, Nina held up her hands in surrender. “You’re right, he would know you were at the clinic, but he wouldn’t know why . With a gleam in her eye, she held up her florist knife. “Want me to puncture a thumb for you?”

“Yours or mine?”

“Mine, obviously.”

Molly rolled her eyes. “Spare me your heroic sacrifice. Boone would skin me alive if I talked you into doing something like that.”

They dissolved into a fit of giggles. Both Molly and Nina had found love with wonderfully protective men, who seamlessly added fatherhood to their long and impressive lists of skills.

At her workstation Molly looked at the supplies gathered for the delightfully spooky and creative centerpieces they were making for the Inn.

The first annual Haunted Tea was the brainchild of Rhett and Trina Ellington.

Trina, hired by the town council, managed the Inn and she was always finding ways to get the Inn more involved with Brookwell events.

Although Rhett was in charge of Ellington luxury resort properties outside of South Carolina, he spent the majority of his time in Brookwell with Trina and their baby boy, working out of his office in their apartment at the Inn.

“I had an email from Trina this morning,” Nina said. “She requested extra fresh arrangements and swags for the small private dining room.”

“Holy cow. I thought it was just the tea room.”

“Apparently she’s feeding the decorating party, so yay for us.” Nina smiled and tacked the new work list to the board. “There’s also a new fresh welcome arrangement for a special guest attending the event.”

Molly perked up. “Did she say who’s coming? Or why?”

“Nope. She just wants something on-theme delivered by check-in time the day before the tea.”

“All right.” Molly studied the workstation. “Is that on your list or mine?”

“I can take it,” Nina said. “I’ll need to check stock and adjust the order for our fresh delivery that day. You focus on the centerpieces.”

“On it.”

Molly’s excitement for the Haunted Tea grew with every detail of the planning. Trina had a marvelously spooky Victorian-esque vision and Island Bloomers would help bring it to life.

Aunt Sharon had purchased tickets for the two of them the moment they’d gone on sale. She’d been texting Molly about how much they should dress up and sending photos of her latest excursions through vintage clothing shops.

Knowing they’d be on their own that evening, Miles had been making plans with equal enthusiasm for the extra boys-only time with Bryce.

They were cooking up a plan for decorating their sailboat for the trick-or-treat event at the marina.

Plus, there were sure to be finishing touches required on the kid-friendly haunted house for the Fall Festival.

Miles had volunteered his workshop near the sailing school for a spooky, not-too-scary maze.

As Molly snipped and glued black silk rose petals into place, her mind wandered over the joy of having a husband and a father for Bryce.

Thanks to Aunt Sharon, Molly and Bryce had thrived through his early years.

But Molly celebrated the miracle of adding Miles into their lives.

His love and partnership had changed everything for her in the best possible ways.

Her stomach rumbled and she smiled to herself. Even on the off days, she wouldn’t change a thing.

“You’ve got this under control?” Nina asked on her way to the cooler. “Don’t hesitate to ask if you need a hand.”

Molly grinned, riding a fresh wave of happiness. “I’m good. If you’ve got the daily orders, I’ll have these done by noon. Then I can switch it up and start refilling the cooler out front.”

“That works. What about prenatal vitamins?” Nina asked out of the blue.

“On them.” Molly licked her fingers before she pressed the next petal into place so the hot glue didn’t scorch her fingertips. “Dr. Coburn prescribed those for me at my last checkup, once she knew we were ready to start trying for another baby.”

“You’re sneaky,” Nina said with clear and obvious admiration. “When are you going to tell him?”

“I haven’t even done a test,” Molly admitted. Though she had no good reason to delay it. “I’ll be honest, I’m glad we’re not living with Sharon. She’d would’ve figured it out by now.”

“Of course she would,” Nina agreed. “When was the last time you saw her? You’ve been dodging her,” Nina accused.

“Well, yes. Only for a few days and only out of self-preservation,” Molly protested. “Miles should know first.”

This would be his first baby. His first time for the entire experience, as far as she knew. It was possible he’d interacted with infants while in foster care, but he rarely talked about those difficult times, so she couldn’t be sure. And she wouldn’t bring it up now.

She wanted to make the announcement special for him. For them. Finding out she was pregnant with Bryce had nearly wrecked her. She’d been so young and scared and alone. Until Sharon had come to the rescue.

This baby would be a much different experience for everyone. More joy and excitement without the trepidation about managing parenthood by herself.

She continued working, assembly line style, placing the rose petals. “How would you tell Boone if you were pregnant again?” she asked without looking at her boss. “I need to tell him before I see Sharon again.”

“Sharon can keep a secret.”

Molly sighed. “Of course she can, but I just feel like it’s cheating Miles if he’s not first.”

“But he’s not first.” Nina spread her arms wide. “I’m right here.”

“Good point,” Molly allowed. Maybe she should ask Sharon to help her come up with a plan. Her aunt’s creativity extended well beyond her famous paintings. Molly didn’t need it to be too elaborate, just extra special for Miles.

“Whatever you do, stop putting all this pressure on yourself,” Nina advised. “He’ll be thrilled no matter how you tell him.”

Caught, Molly felt her face going hot. “It’s that obvious?”

“Only to someone who works with you every day and loves you like a sister.”

“Thanks.” The warm and unconditional support already made this pregnancy a vast improvement over the first.

Feeling a little shaky as emotions swamped her, she turned back to her workstation and got busy.