Chapter Twelve
C harlie met the movers at the storage facility where she’d kept her furniture and other things while she was away. After they loaded up the truck, she headed to her new apartment where Jared was waiting to give her the keys and be there while the men unloaded the boxes and placed the pieces of furniture where she directed them.
Once the movers left, they ordered in sandwiches for lunch, ate, and then began to dig into the boxes, starting with the girls’ room. It was more important to her that they be comfortable than taking care of any other section of the apartment. Jared didn’t allow her to lift anything and was at her beck and call.
She’d continued to unpack their things when the doorbell rang. Surprised, she looked at Jared. “Who could be here?” she asked.
He shrugged but she thought she caught the edges of his mouth lifting up in a grin.
Since he rose to his feet and walked out to answer, she continued her job. Dakota’s dinosaurs, those she hadn’t taken with her to her dad’s, went on a standing bookshelf along with her favorite books and other things. Next came Dylan’s coloring supplies, which went on one side of the double desk she’d bought for them, and her favorite stuffed animals on different shelves.
The sound of voices drifted toward her and she rose to her feet. Curious, she walked into the main room where she was startled to see much of Jared’s family had gathered.
“What is everyone doing here?” she asked, surprised.
Noah stepped forward, Fallon by his side. “We thought you’d need help unpacking so… here we are. Put us to good use.” He gestured around at the various family members. From Alex, who she knew no one would let help, to Lizzie, then Raven and Remy, and Dex and his wife, Samantha. The only ones missing were Aiden, who was abroad, and Brooke, who Jared explained was holding down the fort at the office.
A lump rose to her throat as she took in all these people willing to help her. Her hand went to her chest as she fought back tears and tried to find the words to convey her appreciation. She didn’t have a big family. Her brother didn’t think of her unless he needed money, which left her with no one to speak of, and this group was a lot—in all the best ways.
“Thank you,” she finally managed to say. “I’m just so overwhelmed. I—”
“No thanks necessary,” Jared’s father said, stepping toward her. “Welcome to the family.” He extended his arms and she stepped into his friendly embrace, feeling awkward and yet so very grateful.
When Alex stepped back, Charlie’s thoughts scattered, as Lizzie spoke next. “I’d be happy to get the kitchen unpacked if you point out the boxes,” she said. “You can always rearrange things to your liking later.”
Though Charlie wanted to tell everyone she could handle the unpacking herself, that was the independent Charlie talking. The more rational part of her knew she’d been nauseous since she woke up; she was already exhausted and had barely begun working on the girls’ room.
“I had the movers put the boxes in each room by their labels. All the kitchen supplies should be in there already. Thank you. I can’t express how helpful this is and how appreciative I am.”
Fallon walked over and slung an arm over her shoulders. “Everyone needs help once in a while. It’s not a bad thing to accept it. How about I direct everyone else where to go and what to do, then we can get the twins’ linen out and—”
“Raven or Samantha will make the beds,” Jared said, gesturing between Charlie and Fallon. “You two don’t need to be stretching and overreaching.”
“I was about to say the same thing,” Noah said.
Fallon rolled her eyes at her husband. “To quote Dakota, did you know in the olden days, women had babies and went back to work in the fields right after?”
Charlie covered her mouth with one hand. “She didn’t say that.”
“On the way home from dinner last night,” Fallon confirmed. “Noah was instructing me on what I was and wasn’t allowed to do here today. Dakota chimed in.”
Shaking her head, Charlie couldn’t hold the laughter in any longer. “Oh my God, that girl.” She burst out laughing.
“Gotta love her,” Noah said, grinning. “Not that her educational comment changes what you two ladies will be doing today.”
Knowing the men were just looking out for them, Charlie opted not to argue and Fallon did the same.
The rest of the day passed quickly, every couple choosing a room and unpacking. By the time the twins were due home from a friend’s, whose mom had offered to drop them off, Charlie’s gratitude had become mixed with exhaustion and relief.
The unpacking was finished and the family had gone home. Though Charlie had offered to bring in dinner for everyone, no one wanted to put her out. Lizzie thought she should spend the first night in her new place with her girls and everyone else agreed.
Except Jared. He’d remained.
Charlie was with the twins in their bedroom, each sitting on their own bed, the painting they’d made with Fallon hanging on the wall beside them.
“How do you like the new apartment?” she asked them.
“So. Cool,” Dylan said.
“Totally cool,” Dakota added. They looked at each other and had one of their silent conversations where Charlie was excluded and they talked without speaking. “But we want pink walls.”
“Can we, Mom, please?”
She opened then closed her mouth again. She hadn’t even considered painting the white walls.
“What color pink?” Jared asked, joining them.
“Light pink!” they exclaimed at the same time.
Thank goodness for agreement. There wouldn’t be an argument about color tone.
“Listen, I have an interview on Monday but since I’m not working, I could paint—”
“No.” Jared stood, arms crossed above his chest, and shook his head.
“What?” Charlie was used to doing what she wanted and what she thought was right for herself and the twins.
The girls looked from one adult to the other.
“I’ll get the room painted.” He tipped his head toward the doorway.
She took the hint. He wanted to talk. “Be right back,” she said to the twins, and followed him into the hallway. Meeting his gaze, she stated her case. “Jared, it’s my apartment, my girls want their room pink, and I want to paint it.”
“What about the fact that you’re pregnant?” he asked in a low voice in deference to the fact that she hadn’t told the twins.
She was offended by the implication she wouldn’t think about carrying a baby and keeping it healthy. “I’d use water-based paint. I’m not reckless or stupid!”
“No one said you were. But if I can have it done for you and the girls, I want to. Maybe it’ll help them warm up to me.”
“They like you plenty,” she said.
“But they don’t really know me. And they need to get used to me being around.”
She bit down on her lower lip, then said, “For the baby.”
He opened his mouth to speak, when Dakota’s voice interrupted them.
“I’m hungry!”
“One minute!” Charlie called back.
Jared tipped her head up with his finger. “This discussion isn’t over. Also, when are you going to tell them?”
She swallowed hard. “I talked to Noah. I wasn’t sure if he felt he’d want to be there for them. But he said it’s my call. I can explain it to them when I’m ready.”
“Do you want to do it together?” he offered.
She blinked in surprise. “You’d want to do that? Help me tell my girls?”
He took her hand in his. “How many times do I need to tell you? We’re in this together.”
She met his gaze, everything inside her pleased by his words. After a day of having help and being catered to, she was in an emotional state and this sealed it. “I’m not used to this. People wanting to help me, being surrounded by family who cares.”
“By a man who cares?”
“Mommy!”
“Coming, girls.” Squeezing his hand, she sent him an apologetic look. “We can pick this up later.”
She turned and walked into the bedroom, focusing on the girls and dinner and not the sexy man who stayed for the meal.