Chapter Thirteen
I t was Jared’s first time out alone with the twins. He’d volunteered to take them to the paint store to choose the color they wanted for their bedroom. He’d asked Charlotte to come but also explained he wanted to get to know the girls better. She was only too happy to let him and he promised to send a picture of the chosen color to her for approval before buying.
Then, she’d wished him luck.
He picked them up from Charlotte’s apartment and they headed out. They stopped for pizza and he was now sitting across from the girls, who were wearing different shades of pink, which he was sure didn’t bode well for agreeing on color. Especially since he’d ordered a pizza with half pepperoni and half plain after bickering over the toppings each girl wanted.
“So, are you girls excited to pick your room color?” he asked.
They nodded, eyes wide.
Dakota, her hair in a ponytail, put down her half-eaten slice. “Did you know Elvis Presley had a pink Cadillac?”
“What’s a Cadillac?” Dylan asked, wrinkling her nose in confusion.
He smiled. “It’s a type of car. Back when Elvis had it, the car was much bigger and longer than cars today.”
“I want Elvis car pink,” Dakota said.
He bit the inside of his cheek so he wouldn’t laugh. Not when she was so serious. “We’ll see what shades they have that you two agree on.”
He picked up a pepperoni-laden slice and took a bite just as Dakota asked, “Are you gonna marry our mom?”
He choked on his pizza and grabbed a sip of his soda to wash it down.
Dylan pushed her plate back and folded her arms on the table as she met his gaze, obviously also wanting an answer. Put on the spot by two ten-year-olds. “I think it’s a little soon for that conversation.”
“So you like her, not love her?” Dakota asked. As if that was the simple reason in her mind.
He met their serious gazes. “I like your mother a lot.” He was falling for her more every day, in fact. Not that these two needed to know that.
She nodded. “I saw you put your hand on her back like Daddy does with Fallon.”
Aah. That made more sense. He’d have to be even more discreet in the future so the girls didn’t get ideas Charlotte wasn’t ready for.
He debated on the best way to answer and finally decided. “Well, I want to get to know your mom and you girls even better. Is that okay with you?”
They tipped their heads to the side in the same manner. “I guess so,” Dylan said.
Dakota nodded.
As approval, he’d take it. “Let’s finish eating so we can go pick paint!” He deliberately changed the subject, not wanting to be interrogated further.
Once they arrived at the paint store, however, he almost wished he was back at the diner being grilled by them. The salesperson at the store had laid out a bunch of light pink swatches and the girls had narrowed their choices to four colors, which hadn’t been easy. Who knew there were so many shades of pink?
“Okay,” he said, glancing at the similar-looking samples. “We have Rose Silk, Pleasant Pink, and Touch of Pink for your light pinks.” He touched each as he spoke. “And then we have Damask Rose, which is a little deeper and has more color.”
“I don’t love the really light ones,” Dakota, who was known for liking brighter colors, said.
“Okay, but I love Touch of Pink.” Dylan pointed to her choice.
“I think I like the Damask Rose.”
He chuckled. “Those are both good colors.” And they were very different.
“If I may?” the salesperson asked.
He nodded. “Please. Any help would be welcome.”
“Girls, what if you do one wall with the Damask Rose? It’s a darker color and I think it would make the room feel too small. And the other three walls can be Touch of Pink? That way, both of your choices are included.”
He watched them closely. Dakota tapped one finger on her color but remained silent, obviously thinking. Since he’d been a kid once, he assumed she was adding up the three light pink walls to her one.
“You could ask your mom if you can buy sheets and pillow cases in your color, Dakota. That would give you more of it.”
She nodded. “It would! Good idea!” She smiled, beaming at him, and he felt ten feet tall.
“Dylan? Is that okay with you?” he asked.
She nodded with a smile. “I like the compromise. That’s what Mommy says we have to do. Compromise.”
“Your mommy’s very smart. And so are you two. Okay, let’s take pictures to show her, and can we take the color swatches with us?” he asked the saleswoman.
“Of course. I can also paint color samples on paper so you can hang them up on the walls to see how they look.”
After the photos were snapped, the saleswoman handed off the paint colors to a colleague to do what she’d promised.
“Can we FaceTime Mommy?” Dakota asked.
He nodded, opening his phone and pulling up Charlotte’s contact. “Go ahead.” He handed Dylan the phone.
They talked to their mom and after a few minutes of chatter and happy squeals, Dakota said, “Mommy wants to talk to you.”
He took the phone and turned it toward him. Charlotte was grinning as she said, “Hi.”
“Hi, yourself.”
“Rough day?” The smile turned into a laugh.
He shook his head. “Not at all. They were perfect angels.” And for ten-year-olds, bickering was normal.
“I wouldn’t think less of you if you told me the truth. But I’m so glad you took them. They seem happy.”
“They’re experts in the art of compromise, thanks to you.”
She nodded. “First thing you learn as a mother of two, especially twins. Well, if you like the samples, I can buy the paint now or you can wait and hang them on the wall to see? I trust you and the girls. If they’re happy, I’m happy.” She looked down and moved off screen, obviously distracted for a moment before popping back on again. “I can give you my credit card number and—”
“No. It’s on me, and before you argue, call it a landlord’s prerogative to have the walls painted for his tenants.”
She sighed but he watched as her expression changed and she gave in. “Thank you. I’ll make it up to you.”
“No, you won’t. The pleasure of your girls’ company is all I need. I’m serious. They’re great kids.” Who were talking while he’d taken a few steps away to speak to their mother.
She put a hand to her chest. “I think so too, but I’m biased. And so happy to be back home where I can see them all the time.”
He loved the warm expression on her face when she mentioned her girls. Wanted to see more of that when she was with him.
“I think we should tell them about the baby when you bring them home,” she said.
He drew a deep breath. More inquisition, he thought, surprised he was actually looking forward to it. “See you later, Charlotte.” He heard the gruff rumble in his tone only she brought out in him.
She blushed, telling him she’d heard it too. “Bye, Jared.”
He disconnected the call and walked over to finish up with the twins, the paint, and take them home.
When they arrived at Charlotte’s apartment, she wasn’t home from running an errand, so he let them in with the key she’d given him in case of such a contingency. The girls went to hang up paint colors on the walls and he settled in a chair in the living room, exhausted. And for a man who worked the hours he did, that was saying something.
Charlotte arrived soon after and with a quick wave, she went straight to the girls’ bedroom to ooh and aah over their choice. A little while later, they walked out, the girls quiet.
“What is it, Mommy? What do you want to talk to us about?” Dylan asked.
“Come sit.” She strode to the sofa and sat, then patted either side of her.
As the girls settled in, she shot him an easy smile, letting him know she wasn’t panicked about it. He relaxed but not much.
“So, Jared and I have news.”
“Good news or bad news?” Dakota tucked her legs beneath her.
“We think it’s good news,” Jared said.
Charlotte took each of their hands. “I’m pregnant and you’re going to be big sisters.”
It was as if a bomb dropped in the room. Silence descended and his anxiety ramped up high. He’d come to like the girls; they were sweet and kind and their bickering reminded Jared of him and his brothers growing up.
“A baby? Cool!” Dylan said after processing so long Jared was worried she was upset, angry, hurt.
“Wow,” Dakota chimed in. “Boy or girl?”
Jared’s gaze came to hers and he tipped his head. It was her choice if she wanted to find out the sex of the baby now or when he or she was born.
“We don’t know yet. And I think we’ll wait and see. Surprises are good, right?”
They were bouncing in their seats.
“Yes!” Dakota exclaimed.
“Surprises are cool!” Dylan added.
Dylan swiveled, pinning him with her smart stare. “I knew you liked my mom.” She wrinkled her nose. “Mommy, how are babies made?”
Charlotte’s eyes opened wide.
“When a man and a woman like each other, they get in bed and—” Charlotte covered her other, more precocious daughter’s mouth with her hand. “We can discuss this another time. When we’re alone,” she said pointedly, then cautiously and slowly removed her hand.
To Jared’s mortification, he felt his cheeks flame. Life with these girls was going to be very interesting.
He took the elevator to his apartment, needing a drink, a hot shower, and sleep. In that order. Telling the twins he and their mom were having a baby had been… interesting, to say the least. They’d both been happy. But when Dylan asked how babies were made, he thought he was going to choke. Charlotte had turned red and though she’d promised to explain another time, she no doubt hoped her daughter would forget the question.
Not a chance in hell, Jared thought. Dakota was like an elephant. She forgot nothing. And if Dylan didn’t bring it up again, her twin would. But he was relieved they’d both accepted he’d be around more and as he’d gotten ready to leave, Dakota pronounced him Daddy Jared. Because he was the baby’s daddy, she’d explained.
Despite her reasoning, the name affected him on an emotional level. This little family called to him in ways he still didn’t understand.