Chapter 18
Caught Red Headed
“I was beginning to think you forgot where your own mother lived.” Ma says, pointing an accusing finger at me. “You’re on the ranch for work every day and you still can’t stop by to visit more often?”
“Good to see you too, Ma.” I join her on the porch and kiss her cheek. “I’m sorry I haven’t come around much. Charlie and I have been busy.”
Between our businesses, the pregnancy, and Charlie’s constant push-and-pull to keep me at arm’s length, we’ve been stretched thin.
“Another thing I’m mad at you for,” she scolds, brushing dirt off my shirt. “You haven’t brought Charlie around since the wedding.”
I rub the back of my neck. “She’s tired most days and I try to get home early when the nausea hits the hardest in the afternoons.”
Ma’s gaze softens. “You must really be smitten with your new bride, because I could never pull you away from your work, not even for a home-cooked meal. Is she taking anything for the nausea?”
“The doctor prescribed some anti-nausea medication, but it hasn’t helped much.” She’s only taken it twice, but I’m frustrated that it hasn’t eased her queasiness at all. “Wren suggested she try B6 vitamins, but those upset her stomach too.”
I never assumed pregnancy would be easy, but I didn’t realize just how rough the symptoms could get.
If I’d known Charlie would be throwing up every day, I would’ve tried to be better prepared.
There’s nothing worse than finding her on her knees beside the toilet, hands gripping the bowl, looking exhausted.
She’s still beautiful as ever, but I hate seeing her so miserable.
Ma fixes me with a stern look, holding her palms out. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I have a few things that should help. I’ll be right back.”
I open my mouth to respond, but she’s already disappeared back inside before I can say anything.
I’m grateful for her help but I’m itching to get home to Charlie. After last night, I can think of little else than the sight of walking in on her with her hand between her thighs as she cried out my name, and the sweet taste of her on my tongue when I pushed her over the edge.
I had to leave before she woke up this morning, and I’m eager for the next chance to show her that I’m ready to give her everything, if only she’d quit holding back and let me in.
Ma pushes open the screen door with her shoulder, balancing an overflowing crate with supplies.
I grunt as she shoves it into my chest. “Hold this while I explain what everything is so you can tell Charlie when you get home.”
I like that she already refers to Charlie’s place as my home too.
Ma reaches into the crate and pulls out a fresh ginger root. “Slice some of this into hot water and let it steep for ten minutes. It can be served warm or cold so make a batch tonight and have Charlie try it tomorrow.”
She drops the ginger back into the crate and takes out a box of peppermint tea and a lemon.
“If that doesn’t help, try this served warm and with fresh lemon squeezed in.
There’s also some ginger candy, saltine crackers, electrolyte packets and a cooling mask if she gets overheated or has a headache. ”
I wrap an arm around her shoulders. “Thanks, Ma. I owe you one.”
She pats my cheek affectionately. “You can make it up to me with extra visits once she’s feeling better.”
“Charlie would love that.” I shift the crate under my arm, pull the sonogram I brought from my pocket, and hand it to her. “Before I forget, she asked me to give you this.”
Tears immediately spring to Ma’s eyes. “Oh, would you look at that,” she whispers. “My first granddaughter.”
My brows draw together. “Granddaughter?”
She nods, carefully taking the sonogram from me. “Yes, you’re having a girl, and she’s already so beautiful.”
I rub a hand across my face. “Charlie’s grandma thinks so too, but the doctor hasn’t confirmed it yet.”
Ma pats my chest, giving me a smug grin. “It’s called motherly intuition, and it’s never wrong.”
“Kay said the same thing,” I mumble.
She lets out a bubbly laugh. “Maybe you should listen. We do know a thing or two about these things.”
I haven’t asked Charlie if she wants to find out the sex before the baby’s born, but I’m starting to think we should. Part of me wants to find out early whether her grandma and my mom are full of it or if they’re actually right about it being a girl.
At the end of the day, all that matters is that our baby is healthy.
I do have a much better idea of how to handle boys, and I’d be completely out of my depth with a girl, especially if she inherits Charlie’s fiery spirit.
God help us. Still, there’s no question she’d have me wrapped around her little finger from the moment she’s born.
The bell above the door chimes as I walk into Timeless Threads. The shop appears empty at first glance, and a country song drifts from the speaker Charlie keeps at the register.
The place is more cluttered than usual. Several large pieces of furniture, including a bookshelf and a bulky armoire, block the main pathway.
I maneuver around them, ducking past a rack of clothes, and come to a sudden stop when I spot Charlie at the back pushing a heavy oak dresser, her face flushed from the effort.
“What the hell are you doing?” I growl.
She whips her head in my direction, eyes growing comically wide. “Oh shit.”
“’Oh, shit’ is right.” I set aside the crate I’m carrying and fold my arms across my chest. “You’re in so much trouble, hellcat. You promised you’d wait for me.”
Before bed last time, she told me she’d been meaning to move a few things around but had been too exhausted to do it. I offered to help when she was ready, but she failed to mention she was planning to tackle the whole project this afternoon.
“Oops, I forgot.” She winces sheepishly. “I woke up from a nap with a sudden burst of energy and decided to knock this out before I turn back into a walking zombie.”
It’s hard to stay mad when she looks so cute and rumpled—her shirt wrinkled, and her hair falling in tousled waves past her shoulders.
“You’re something else, you know that?” I laugh with a mix of amusement and exasperation. “Next time you get the urge to rearrange the whole damn store, you text me first.”
“Don’t you already have a job, bossman?” she taunts, sauntering toward me. “You shouldn’t have to take on my chaotic mess too.”
When she’s within reach, I wrap my arm around her and draw her against me. “That’s what I’m here for.”
Charlie tilts her head. “And what is that exactly?”
I cup her face in my palm. “To take care of you.”
She rises onto her toes, wrapping an arm around my neck. “Like how you did last night.”
A grin spreads across my face. “That’s definitely one way, yeah.”
“Good,” she whispers. “Because if orgasms are included, I’m very persuadable when it comes to letting you help around here.”
It’s the first real sign that she’s open to taking things further.
Last night she temporarily let her guard down, but I still didn’t know if she was any closer to accepting her feelings or if she’d go back to resisting me at every turn.
I’m choosing to be optimistic and focus on the fact she’s willingly touching me without prompting.
Charlie slips out of my embrace when the bell over the front door jingles. She frowns, glancing between the person who’s just entered and the disheveled storefront.
“I didn’t realize how big of a mess I made,” she mutters.
I catch her wrist, pulling her back for a kiss on the cheek. “Don’t sweat it, hellcat. Once the shop is closed for the night you can show me where you want the furniture. It won’t take me long to rearrange things how you want them.”
She flashes me a genuine smile. There’s no teasing or sarcasm in it—only warm affection, another fracture in the defenses she’s kept up from the start.
On her way to greet her customer, she stops beside a nearby desk where I put the crate I brought from the ranch.
“What’s that?” she asks.
“I told Ma that you’ve been nauseous, and she sent a few remedies she swears by,” I reply, nodding to the crate brimming with supplies.
Charlie’s lip quivers, eyes glistening. “She did that for me?”
“Of course, sweetheart.” My tone softens as I brush a loose strand of hair behind her ear and let my fingers trail down to intertwine with hers. “You’re family, and she takes care of her own.”
Charlie might still have her grandma and Florence around but I’m grateful that she has Ma too, who’s determined to do whatever she can to help make this pregnancy as enjoyable for her as possible. Charlie deserves all the love and support, and I hope she can see just how much she’s cared for.