Chapter 2 #2
“I’m ten weeks along now, which means he or she will come around the beginning of September.
We’ll probably start telling people soon, once I get through this first trimester.
Right now, we’ve been keeping the news to ourselves.
” Autumn paused. “As a nurse, I’m also aware of the possibility of a miscarriage during this first tri, so we don’t want to share our good news and then find there won’t be a baby after all. ”
“Have you told Mom and Dad yet? Wait, I already know the answer to that. It’s no. Mom wouldn’t be able to keep something like this to herself.”
Her sister laughed. “Mom and Dad will be over the moon once they hear. They already are because of West and Kelby’s little girl arriving soon.
Dad keeps suggesting names to them, and West and Kelby just smile like Cheshire cats.
I’m sure they’ve already picked out a name and are keeping quiet about it for now. ”
“When can you learn the gender?”
“They have a blood test I can take soon, but it’s not always one hundred perfect accurate.
We’ve decided to wait until the eighteen-week mark and do a sonogram.
It will definitely let us know if we’re having a boy or girl, and we can plan from there.
One of those rooms upstairs will become the nursery. I hope you’ll help me decorate it.”
“I don’t know about that. I have to be honest, Autumn.
I know nothing about babies. You were the one who always did the babysitting growing up.
I never wanted to burp babies or change their diapers.
That’s why I chose to work at Sonic. At least there, I had a chance at tips.
Of the two of us, you’ve always been the more maternal. ”
She took her sister’s hand, seeing tears misting in Autumn’s eyes.
“I am so grateful that you got out of your marriage with Flint Ferris and found Eli. He’s such a good man, Autumn. I know he’s a wonderful husband because I see how happy you are, and he’ll be a terrific father.”
“I realize now that I was in a dead-end marriage for so many years,” her twin said quietly.
“I was like a loyal little puppy that Flint kept kicking, and I just kept coming back for more, starved for affection. If I would have known he was cheating on me, I would have left a lot sooner. I understand, though, that I was meant to come to Hawthorne when I did. To get my job at Triple H and meet Eli. I’m just so happy in this marriage, Summer. I hope you can find someone here, too.”
“Whoa, Sis. You’re moving pretty fast there. Yes, I hope I can make a go of writing here in Hawthorne, but I don’t know if here is where I’ll stay. If I can’t earn a living writing novels, I may have to move somewhere else and take a full-time job while I write on the side.”
A stubborn look came into her sister’s eyes.
“We’re not going to think like that,” she declared.
“My baby needs her aunt close by, and I need my twin. Period. All these years apart, I felt a piece of me was missing. You coming back to Hawthorne completes me, Summer. You simply have to be a success. And I’m going to do everything I can to keep you here.
I’ll even look for someone for you to date.
So many new people have moved to town because of Triple H.
I might be able to find you a handsome doctor or nurse.
And with West and Darby at the high school, that’s a large pool of prospective teachers and coaches they could introduce you to. ”
Autumn gazed steadily at Summer. “I want you to be as happy as I am with Eli. I want you to have a rich, happy life, just as I have now. With a man who is your soulmate.”
She was touched by her twin’s words, but Summer was the more independent of the twins.
Autumn had always been the one who needed a man in her life.
She was glad that her sister had found Eli and that they were so happy together, but Summer didn’t need a guy to make her happy. She could be fulfilled on her own.
Of course, she wouldn’t push away anyone who appeared and appealed to her. She was open to the idea of dating. Even marriage. Maybe even kids. At thirty, she was comfortable in her own skin but could see that sharing her life with someone could make it richer and more fulfilling.
“I’m going to unpack now,” she announced. Taking her tea bag and dumping it the trash, she placed her mug in the dishwasher.
“Remember, we’re having dinner at West and Kelby’s tonight to celebrate your return to Hawthorne,” Autumn reminded.
“I haven’t forgotten. What time are we leaving?”
Her sister glanced at her watch. “Hopefully, in ninety minutes. I assume Eli will have taken care of the emergency and calmed everyone’s fears by then. If not, we’ll go without him, and he can meet us there.”
“Okay. I’ll be downstairs in a little bit.”
She returned to the guestroom she would be staying in, glad that it was en suite.
The first thing she did was plug in her laptop and tablet so they could charge.
Then she took her cosmetics bag and placed items from it in the medicine cabinet and drawers and then unpacked both suitcases.
Some clothes were hung in the closet, while others were folded and went into the dresser.
As she got settled, Summer thought about what she might do for Sawyer.
He had been the one who had helped set her free from Dragon Lady.
The least she could do would be to take him out for a nice dinner.
She didn’t even know what restaurants were in Hawthorne anymore, other than places such as Sonny’s Sports Bar and BBQ Bliss.
Pulling out her phone, she clicked on her Around Me app to look up restaurants and discovered a new steakhouse had opened in town.
Clicking on its website, Summer perused the menu, deciding this would be where she offered to take Sawyer.
She returned downstairs and chatted with Autumn as she put together a taco salad
“I guess I should’ve offered to bring something.”
“No,” her sister said. “You’re the guest of honor. You aren’t supposed to bring anything. We’re celebrating you.”
Eli came through the door, saying, “Everything’s solved. Looks like it’s close to time to head out.”
“I just need to grab the dressing from the fridge,” Autumn said, covering the bowl with foil and placing it in a basket. “Then we can be on our way.”
“I’ll get it,” he said, handing over the bottle he retrieved. “Your chariot awaits, my ladies,” causing them both to laugh. “That’s as Bridgerton as I can get. Autumn had us binge-watch every season. Let’s just say I’m glad I don’t have to wear a frockcoat or waltz at balls.”
They drove to West and Kelby’s house, which sat just outside of Hawthorne proper.
West had wanted to build on several acres so their kids could run around freely.
Summer also knew how much her famous brother liked his privacy.
She figured West would be recognized for years to come.
He had been one of the highest profile athletes in Dallas, and he still had several endorsement deals in place.
She had seen magazine ads of West wearing certain watches and apparel and knew he also appeared in commercials.
TV hadn’t been a part of her life in years.
The higher up the literary ladder she had climbed at Liberty House, the less time she’d had for herself.
Summer barely knew who the president was these days, much less what was going on in the world.
She vowed to herself to make a change in that regard.
It would be impossible to write fourteen hours a day, even though that had usually been the amount of time she spent editing manuscripts, both at work and her apartment.
She would have to pace herself, taking frequent breaks along the way.
She had walked a lot in New York, and she might want to think about taking an exercise class now or downloading a couple of apps so she could work out at home.
Maybe that would be the way to reward herself.
Write a chapter and then the perk would be to get in a workout.
Excitement filled her at the prospect of being her own boss and making her own hours.
She had planted seeds in the first book she had written, introducing several characters in the small town in that first romance.
Hopefully, readers would want to see some of their stories, as well.
She would take tomorrow off and relax and then come Monday morning, she would begin her career as a full-time author in earnest.
They arrived at the Sutherlands’ spread, and a truck pulled in behind them. Sawyer got out of it, and Summer ran to him, flinging herself at him.
“Nice greeting, Cuz,” Sawyer said.
“I’m taking you out for a steak dinner at Great Steak,” she informed him. “And you can’t say no.”
“I’ve never said no to steak, especially if someone else is paying. But why?”
“You’re my knight in shining armor, Sawyer. I owe you. Big time. Plus, you need to send me a bill for your time.”
“I didn’t spend much time at all,” he protested. “No bill is coming, Summer. You’re family.”
Summer slipped her arm through his. “Then I’m glad you won’t turn down the steak dinner. Let me know when it’s convenient for you.”
“Any night is good for me.”
“We’ll talk later. We better go inside. It’s already been hard enough avoiding Autumn’s questions. I’ve got to stick to the parameters set by the NDA.”
They headed to the door, where West and Kelby were greeting Autumn and Eli. Both her brother and sister-in-law gave Summer a huge hug and kiss.
“Look at that baby bump,” she said, smiling at Kelby. “And you’re one of those women who glow.”
“Being pregnant has been awesome for my nails and hair,” Kelby informed her. “My hair has grown twice as fast, and my nails are hard as a rock. I think there’s something in the prenatal vitamins that help. Come on in.”