59. Alexandra
fifty-nine
Three months later
”Pancakes! Ready to go?” Christopher pulls my back to his front and kisses my nape. Shivers of pleasure roll through me, and I drop my head against his strong shoulder. I’d rather stay at home this afternoon. Be lazy. Sneak in a quicky while Skye has a playdate.
But it’s a beautiful fall day, and Christopher is excited to show me all that Vermont has to offer during this glorious season. We’ve been on hayrides and gone apple picking, taken bike tours and had cider tastings. Today, he wants to go for a picnic.
He seems so excited about it, I don’t find it in me to protest. To use my morning sickness and afternoon slumps for an excuse. He’d get worried over nothing.
“Ready,” I breathe into his kiss.
He palms my breast and groans. “Ah fuck. That’s the best.”
I blush under his compliment and writhe under his hand. Christopher already has a child, but he’s never been with a pregnant woman. My pregnancy is not only a total surprise, it’s also a first for both of us. I revel in those little wins. Those first times I can give him.
It means the world to me, that I’m giving him something new. Something no one ever has.
Christopher is taking his role very seriously—no surprise there. He’s over-the-top protective and oversees everything I’m eating like I’m some athlete on a mission to win the Olympics. He raided the bookshop of every book available on pregnancy. He talked with the apothecary about supplements.
I’m hard at work on the nursery. My nesting instinct is already kicking in, and with Autumn’s help, I’m already turning one of the empty rooms down the hall from a bedroom into a nursery.
Yup, my social media business is doing so well I can afford a decorator! Sure, she’s cheap, and I pay her in kind only with my marketing skills. But still—it’s a nice feeling.
As for Red Barn Baking, the process of changing the business model is moving along, but it’s slow. I’ve appointed a new CEO to drive the effort. I have weekly online meetings to follow her progress, and Christopher consults on the new stores opening, but we’ve decided our life is here in Emerald Creek.
I slide a plaid flannel shirt over my long-sleeve T-shirt and step into my hiking boots. Skye has a matching pair, and she grabs my hand after tying hers. Christopher carries our picnic bag and swings his arm over my shoulders.
We head out of town through the covered bridge, toward the hills covered in flamboyant trees. Reds, yellows, and oranges are ablaze, standing even brighter against the evergreens and the lush pastures. Skye kicks her feet in the piles of crunchy leaves. Christopher is unusually silent, his hand twirling in my hair.
We hang a left midway up the hill and end up on a dirt road covered in a canopy of maples, oaks, and birch trees. Through the foliage, the sun shines, flecks of gold on our feet. Between the branches, we see the village down below, bordered by the river, the lake in the background.
It’s glorious.
And when the church bell chimes, perfection.
We continue quietly up the hill, the trail taking us deeper into the woods, the village lost behind us, until we reach a clearing at the top. The view is even more breathtaking, hill after hill rolling into the horizon, green and blue and seemingly endless. Peaceful. Majestic in its simplicity.
My eyes water at the view. “It’s beautiful up here.”
Skye points to a meadow below us. “Daddy, can we picnic down here?”
“Pick a spot,” Christopher says, leaning over to kiss me while Skye runs downhill.
I could have walked a bit more—it really is a gorgeous day for a walk in the woods—but I’m not going to complain about this beautiful view. And maybe if we get home sooner, then we can… be playful sooner?
I’m so horny since becoming pregnant.
Skye plops on a flat grassy area and taps the space next to her for me to join her.
Christopher sits on my other side and uncorks three sparkling apple ciders. We clink our bottles and stay silent, the view enough for us. After we finish our sandwiches, I let myself fall flat on my back.
“Beautiful, scoot over.” Christopher slides a stadium blanket under me.
So protective.
Pregnancy makes me horny. It also makes me sleepy. Soon I’m dozing off, and I feel the blanket being pulled atop me. I’m vaguely aware of some rustling and whispering, and then Skye says, “Daddy, can we have dessert now?”
“Sure. Babe?”
I wave my hand, eyes still closed. “I’m good, thanks.”
Christopher clears his throat. “Skye made these galettes herself.”
I pop up. “You what? That’s awesome! I’m so impressed.” I take the galette Christopher hands me. “It—my god! It looks perfect.”
She nods. “Daddy helped me.”
That’s so cool.
We start eating in silence. I’m really not hungry, but I don’t want to hurt Skye’s feelings. It’s not a hardship to eat the flaky pastry, I must admit. It’s perfectly done. I recognize Christopher’s masterful handiwork, but I love that he is now involving Skye in his passion.
“Oopsie. I got a fortune message!” Skye says, looking at me with excitement.
“Did you?” Christopher asks, a glimmer in his eye. He looks at my pie and I swear I see him blush slightly. “How about you?”
“Do I have one?”
“You better,” he groans.
I’ve only taken one bite off my pie, so I tear it in half until I find a piece of paper. It’s rolled on itself so that the writing is on the inside. I unroll it carefully, the almond filling slightly sticking to my fingers.
It’s upside down, so I turn it around, but already I recognize Christopher’s handwriting.
“Will…”
Oh.
My.
God.
Will.
You.
Marry.
Me.
Dropping the pie on the stadium blanket, I launch myself at Christopher, nearly toppling him over. He wraps his strong arms tightly around my waist, and I straddle him.
He leans his forehead against mine. “Alexandra, you brought me back to life. You showed me the meaning of happiness. You made us a family. Will you do me the honor of being my wife?”
“Oh my god yes. Yes! A thousand times yes!”
He grabs my ass with his hands and moves me closer to him. “Close your eyes,” he says to Skye, and she giggles while he kisses me tenderly.
“Can I read my fortune cookie now?” Skye asks.
“Sure, little bug.”
“Alez-zandra,” she says, and I turn to her. I glance at the paper and recognize her handwriting, not Christopher’s. “I don’t want a stepmother.” She pauses, and my heart sinks. Her eyes lock with mine, and by the glint in her eye, I know something is up.
I just don’t anticipate the bomb she drops on me.
“So will you please a-dopt me? I want you to be my real mother.”
My jaw falls open. I figured Christopher might propose eventually, but I never thought Skye would point blank ask me to become her mother.
“Pretty please?” she adds.
I’m so overwhelmed with emotion.
Responsibility.
Honor.
Before I tear up, I pull her into our embrace. “Oh my god I’m going to be a mom! You guys,” I sob.
Skye’s puzzled gaze goes between her father, me, and my belly.
“But you chose me,” I blabber. It’s too much for me to explain, so I just shut up.
Skye ties her little hands around my neck and sighs. “I just wanted to be your first baby. Also, your name is too hard to say.”
We stay in a group hug a moment, Christopher rocking us gently.
“Daddy,” Skye’s voice comes out muffled from where her face is buried in between us. “You forgot something.”
“Just taking my time, little bug. Enjoying the moment.” His chin strokes the top of my head. Both their heartbeats resonate through my chest, and I don’t want this moment to end either.
Skye lifts her head. “But it’s part of the moment.”
“That’s right.” He takes my left hand and slides a simple diamond ring on it, his eyes on mine. “There,” he says, his voice thick with emotion, his eyes shining. Then he dips his head to kiss his daughter’s hair. “Thank you, little bug. Couldn’t get it right without you.”
Then Skye wiggles her way out, and she starts packing our picnic while I pull my head back just enough to find Christopher’s mouth again.
“I love you so much,” I say when we pull apart.
When our house comes into view, Skye runs ahead of us. “She said yes!” she yells at the top of her lungs.
A whole group of people pour out of the bakery, clapping and cheering. Grace, Kiara, Willow, Autumn, Cassandra, Sophie, Willow, Haley, Lynn, and Craig, and so many others. The whole team from the General Store. Wendy and Todd from the inn and their children.
Justin and his wife.
Christopher seems unfazed.
I look between them and him and start laughing. “Oh my god Christopher! Did you do this?”
He doesn’t answer, just lifts me effortlessly, gives me a chaste kiss, sets me on the ground, then wraps his arm tightly around me as we join the group.
We get there just in time to hear Skye say, “She’s ho-normal. But she’ll be okay.”
I giggle into Christopher’s shoulder at her words. I love this kid so much, I can’t wait to call her my own.
Wait.
Justin is married??
How did that happen?
It’s all in The Promise Of You. Read on for a sneak peek!