Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
O ur ranch—it felt so weird saying our anything—had an open concept floor plan. When you walked through the front door into the foyer, you could see the kitchen, living room, and morning room.
The kitchen had a whole corner with two walls of white cupboards with glass doors. Marbled white, black, and taupe quartz countertops were the perfect complement. There was a gas stove, a range hood, a double-door refrigerator, and the tiled taupe backsplash set everything off perfectly.
I was in love with the island.
It was really long and had a hook on the end. It had the same marbled quartz countertop, with black cupboards beneath as an accent. The island held five bar stools and was home to a big farmhouse sink, garbage disposal, two-bin trash drawer, and dishwasher.
I loved that I could face the living room while doing the dishes, so I would feel a part of the festivities. The living room was wide open with a stone fireplace, floating taupe mantel, and massive TV above it. Two long windows, with built-in cupboards, graced both sides of the fireplace and looked into the backyard.
My favorite room was the morning room. It was a three-walled indent off the kitchen, surrounded by windows that overlooked the backyard. So much light. I loved it. Next to it were more floating shelves above a wine bar, which wouldn’t get used for a while, and a walk-in pantry.
There was a hallway on both sides of the living room, with two bedrooms on each side and two bathrooms, as well as an unfinished basement. The floor was covered with gorgeous hardwood, and we’d place area rugs in front of the massive corner couch, facing the fireplace and TV. Matt was hanging four large canvas paintings side-by-side of our beloved town of Mayflower, Massachusetts, in all four of her glorious seasons.
It was mid-September, and I was eighteen weeks. I’d been feeling the babies move more and more. The butterflies were definitely getting stronger. Matt walked over beside me and studied his handiwork, his scent wafting to my nose, making me moan out loud.
God, he smelled amazing.
He arched a brow at me. “Was that yer stomach?”
“You know me, always hungry.” For him, at the moment.
He chuckled. “That doesn’t surprise me, given ye are growing me children.” He looked back at the wall. “What do ye think?” He dropped his big hands to his jeans-clad hips, which pulled his t-shirt tight across his muscles.
“I love it. I love this town, and these photos capture her in all phases of her beauty.” I suddenly doubled over. “Whoa!”
His face twisted with genuine concern, melting my heart. He actually did care about these babies, and for a brief moment, I wished he cared about me as much. I shook off that foolish notion. Nothing but heartache came from wishing and dreaming.
“What’s wrong?” His hands left his hips and immediately cradled both sides of my belly, sending heat radiating through me.
Speaking of phases…
The horny phase chose that moment to hit me where it counted. I pressed my lips together and struggled for control as I slowly stood up. “Nothing’s wrong. It’s just the twins moving again. Much stronger this time.”
His eyes widened and he pressed his hands more firmly to my belly, which didn’t help my situation one bit, as he waited. I tried not to squirm, allowing several moments to pass by. His shoulders drooped.
“I don’t feel anything, lass.”
“I’m sorry.” I stepped away from his touch, for both our sakes.
“It’s not yer fault.” He blew out a big breath. “Ye are just lucky. I mean, I don’t wish I was a woman, or anything, but a man’s part in creating a baby is damn easy.” He scrubbed a hand through his thick, curly, blond hair.
“And necessary.” I tried to make him feel better. “I, uh, couldn’t have done it without you…or at least part of you.” It was a struggle to keep my eyes on his face.
“Me pleasure, lass.” He chuckled. “Literally.” He winked, his eyes twinkling.
I blushed, and an idea came to me. “Well, if you would like to contribute more, I could be persuaded to accommodate you…” I looked around the room. “I mean, we do live together, after all.”
His gaze locked onto mine and softened. “Ye said no romance.”
I shrugged. “Who said anything about romance?”
A suspicious look swam into his eyes. “Nice try.” He tweaked my nose. “Ye are still not getting a look at me shamrock, if that’s what yer after.”
“What if I promise not to look?” I bit my bottom lip, growing desperate.
He narrowed his eyes curiously. “Does this have to do with Chapter Five?”
I blinked. “Come again?”
He nodded. “Exactly.”
My jaw unhinged, and I raised an eyebrow at him. “Okay, what are we talking about?”
He laughed. “The horny phase that was in that book Zoe gave ye?”
I gaped at him. “You read my book?”
“Ye are not the only one who wants to know what to expect during these nine months.” He rubbed his hands together. “Besides, I told ye I wanted to be involved in all parts of this pregnancy.”
“So, you’re willing to solve my little problem then?” I fluttered my eyelashes up at him with a hopeful expression.
He laughed softly. “As much as I would love to help ye, I don’t think being friends with benefits is a good idea, lass.”
“Fine, then you’d better take the furthest bedroom down the other hallway, for both our sakes.” I inhaled a long slow deep breath and held it before releasing it, as I willed myself to think of anything other than how hot he was.
The struggle was real.
He studied my flushed face. “That’s probably a smart idea. And we can set up two nurseries, one down each hallway. That way if one baby is fussy, the other won’t be disturbed. And we’ll take turns over who’s getting up in the middle of the night.” He rubbed his jaw. “Unless ye plan to breastfeed.”
I was already shaking my head. “I know there is a school of thought that breast is best, and that’s great for those women who choose to do so. I also know other women who physically are unable to nurse their babies, and that’s okay, too. In my case, I simply don’t want to, especially not two babies at the same time at my age. I think it’s a personal decision that each new mother must make on her own.”
“I agree, and I won’t complain about getting to bottle feed me bairns.” Matt nodded. “I give women so much credit. Carrying a child takes almost a year of yer life, and the changes yer body goes through are a true miracle. To nourish and develop an actual human being is remarkable. And here ye are, creating two . Ye are truly incredible, lass. I just wish I could feel the wee babes move.”
“You and me both. I feel guilty because you can’t, but Dr. Joy said you should be able to soon.”
“Ah, Chapter Six.” He chuckled. “I’m looking forward to it.”
“And I’m looking forward to lunch.” I headed to the kitchen. “What do you say we take a break and eat?”
“You got it. Grab yer coat, and I’ll get my keys.”
I stopped walking. “I have a better idea.”
He glanced at me. “What’s that?”
“I’ll cook.”
He halted in his tracks. “Ye cook?”
“I try,” I admitted. “Zoe’s been giving me lessons.”
“Well, look at ye getting all domesticated.”
“You can’t be the only one feeding our babies.” I frowned.
There was that word our again.
If I wasn’t careful, I was going to get my heart broken without even trying.
“I’ll call me mammy and get some of her recipes.” Matt smiled wide. “She’s an amazing cook.”
“Let’s not get carried away, now.” I laughed. “Let’s start with lunch and go from there. Deal?”
“Deal.”
I wiped my mouth with a napkin after devouring an egg salad sandwich that afternoon from the grocery store deli on my way to the mayor’s office in the town hall. Let’s just say the chicken salad I’d made earlier had left a bad taste in my mouth, literally. The chicken itself was overcooked and dry, and then I’d put so much mayonnaise in it, that it was more like creamy chicken soup which made the bread soggy.
I had taken one bite and then burst into tears.
Matt finished every last bite of his, but I could see the struggle on his face. Shortly after, he headed into work at the pub, probably to do the same thing I was…get some lunch that was actually edible.
I helped him clean up my failure before he headed to work and I headed to my meeting with the mayor. Walking into the town hall, I stopped short. There was Bitsy Beaumont…or Brimstone, rather.
What on earth was she doing here?
“Hi, Bitsy. Are you getting back into the party-planning business?” I took a seat in the waiting room.
“Oh, heavens no.” She placed her hands on her growing belly. “Roger doesn’t want me doing anything that might be taxing. He’s so protective. He’s going to be a wonderful father. I can just tell.”
“That’s great, but what are you doing here ?” I couldn’t help blurt in frustration. I had a feeling I wasn’t going to like her answer.
“Well, I know this town inside and out from all the years of my traditional party-planning business. I know what they want and need better than anyone. So, Mayor Edwards was all too happy to accept my help.”
“Help for what exactly?” Bitsy loved to drag things out for a big reveal. It drove me crazy, not to mention, I had no patience these days.
“Why, help with all the committees, of course.” She looked at me as if I were a child who needed things broken down fully to understand them. “Who better than me to know how to put all these charitable contributions to use?”
“I see.” I saw what she was doing, all right.
Bitsy had to be at the heart of everything that was happening in Mayflower. She needed to feel important. To be involved. To be doing something. She had always been that way, even back in high school.
Well, not this time.
Just because she had said yes to Brimstone’s proposal, she’d become the most respectable one of us to the town. That didn’t mean she was the better person to represent my grandmother. I would be the one deciding exactly what to do with her contributions.
No one else.
“Wonderful.” She smiled slowly, almost catlike. “Then you know we’ll be working closely together on how best to spend your grandmother’s money.”
I ground my teeth and bit back what I really wanted to say. She had some nerve. “Thank you for the offer of help, but I’ve got it from here.”
“Oh, it wasn’t an offer, darling. It’s happening.” She looked down her long, narrow nose at me. “I know the things that were important to your grandmother, probably better than even you do.” She thrust her chin in the air and folded her hands in her lap. “It’s simple. The mayor wants me on this, so I’m on it.”
I set my jaw and raised my own chin even higher than hers. “Well, I don’t care what Mayor?—”
“Tiffany, you’re here!” Mayor Edwards opened the door to his office, his face beaming with delight. “Come on in. Both of you.” He nodded at Bitsy and motioned to us both. “We have lots to discuss.”
Bitsy smiled pleasantly at him and gave me a smirk as she sashayed on by me like she owned the place. I followed her and bit my tongue every step of the way.
“Have a seat, ladies, have a seat.” The mayor gestured towards the overstuffed white leather chairs as he closed the door behind him.
His suit was white. His desk was white. The walls, floor, and furniture…all white. He said he liked a clean slate, both personally and at work, because his wife, Eleanor, shined with enough color for the both of them.
“So, I was—” I started.
“We should do something for the school system,” Bitsy cut in. “Now that I’m having a child, I understand how the parents in our community feel.”
“Ah, yes, the state never provides enough funds to serve all of our children’s needs.” The mayor nodded.
She hadn’t even given birth yet. How could she understand anything? Bitsy just had to win at all costs. Everything was and had always been a competition with Bitsy. Two could play this game.
“Grammy was big on the arts and bringing more culture to Mayflower. I know she wanted to help the local theater with renovations for a bigger stage, among other things, to help advance the program. Bring in more shows.” I straightened my spine.
“That’s true. Eugenia and my Eleanor loved to see those plays together.” The mayor smiled fondly. “I do love the opera. Can you imagine having one right in town? Now, that’s something I would take my Eleanor to.”
“Our veterans could also use help with jobs and improvements to the VFW.” Bitsy sat up straighter. “It’s only right we provide them with what they need, after everything they’ve done for all of us.”
“A worthy cause for sure.” The mayor nodded at her.
“Grammy loved animals. She had several throughout her life. I know she would love to help with a bigger shelter and rescue resources. All those animals deserve a chance at a good life and finding their forever homes. Grammy would have wanted that.” I stared right at Bitsy, daring her to tell me I was wrong.
She remained silent.
“Well, we have other contributors that can help fund some of these needs.” He looked at me. “Ultimately, Tiffany, you have the final say in how you wish for your grandmother’s funds to be used.”
“Imagine that?” I didn’t even try to hide the smugness from my tone.
The mayor looked at his watch, oblivious to the game Bitsy and I had been playing. “I’d say you have lots to think about, then. I’ll have my assistant draw up proposals for all of these, and you can choose which ones you want to contribute to. If that works for you, we’ll go from there.”
“That sounds wonderful.” I stood, feeling victorious.
Until he dropped another bomb.
“And once you’ve made your decision, Bitsy will aid in overseeing the execution. Does that work?”
“Like a charm, Mayor. Like a charm.” Bitsy looked at me. “I’ll be in touch.” And then she walked out the door, taking some of the thunder out of my internal victory march.
This day just kept getting better and better.