Page 32 of Rekindled Heat

"What's this project? Is it new?" He looks at the new squares I've been sewing.

"It's a surprise," I confess.

"Anne wants to know if they can come over to wait with us."

"Um, it might take hours."

"It's Saturday, they're bored."

"Sure, tell Anne to bring me food."

"Anything specific?"

"She knows what I like."

There's also the fact that Anne knows my surprise. I wanted to tell Erik first, but she's nosy and figured it out. I don't know how Erik will take the news. He doesn't really like surprises. He might be laid back with the rest of the world, but he takes his husbandly duties very seriously. This will be stressful for him.

Thirty minutes in and his pacing is driving me crazy. Fortunately, the doorbell on the main house rings, and he goes to let our friends in. I might get a little miffed about him hovering every time I'm waiting on the results of a competition, but I know he does it because he loves me.

"Hello, hello, I've brought some empanadas."

"You're an angel. Gimme, gimme," I say, making hand-grabbing signs.

"Max brought some champagne but won't let me open it until we get the news."

"I'm flattered you all believe so highly of me that you are certain I will win this competition."

"You've won others."

"Yeah, but this is a big deal. Not only is it a lot of money, but I'll also be featured in a popular quilting magazine, and my pattern will be published as well. This could bring in a lot of work."

"You look worried about that, baby girl."

"It could be too much."

Especially if I was having a baby in seven months.

"Brandy, this place is wonderful. How did you get Erik to build it for you?"

"He was tired of having pieces of fabric strewn about every surface of the house."

"I resent that. I did it because I love you."

"That, too."

I smiled at Anne and kept eating my empanada. She got me chicken, which is just as well because beef makes me want to barf right now. Then a look of worry enters her features, and I glance towards where Max and Erik are standing.

"Oh, crap," I say.

"Max, come sit by me," Anne says.

"Give me a minute,” Max says, “I'm trying to figure this quilt out."

Erik is frowning next to him, and I sigh in resignation. They're going to figure it out, alright.

"Max, leave it. It's a surprise."

"There's the word dad or daddy in there," Erik mumbles.

---