Page 9 of The Secrets We Built Together

She was already out of the door before she responded, pausing at the top of the porch steps as she did.

"I'm really glad you're happy, Blake. This life suits you," she said before she walked down the steps and to her car.

I stopped in the doorway watching as she climbed in her car and drove away. I was still standing there, gripping the door frame when I heard Delaney walk up behind me.

"Who was that?" Delaney asked, one hand resting protectively on her barely-there baby bump.

"Madison," I told her quietly.

"Madison?" She paused like she was trying to figure out where she knew the name. "Your sister, Madison?" she suddenly asked, sounding surprised.

"Yeah."

"What the hell did she want?" Delaney snapped, then immediately winced and took a slow breath. "Sorry. Morning sickness makes me extra cranky these days."

And I smiled, turning back to my friend who would always be on my side. Her pregnancy glow was undeniable, despite the occasional bout of nausea she'd mentioned over the past few weeks. Or maybe it was just the sweat she broke out in whenever she thought she was going to puke. Either way it suited, but maybe I wouldn’t point it out just in case.

"I have absolutely no idea what she wanted," I said instead.

Delaney frowned sympathetically before she held out her arms and I walked straight into them. She gave the best hugs. I was pretty sure it was something they taught you when you became a mom. My own mother had obviously skipped mom school that day, and most of the rest of them as well.

"Are you okay? That must have been intense after all these years," she asked softly.

"I honestly don't know how I feel right now."

"Do you want me to show you where Trace hides his cookies?" she offered as she held me tightly. "I swear, that man thinks I don't know about his secret stash."

"I'm really hoping that's not a euphemism, Lanes."

"Well there was this one time…"

"Nooooo!" I surged back, my hands slapping over my ears as she laughed at me. "I think I've had enough therapy fuel for one day. Can we give my poor little brain a break?"

"Fine. Change of subject?" Delaney asked as she wrapped an arm around me and we walked back towards the kitchen. At my nod of relief she continued, "Trace is over the moon about the ranch renovations. You should have seen him this morning when the contractor called with the latest update. I swear he was about to burst."

"That's great," I said, genuinely happy for her husband. "Sounds like things are really coming together."

"They are," Delaney said, her smile fading slightly as she sat at the kitchen table. "But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little nervous about everything happening at once. The ranch expansion, the new baby coming this summer..." She sighed, her hand returning to her stomach. "I'm terrified I won't be able to handle it all. Being a mom to two kids, supporting Trace with the ranch, expanding the cider mill with the restaurant. Hell, thewedding—sometimes I wonder if we've bitten off more than we can chew."

I squeezed her shoulder, seeing the genuine worry in her eyes. "You're already an amazing mom to Cade. And from what I've seen, you and Trace make a hell of a team. Everything will fall into place, Lanes. Anyway, you’ve got me. I’m here for every step."

"Thanks," she said, offering me a small smile. "I just worry about missing something important, you know? With everything happening at once."

Her words struck a chord in me. The fear of overwhelming responsibility, of suddenly having your life completely transformed—it was something I could understand, even without having experienced parenthood.

"Hey," Delaney said, visibly trying to lighten the mood. "Are you coming to the Renewal Festival? It's the first one the town's ever done—part of our plans to bump up the tourism economy. Just watch, we’re going to put Willowbrook on the map."

"A town-wide festival? That sounds very... quaint."

"Don't be such a city girl," she teased. "The town council is going all out. They've got artisans coming in from three counties, live music, food trucks—the works. I heard from Madge at the store that the hotel is booked solid for the first time in... well, maybe ever. People are even listing rooms on Airbnb."

"Wow, Willowbrook's moving up in the world," I said, genuinely surprised. "Next thing you'll tell me they're putting in a Starbucks."

"Don't even joke about that," Delaney laughed. "Daniel at Books and Beans would have a conniption." She ran a hand through her hair and sighed. "Speaking of business booms, the cider mill tours are getting crazy busy. Trace and I are adding a second tour slot each day starting next week."

"That's fantastic, Lanes!"

"Yeah, it is. With the restaurant opening mid-summer, I'm not as worried about attracting customers anymore." She glanced down at her small bump and chuckled. "Of course, I would plan to expand the business right when I'll be waddling around like a duck and taking bathroom breaks every fifteen minutes. Impeccable timing as usual."

---