Page 91 of The Twelve Months of Christmas
“This will work,” Sunny said.
“Only water.” Molly studied her. “Is there a reason for this?”
“Maybe.”
“Oh, my gosh, are you pregnant?” Arianna asked eagerly.
“I’m not sure, but I bought a pregnancy test so I’ll know tomorrow morning.”
“Why wait? Take it tonight,” Molly urged.
“I read that it’s best to do it in the morning with your first pee.”
“I don’t know how you’ll sleep tonight,” Arianna said. “I wouldn’t be able to.”
It turned out, Sunny did, indeed, have a hard time falling asleep. A baby! Travis would be over the moon. So would she. She was ready, and the idea of having a child who would actually love her—after what she’d been going through with Bella, it would be heaven on earth.
She was up early the next morning, peeing on the magical strip, and when that line appeared, she squealed so loudly she woke Travis. He rushed into the bathroom, his hair standing in all directions.
“Babe, what’s wrong?” The words were barely out of his mouth before he saw the home pregnancy kit and the strip, took in the grin on her face. “Oh, man. Really?”
She nodded.
He let out a whoop, picked her up and swung her around, nearly banging her foot on the toilet. “This is the best news!” He kissed her so hard he about pushed her mouth to the back of her head. “I love you, babe. I love...this.”
“I love you, too,” she said.
“Get dressed. We’re going out to celebrate.”
“You have to work,” she pointed out.
“Not today. I’m taking the day off. We’re going out to breakfast.”
Sunny hurried into the shower. She was going to bubble over with excitement.
And she almost did. Until the thought occurred to her that maybe Travis’s kids wouldn’t be that excited about having a half brother or sister.No, no, no! Do not borrow trouble.Too late. She was already at the worry bank.
Arianna answered the knock on her door late Friday afternoon to find Alden standing there with a copy of theKitsap Sun. “Thought you might want an extra copy,” he said, handing it over. “Congrats on being a celebrity.”
“Thanks,” she said. “Want to come in?”
He nodded and stepped over the threshold, said hello to Mia, who was on the couch, busy crocheting.
“Nice to see you,” Mia said, and Arianna could read the thought behind the words. Here visiting my daughter, hopefully falling for her.
As if in real life neighbors fell crazy in love and lived happily-ever-after. Darn it all, why couldn’t real life work that way? For a moment Arianna envisioned herself saying, “How about you pretend you’re Santa and let me sit on your lap, play with your beard, loosen a couple of buttons on your suit.” What would happen if she did that?
He would race back to his house as if Krampus was on his heels and about to beat the tar out of him. Still, the idea of showing Santa Alden what she’d like for Christmas in June made her smile.
“Where’s Sophie?” he asked, looking around.
Arianna’s smile vamoosed. “With her dad.” Someone who deserved to have Krampus go after him.
“Ah.” Alden nodded.
The mention of Wyatt produced an awkward silence.Say something!she commanded herself.
“It was nice of you to bring over the paper.” Now there was a brilliant something.
