Page 78 of Forever in the Country

“Are you implying I’m overreacting because I’m hungry!?” I practically screech but his expression doesn’t change.

“I’m just sayin’…” His words are slow and measured. The drawl in his gravelly voice turns up a notch. “You work hard and sometimes you forget to eat is all.”

Snatching the sandwich from the wood, I tear open the wrapper and take an oversized bite. His eyes sparkle and his lips twitch just the slightest bit.

The jerk.

I moan as actual food hits my taste buds. Despite popular belief, one cannot simply exist on sugar cookies and royal icing.

“Thank you,” I grumble as I shove the final bite in my mouth. He smartly doesn’t comment on me inhaling the proffered item.

“You’re welcome,” he says, sitting on the edge of my desk. Grabbing my hand, he pulls me out of my chair and over until I’m standing between his spread thighs. He also doesn’t mention that my meltdown—over not being able to find my favorite set of measuring cups this morning—was in fact blown out of proportion.

Ella had sent me back to my office to do paperwork saying that she’d had enough.

“I still have work to do,” I whine even as my body leans willingly toward him.

“You have time for me to kiss you.”

“It never stops at just kissin’ with you,” I murmur and he grins.

“I don’t see the problem.” He rubs his nose against mine. “Besides, we’re supposed to go see the baby when you’re done.”

“I know. That’s why I skipped lunch. I’m trying to get this all taken care of so I don’t have to think about it when I leave.” He frowns and it’s adorable.

“Should you hire someone else? Another baker?”

“I’ve been looking. Ella and I have been doing all right, and I always hire some high school or college kids when it picks up.”

I don’t tell him that I’ve been all nervous energy today about seeing the baby or why I still get like this. Instead, I let him kiss me and then shoo him out the door so I can get myself together, finishing up here before going to see our niece.

* * *

“I need to tell you something.”Sorren watches me but remains silent, and it only ratchets up my nerves. “You’re supposed to say something.”

“You haven’t said anything yet,” he says carefully.

He’d picked me up a couple of hours after coming by The Poppy Seed, and we’d driven straight to the hospital. We’d stopped in to say hi to Hayden and Harper at the nurses’ station before going up to the maternity ward.

Fallon had been tired, but her eyes were bright and her cheeks flushed. Their baby girl, Rosie Breen Thayer, wrapped her little hand around my finger and effectively around my heart.

I didn’t know my brother’s heart could grow any bigger, but seeing him with his wife, his son, and their newborn daughter was nothing short of magical. We’d hugged and cried and it had been everything it should be.

Sorren had held Rosie, the tiny bundle almost comical in his arms. He looked so content, so at ease, it made my heart clench and my knees weak. He’d asked me no fewer than three times since we’d gotten home if I was all right, and I’d just blurted it out.

I need to tell you something.

“I know,” I try again, “but this is hard and I just…” His rough, callused palm slides against mine, and he squeezes it as he pulls me gently into his lap. I don’t know if this makes it better or worse for what I’m about to tell him, but I don’t fight him as he wraps his arms around me.

“Tell me.” The words are gentle but his body is still tense as his eyes search mine.

“I had a miscarriage.” His jaw clenches so I continue, “In college.”

His mouth opens and closes before he says, “I’m sorry that happened to you.”

“I’m not.” The words are heavy between us, but I feel lighter than I have in years. “Well, I am and I’m not. It was really early. My period had always been regular so when it was late, I took a test and it was positive.”

His fingers draw small circles on my back, and it warms something inside me. “Did you tell anyone?”

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