“Luis!”

“Just kidding, darling.”

I sighed as I leaned over the counter and stared out the gallery window. I thought about my life back in New York and how if I hadn’t found out what Darren had done, I’d still be taking the pregnancy tests each month, only to be heartbroken and disappointed.

“Hello, hello,” Annie’s cheerful voice interrupted my thoughts.

“Annie, hi.” I smiled.

Annie walked over and unexpectedly hugged me.

“What’s this for?” I asked.

“I just had to rush right over here first,” she said with tears in her eyes.

“Annie, is everything okay?”

“I just came from the doctor, Adalyn. I’m pregnant!”

“Oh my gosh, Annie. Congratulations!”

“I honestly don’t know how it happened. Well, I do. You know what I mean.” A bright smile framed her face. “It’s just I’ve been so busy getting the sweet shop ready to open that I wasn’t even thinking about it.”

“Jerry must be ecstatic.”

“He doesn’t know yet. I’m going to tell him tonight over a romantic dinner. I just wanted to tell you first because you understand what I’ve been going through. I can’t believe it, Adalyn! I’m having a baby!”

“Who’s having a baby?” Luis walked over with a grin on his face.

“I am! I’m having a baby!”

“Annie, darling. I’m so happy for you!” Luis gave her a hug.

“Thank you. This is just between us, though. After I tell Jerry, the whole town can know.”

After Annie left the gallery, Luis hooked his arm around me.

“Are you okay?”

“Of course.” I smiled. “I’m really happy for her. I was thinking earlier that maybe it’s a blessing Darren did what he did. He’s not the man I thought he was, and I honestly couldn’t imagine having a baby with him. He was never there for me as it was, and a baby wouldn’t change him or anything.”

“I do believe you’re right, darling.” He pulled me closer.

The gallery was getting busy with all the tourists that were coming and going. After helping a customer with the sale of a two-thousand-dollar piece of artwork, my phone rang, and it was Rosie.

“Hey, Rosie.”

“Hello, sweetheart. I can’t stop thinking about that painting I saw in your shop the other day. The seascape one that had the vibrant colors.”

“Yes. I remember you looking at that one.”

“Is it still available? Carl just redid one of the guestrooms, and it would look perfect in there.”

“It is. Shall I package it up and bring it by?”

“Would you mind?”

“Not at all. I’ll bring it by after the shop closes.”