Revel (Second Chance Romance #1)(51)

That was all.

Charlotte didn’t know what to think.

Now she was anxious. She wanted her sister and father to have a great time, especially since she and Declan had decided to make Charleston their permanent home. If they could get through this trip there was hoped they’d be back. Something Charlotte desperately wanted.

********

The party had been held in a ballroom at the new Gaillard Center downtown. Charlotte didn’t know most of the people in the room, but they certainly knew her. She’d had a fine time, but she’d been worried the whole thing would overwhelm her father, who was a simple man with simple tastes. He didn’t like large crowds or attention. He preferred to go fishing by himself and staying in with his free time. But every time she’d looked over at him he’d looked happy.

The stress and anxiety had caused her to be a little nauseated. The nausea had hit her randomly for the last couple of weeks but the night of the party it was especially overwhelming. She’d mentioned it to Vanessa after dinner as they sipped champagne next to an ice sculpture that Allyn had commissioned for the party. (Only Allyn Legare would do something like commission an ice sculpture for an engagement party.)

“You say this has been happening for a couple weeks?” Vanessa said, looking at her sister. “Charlotte. You’re a damn OB GYN. I would think you’d know the early signs of pregnancy.”

Charlotte shook her head, “No way. Impossible…”

But the more she thought about it, the more sense it made. She had been terrible about taking her pill at the same time every day, something she really should have known better about in her line of work.

“We need to get a test!” Charlotte said. “Let’s run to CVS.”

“In the middle of the party?” Vanessa said. “Don’t you think it can wait?”

“No. And we’ll only been gone like 20 minutes. I have to know now. I should probably stop drinking this champagne while I’m thinking about it,” Charlotte put down the glass next to the ice sculpture. “Let’s go.”

********

The little pink plus side had come up immediately.

“Holy shit,” Vanessa said, staring down at the test in Charlotte’s manicured hands. “What is Declan going to think?”

Charlotte smiled. She knew what he’d think. The same thing she thought.

They were going to have a baby. Someone that was part her and part him. Part Charlotte’s mother. And Declan’s parents. The new baby would have no shortage of guardian angels.

“I have to go find him,” Charlotte said. They’d taken the test in the restroom on the other side of the building for privacy.

“Now?” Vanessa said. “Sis, you’re crazy.”

“I know it,” Charlotte called over her shoulder as she walked out of the restroom. “This is what love does to a person, apparently.”

********

Declan was leaning against a column, laughing at a joke Winston Ravenel was telling him. Charlotte stared at him across the room, her heart racing. She wanted to capture this memory, the moment before she would tell Declan he was going to be a father. God, he was so handsome. And so happy. They both were. Ever since he’d asked her to marry him, life had been complete bliss. It almost scared her how fantastic things were.

And now, they were about to get even better.

She sashayed over to him slowly. His eyes met hers when she’d almost reached him, and he offered her his hand, pulling her into him.

“Hey, baby,” he said, kissing her hard on the mouth. “You sure do look beautiful tonight. You’re glowing.”

“Well, there’s a reason for that,” she said, smirking. “Sorry, Winston, can you give my fiancé and me a moment alone?”

“Sure,” Winston said, taking the last swallow of his bourbon. “I was thinking of talking to your sister. She sure is a pretty girl.”

“Oh, you stay far away from her, Winston Ravenel!” Charlotte poked him in the chest. “She’s pure and perfect. Do not corrupt her.”

“Wouldn’t think of it,” Winston winked at her. “I’ll leave you two be.” And off he went.

Declan looked down at Charlotte, “You get some good news? You look like you’re about to burst out of your skin.”

“I am,” Charlotte whispered, pressing herself against his chest. “Declan, I love you so much.”

He tipped her chin up with his hand, looking into her eyes, “I love you more. What’s going on?”

“I just found out,” she said. “Declan, I’m pregnant.”

His eyes widened and he stepped back for a moment.

“You just found out?” he asked. “How?”

Charlotte smiled, “My sister reminded me that nausea can sometimes mean you’re knocked up. Silly me, I didn’t even consider it. Some doctor I am. We ran to the drugstore and grabbed a test. I just took it. I’m going to have a baby. And by the way, it’s yours.”

Declan laughed and pulled her into him, tears in his eyes, “We made a baby. Charlotte… How is it possible for a man to have this many dreams come true?”

“I don’t know,” Charlotte said, wrapping her arms around him. “But let’s find out together. If it’s a boy, we will name him Henry.”