Sandpiper Way (Cedar Cove #8)(38)

Bruce declined with a shake of his head. “He addressed it to you.”

“I’m giving you permission to look at it.”

Again, he declined.

“You’re not so cocky now, are you?” she teased, bringing the plates to the small kitchen table.

“You’re marrying me,” he stated flatly, but he didn’t sound as confident as he had earlier.

She derived a small degree of satisfaction from the way his arrogance had suddenly diminished. But she’d made her choice and, in her heart, she knew it was the right one. Her future was with Bruce and Jolene and whatever children they might have.

“Bruce,” she said as they sat down. She purposely changed the subject. “I’d like to get pregnant soon.”

He blinked hard. “How soon? Tonight? I’m certainly willing but you’re the one who says—”

“After the wedding.”

“Uh…” His gaze traveled back to the Christmas card, which still lay on the kitchen counter.

Rachel stood and handed the card to Bruce, who took it with some reluctance.

He opened it slowly, read the two short lines. When he finished he raised his eyes to hers. “All he says is Merry Christmas, Nate.” He frowned. “Where’s all that garbage about him never loving another woman?”

“Did I say that?” she asked with a giggle.

“Maybe not in those precise words, but basically, yes.”

“You have to read between the lines.”

“All he said was Merry Christmas,” Bruce pointed out.

“Well, yes, that’s what he wrote, but you and I both know he meant a whole lot more than that. He misses me.”

“Good.”

“But…”

“He can miss you all he wants, but you and I are going to be married and that’s the end of it.”

“Bruce,” she said sweetly, “you are jealous.”

“No way,” he insisted.

She didn’t argue with him.

“All right, maybe a little,” he admitted. After a moment, he asked, “Should I be?”

Her heart melted at the uncertainty in his eyes. She couldn’t continue to tease him. “Nate is out of my life. I’m madly, senselessly in love with you, Bruce.”

He grinned sheepishly. “I know that.”

“It’s nice to hear it once in a while, though, isn’t it?” she said, and about this she was serious. While her fiancé might not be a man of eloquent words, it wouldn’t hurt if he expressed his feelings now and then.

“What if I tell you how much I love you every day for the rest of our lives?” he asked. “Would that be enough?”

Rachel smiled. “That would definitely be a good place to start.”

“Now about starting something else—our family.”

“Yes?” This was a subject Rachel could get excited about.

Fourteen

“You were right about the knitting.”

The young female voice seemed to come out of nowhere. Startled, Faith Beckwith looked up from the pattern book she was studying. She sat at a table in The Quilted Giraffe, searching for a knitting project, only to find Troy’s daughter, Megan, staring down at her.

“Megan.” She hoped the shock didn’t show in her eyes. It took her an instant to get past the fact that this was Troy’s daughter. Despite her intentions, forgetting about him was a futile effort. “How are you feeling?”

“Really good,” Megan said, then lowered her voice. “This pregnancy feels so different from my first one.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” Faith murmured, genuinely happy for Troy’s daughter.

“I haven’t told anyone about the baby. Except Craig. I had to tell my husband.”

“Of course you did.” Faith was relieved to hear that. She hated the thought of Megan keeping this pregnancy to herself.

“My dad and my in-laws don’t know yet.” She hesitated. “It’s hard not to tell my dad.”

“Then why don’t you?” Faith asked. Troy would make a wonderful grandfather.

“We’re really close,” Megan went on to say. “I don’t want him to worry unnecessarily.” She smiled slightly smile as she pulled out a chair and sat next to Faith. “I have a good feeling, though.”

“You’ll know when the time’s right to tell your father and your in-laws,” Faith said without meeting her gaze. It felt odd to speak about Troy in such an abstract way. She noticed, however, that Megan looked healthy. Color showed in her cheeks and her eyes were clear and bright.

“I was glad when I saw you here,” Megan said as she set her gigantic purse on the table. “You were so helpful the day I went to the clinic.”

“Actually, it was my first day on the job.”

“You’re kidding!”

Faith laughed softly.

“I felt like you were there just for me. I was feeling so emotional. You calmed me down, and after we talked, I felt…a real sense of hope.”

Faith was grateful for those kind words.

“But it was more than that,” Megan continued. “You said knitting would be good for me. You were right. Every time I feel anxious about the baby, I pick up my needles and I remember what you said. It’s almost as if…” She hesitated again. “I don’t want you to get the wrong impression or anything, but you said exactly what I would’ve wanted my mother to say.”