AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Mom grins. “Why’d you bring it up if you don’t want to know?”
Dad saunters out behind Mom, slaps her ass, and winks at her before walking over to Cole to shake his hand. “Welcome to the mad house.”
Mom shoves Dad out of the way before throwing her arms around Cole. “Welcome to the family.”
When she releases him, he winks at me and mouths told you so at me. I do the mature thing. I stick my tongue out at him.
“Will you and Ellery be living in the carriage house?” Mom asks but she doesn’t give him a chance to answer before plowing on. “It’s okay for two people, but it’s a bit small for when the baby comes. You’ll need to find another place to live for the three of you. I know Saffron is considering selling her house.”
I hold up my hands. “Whoa. Slow down. There’s no need to discuss buying a house. Cole drew up plans to remodel the carriage house to add a nursery.”
And I am not talking about whether Cole and I are living together. We decided to give being in a relationship a try a few days ago. It’s way too early to discuss cohabitation. Him staying at the inn is ideal. I can see him during the day since I’m there all day anyway, and my apartment is steps away.
Although, I don’t know if his company will continue to pay for a room at the bed and breakfast for the two years he’s needed in town. Maybe he does need to consider finding a place to live. But purchasing a house? It’s definitely too early to think about him owning a place in town.
Mom pats Cole’s shoulder. “It’s handy having an architect in the family.”
“Hey!” Ashlyn shouts because she’ll explode if she’s not the center of attention. “Having a baker in the family is handy, too. Rowan brought a cake.”
“Sorry, baby cakes, but I definitely win this round. Having the Chief of Police in the family is the handiest of all.”
Ashlyn glares at Aspen. “What’s handy about having the po-po in the family?”
Aspen crosses her arms and lifts an eyebrow. “One, he’s gotten your ass out of hot water more times than I can count.”
“Untrue! I have most definitely not been in trouble more times than you can count.”
Rowan chuckles before pulling his wife near. He kisses her hair before mumbling, “Don’t lie, troublemaker.”
I scan the room. “Where is the Chief of Police?”
Aspen scowls. “Working. Someone wrote nudist on the window of Forest’s pet store last night.”
“Forest is a nudist,” Ashlyn mumbles, but when Aspen glares at her, she holds up her hands. “Don’t accuse me. I didn’t vandalize his store window last night. I was with Rowan all night.”
“Immediately offering an alibi doesn’t exactly make you sound innocent.”
Ashlyn rolls her eyes. “Don’t insult me. I would never be so boring as to write nudist on a window. Someone’s giving vandals a bad name.”
Mom claps her hands. “Before Ashlyn climbs on her soap box to give us a lecture about vandalism, let’s eat.”
“I do not have a soap box,” Ashlyn murmurs as she sits at the table.
Rowan and Cole sit next to each other. “What?” Cole asks when he notices me frowning at him. “There are five of you and only two of us.”
My frown deepens at his comment. Is he intimidated by my family? I thought he liked them.
Dad clears his throat. “I wouldn’t trade my daughters for sons for the world.”
Cole smiles at me. “I hope we have a girl.”
“We’re having a boy.”
Mom gasps and the food in her hands wobbles precariously. Dad rushes to take the tray from her before it falls to the floor. “Do you know the sex of the baby?”
“No. I don’t want to know. I want it to be a surprise.” I glare at Cole and wait for him to contradict me. He’s been pushing me about finding out the sex of the baby since he found out I’m pregnant.
He holds his hands up in surrender. “It’s your decision.”
