AllFreeNovel
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“She’s manning the Sweet Mercury tent tonight.”
“Holly’s a baker,” William informs me.
“A very talented one,” Theo amends with pride in his voice. “She sells her cupcakes in grocery stores and bakeries throughout the state. And she has plans to expand her business to include other dessert items. She just needs to get some of the business stuff figured out, like logos and marketing materials.”
“That’s what I do!” I say cheerfully. “I’m a graphic designer.”
“She owns one of the largest firms in the world,” William says, and this time it’shisvoice that’s bursting with pride.
“I do,” I admit, “but I’d like to delegate more tasks to my staff and focus on grassroots campaigns again. I miss the design process.”
Theo smiles warmly. “I know Holly would appreciate your help. Let me introduce you…I’m sure we can hook you up with a free cupcake, too. Mind if I steal your lovely date for a minute?” Theo asks William.
“Not at all,” William says. “I’ll wait here. I know how crowded that cupcake tent gets.”
After introducing me to his beautiful wife, Theo excuses himself to return to William’s side. “We’ll be talking about you,” he tells us with a wink.
Holly and I roll our eyes, chatting easily together. The Jones clan seems to have no problem welcoming me into their fold. After a lifetime without a family, it’s…nice.Reallynice.
When I leave the cupcake tent, I’m not holding a free cupcake. Nope. Holly’s given me a box of six of the most exquisite cupcakes I’ve ever seen, each one a masterpiece that looks too good to be eaten.
I return to William and Theo, excited to share the cupcakes. But I stop short when I see Theo pat William on the back.
“You’re going to propose? That’s great!” he exclaims.
William nods, and says, “She’s beautiful. She’s smart. She’s talented. I’d be lucky to have her.”
I nearly drop the cupcakes in shock.William is going to propose?!
I hadn’t pictured anything as romantic as aproposal.I thought one of us would just mention our pact, and that’d be that.
“What about kids? Are they on the agenda, too?”
“No kids,” William says firmly.
No kids…?The words sink in. William doesn’t want kids. An overwhelming sense of loss washes over me. I’d had my heart set on having at least one child.
Theo looks at his brother with his head tilted. “I always assumed you wanted kids, eventually.”
“In case you haven’t noticed, I’mforty.”
Theo shrugs. “Forty isn’t so old.”
William laughs. “Tell that to my tired eyes. I have to carry reading glasses in my pocket now. I’m an old man, kid.”
“You really don’t want kids?”
“Not with Carly.”
Not. With. Carly.The words hit me square in the chest like a punch from a heavyweight boxer.
Theo says something else, but my heart is pounding hard enough now to drown out their conversation.
William might want kids…but not with me.
Ten
William
