Page 150 of Whisper Sweet Nothings
“We’re not the only people in town having babies,” Bridger grumped.
“Well, we do make up a good percentage,” Wren said as Axel wrapped his hand over hers. They’d been married in a small outdoor ceremony nine months ago on their property. They’d just told us last weekend she was pregnant, and everyone was thrilled.
Clark placed his hand on his wife’s stomach and winked at her. He and Eloise had eloped in Las Vegas ten months ago, and they were due any day.
“Fine, continue telling us everything going on in our family.” Bridger rolled his eyes.
Lulu cleared her throat. “‘We all know that it was big news when our favorite single daddy was no longer single. But word on Main Street is that today is a different kind of celebration, because after he rode off into the sunset with his beautiful heroine (pun intended), they’ve made it official, and she’s adopted his little rosebud. They’re a family of three, and this town celebrates that kind of special love.’” Lulu paused and sniffed a few times before dabbing at her eyes with her napkin. She turned to look at me and Winnie. “It is a special kind of love.”
“It’s better than fiction,” my mother croaked, and everyone laughed.
“It definitely gives me all the inspiration I need,” Winnie said as she leaned her head against my shoulder.
Lulu looked back down at her phone to finish reading. “‘So, we’ll leave it on that special note. We’ll be back to spill some more Rosewood River tea next week.’”
“That was a good one,” Emilia said as she also dabbed at her eyes.
I glanced around the table, noting that everyone looked a little weepy, aside from Bridger, who was piling food on his plate.
“I feel like ‘The Taylor Tea’ loves Archer and Winnie,” Henley said. “It’s always very complimentary of you two.”
“They are, aren’t they? And Oscar was a famous author, so he’s clearly good with words.” Lulu gasped as her eyes widened. “Do you think he could be writing ‘The Taylor Tea’?”
I felt Winnie’s shoulders stiffen beside me, and I glanced up to see Bridger dropping a biscuit on his plate.
The table was quiet, with everyone clearly processing her words.
“Oscar? Are you kidding me?” Bridger said. “It is definitely not him. This has a woman written all over it. Dudes don’t give a shit about who’s pregnant and who’s sleeping with who.” Melody pointed at him for cursing, and he chuckled. “I’ve got credit in that jar.”
“That’s a good point. But maybe it’s Edith adding the woman’s touch,” Henley said.
“Nah. I fixed their computer for them last year. Those two can barely work a laptop. I’ve already ruled them both out.” Bridger reached for his beer and took a long pull as if he wasn’t giving it another thought.
“I think it’s a woman, too,” Emerson said with a chuckle. “It’s so detailed, and it normally tends to hate on the guy a little.”
Everyone threw out their guesses, and I looked up just in time to catch Bridger winking at Winnie.
He’d never shared what he’d seen on that laptop over a year ago. It had stayed among the three of us, as far as I knew.
“I kind of like that we don’t know who it is,” my mother said. “It makes it more fun.”
“And I couldn’t care less who it is,” my father said as the table erupted in laughter.
“We’ve got a good life.” Aunt Ellie held her glass up. “And if people want to spill the tea about all the things we have going on, so be it.”
Everyone raised their glass.
“Cheers to the Chadwicks. May our tea be overflowing until the end of time,” Lulu sang out as we clinked glasses around the table, most of them being water glasses, since a fair percentage of people at this table were pregnant or children.
“I’ll drink to that,” I said.
I glanced over at Winnie. My wife. The mother of our daughter.
And I’d never been more grateful than I was right now in this moment.
Six months later
“Remember the first time I caught you out here eating ice cream?” I said as I gripped her hips and lifted her onto the counter.
