Tara:Did you do it yet?? Time is ticking! You’re almost 6 weeks!! Don’t chicken out—go for it, girl.
Gracie’s breath froze in her chest.
The phone wobbled in her hands. She nearly dropped it into the snow. Her fingers went numb around the smooth case.
Red hadn’t misheard. Bianca reallywaspregnant. And she was here to make Marshall believe the baby was his.
The world tilted. The cold bit into her face. She couldn’t move, couldn’t blink, couldn’t breathe. Questions ricocheted inside her skull. How could she tell him without looking like a jealous snoop?
It didn’t matter. He needed to know.
“Gracie?” Marshall’s voice cut through the fog. “Everything okay?”
She blinked, forced her jaw to unclench, raised the phone. “Sorry. Just—a snowflake in my eye.”
She snapped the picture. The flash lit the scene too brightly. Bianca rushed over and snatched the phone back without thanks, already flipping through the photos.
“All right!” Bianca chirped, apparently satisfied with how she looked in each. “Now one with Marshall and me.”
“No, we’re done,” Marshall announced, putting an arm around Gracie. “You want to step back into the barn? Are you cold?”
“Not in there!” Bianca exclaimed, waving her hand under her nose. “The smell of those animals is making me nauseous.”
Well,somethingwas making her nauseous. Something…six weeks along.
Everything in Gracie’s head was muted, muffled, and her heart hammered so loud she wondered if Marshall could hear it.
Then Olivia tugged his sleeve. “Daddy? Can you please stay at Snowberry tonight?Pleeeease? It won’t be Christmas morning without you, and I want to go to the big cozy lodge and the tree and everyone there and it’ll be perfect and we’ll open presents and?—”
“Olivia,” Marshall said softly. “I don’t want to impose?—”
“You wouldn’t be,” Gracie said quickly, hoping that would give them a chance to talk. “Really. We have a few open cabins. You should stay.”
Olivia cheered.
“Are you sure?” he asked.
She nodded. “Absolutely.”
Bianca perked up like she’d just been offered a golden ticket. “Oh! Well, that works out perfectly. And you don’t have to use another cabin, Marsh. We have plenty of room in ours, don’t we, Liv?”
“No,” Marshall cut in gently but firmly. “I’ll stay in an empty cabin…for Olivia.”
Bianca’s smile faltered. “Oh. Right. Of course. I just…thought maybe for Christmas?—”
Marshall didn’t budge. “No.”
“But you must come over for hot chocolate and the midnight present. You remember the midnight present, right, Olivia?”
“Oh, yeah! Daddy, you have to come and we all open one present at midnight just like old times.”
Gracie’s stomach churned. He’d be with them until midnight…so, when would they talk?
As they made their way toward the parking lot, fresh snow covering the walkway, Bianca teetered on her ridiculous heeled boots. Navigating the asphalt, she suddenly slid, losing her balance.
Marshall instinctively reached out, catching her by the elbow. Of course, Bianca melted against him with a little breathy laugh.
“Oh, my gosh, thank you,” she murmured, head against his shoulder.
