“Yeah, no bickering! Besides, you both win on lasagna night!” Easton winked, holding his plate out for Dad to serve him a heaping helping.
“That’s true.” Charlotte made sure the girls had some salad, then she passed the bowl along. “Gloria makes the best lasagna.”
“It’s a family recipe,” Gloria replied, her cheeks pink as if the attention made her blush. “It’s been in my family for generations.”
“I’ve been trying to get her to give me the recipe since the first night she made it for me,” Charlotte whispered to Nellie. “She won’t give it up.”
“You’ll get it one day,” Gloria promised, her eyes sparkling. “For now, it ensures you’ll all come over for dinner every once in a while.”
“You don’t have to bribe us with your homemade lasagna, Mom. But it does help,” Easton smirked.
Conversation slowed for a few moments while food was passed out and around the table. When everyone’s plates were loaded, we dug in.
Chapter Thirty-One
Nellie
* * *
Dinner with the Wood family was a lot like having dinner with the Alcotts. Everyone seemed to talk over each other, and laughter was abundant. Mrs. Wood—Gloria—was an exceptional cook.
Noah’s entire family was warm, inviting, and happy. There was a familial comfort between them all, and I could tell that they genuinely enjoyed each other’s company. Even Damien was smiling, something I’d rarely seen him do unless around Charlotte.
After everyone had finished their meal, they remained around the table for coffee and dessert. Someone—either Noah or Charlotte—must have told Gloria I preferred tea to coffee, because she brought me out a cup of herbal tea.
“You let me know if you want more hot water,” she told me when she set the teacup down in front of me.
The twins, Aria and Ronan, ate their slices of cake quickly and asking to be excused so they could go play, but the adults remained around the table.
“So, Nellie, how are you liking working at the resort?” Mr. Wood—Will—asked, sending me a considering look.
I’d taken a sip of my tea and had to swallow before answering. “I’m really enjoying it. There’s always something interesting happening.”
“That’s resort management for you.” Will chuckled, shaking his head. “Never a dull moment! The stories I could tell you. Wait until the summer! You’ll be meeting some interesting regulars.”
“Ooh, like the Burns!” Easton said gleefully. “They really know how to keep things entertaining.”
“Summers are my favourite time of year at the resort,” Gloria said, her smile wistful. “Fall is beautiful, and winter can be fun, but summers have a special place in my heart.” Gloria smiled at Will, her eyes aglow with love.
I exchanged a look with Noah, my thoughts on how my due date was mid-summer. Noah put his hand on my knee and gave it a gentle squeeze, as if he knew where my mind had gone.
He tilted his head in the direction of his family as if asking if I still wanted to tell them. I nodded, worrying my bottom lip. Dinner had gone so well, and I was afraid to shift the jovial mood, but I hadn’t changed my mind. I wanted to tell them.
I had grown tired of hiding it from everyone. I wanted to be able to walk around town without worrying someone would discover my secret, and that it’d get back to Noah’s family before we had a chance to tell them.
“Speaking of the summer, we actually have some news to share,” Noah said, still looking at me. I gave him a small smile, and Noah’s hand found mine.
“Oh? What news is that?” Gloria asked, drawing Noah’s attention away. He glanced around the table at his family members, all of them waiting expectantly for him to speak.
Damien surprised me by giving me a small, reassuring smile and subtle nod.
“Nellie and I are going to have a baby,” Noah finally said.
For a moment, nobody said anything. The silence seemed to stretch on and on, my heart pounding in frantic beats with each millisecond that passed.
I envisioned Noah’s parents flying off the handle, demanding that I leave their home immediately. I imagined them accusing me of trapping their son and defiling their good name. I could scarcely breathe, even with Noah reassuringly squeezing my hand.
Gloria blinked as if coming out of a stupor. “Really?” she asked, her hand going to her mouth and her eyes welling with tears when Noah nodded in response. “That’s amazing news! Congratulations!” she added, practically flying out of her seat to rush around the table and wrap her arms around both Noah and me.
