As my dad grabbed his phone and started dialing, Connor turned to me, his eyes bright with hope. I hadn’t seen him this happy in years, and I took his hand and intertwined our fingers. “This is happening, huh?”
“Yes, hon.” He kissed the back of my hand. “If we want our baby to have the childhood you did, then we need to get this town back on track. I can’t think of a better honor or role than this one.”
I beamed at him, pride billowing in my chest. “You’re sure. I can tell.”
“This,” he said, staring at our joined hands and motioning to my parents, “this is what I was missing. And now I have it.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CONNOR
The Snowflake Festival was in full swing on Christmas Day. We woke up at Laney’s parents’ house, surrounded by presents. None of them were for us though. All of them were for our unborn child. It was too early to tell the gender, but the local doctor was able to fit Laney in on Christmas Eve and confirm that the baby was healthy and strong. Laney was nine weeks along—so we weren’t going to share our news with anyone outside of her parents and Sophia, and that was fine with me.
Oh. And Petra, who sat at Laney’s parents’ kitchen table in an uncharacteristic ugly sweater.
“Small-town life suits you,” I said, holding up a mug of coffee. “You might not be all robot.”
“If I think too hard about what I’m doing here, I freak out. But I slept in flannel pajamas. A guy in glasses took me to dinner and bought me a present after knowing me for two weeks. My life is a weird Hallmark movie. It’s giving me hives.”
I chuckled as I poured Laney a cup of coffee. She was allowed two hundred milligrams of caffeine a day, and she assured me she’d use every one.
“I have conflicted feelings about Matt, but he seems like a solid guy.”
“He’s annoyingly wonderful.”
“Who is?” Laney walked into the kitchen wearing ripped jeans, a worn hoodie, and the biggest smile.
It was her joy that had attracted me to her, but now it held me captive. Hot coffee spilled on my hand as I realized I had forgotten to stop pouring. “Shit!”
“Hon.” Laney grabbed a towel and wiped my hand. “Careful.”
“He was staring at you,” Petra chimed in.
I narrowed my gaze at her, but she smiled. Laney blushed as she brought my hand to her mouth and kissed the back.
“You look beautiful.”
“You saw me ten minutes ago.”
“Doesn’t matter.” I kissed her forehead. “You feeling okay? Need toast? Pancakes?”
“Nah, I’m okay. My dad will cook his buffet lunch in a few hours. I call dibs on all the potatoes.”
“You can eat every one, Laney,” her mom said as she walked in, also smiling, and waved at Petra. “Matt is quite smitten with you. I ran into him at the bakery this morning, and he asked if you were celebrating with us.”
“Jesus, this guy.”
“He is wonderful,” Laney said, wiggling her brows. “He’s like a happy, loyal puppy.”
I grunted. I knew my wife didn’t have feelings for the guy, but I resented that he had been there for her that night. I’d never be able to thank him for that, nor forgive myself.
Laney slid her arm around my middle and leaned her head on me.
“No grumbles, my sexy Grinch. Matt is harmless.”
“He is harmless.” Her mom bustled around the kitchen wearing a bright red sweater. “Okay, the plan is to head to the town center in an hour for photos and the gift exchange. Then half the town will stop in at the shop for the potluck.”
“You have that many strangers come and eat your food?” Petra’s eyebrows rose.
