A few minutes later, I hear him tell me, "Okay. We're ready. Open them now."
I do as he says, and it takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the bright sunlight. The tarp, which is normally blocking the view of the top-secret project, has been removed, revealing a cute, white building with fancy, colorful trim and windows.
I look at Colton in surprise. "You said you were building an expansion to the bar."
He glances down at the ground and kicks a rock with the toe of his shoe. "Well, that was a little white lie. I was actually building a bakery. For you."
I gasp and look back to the building ---mybuilding. It's just as cute as can be, and I'm instantly picturing the baked goods that can be displayed in the big front windows. My feet shuffle closer, and I just stare, taking in every little detail.
"You look like you're in shock," Colton says with a crooked grin.
"She's speechless!" Shelby Rae says giddily while clapping her hands excitedly in front of her.
"I think you broke her, Colt," Buddy quips.
Colton cups my face in his big hands and makes me focus on him. "Do you like it?"
"Like it? No, I don't like." His face falls for a second until I quickly say, "I love it!" I jump into his arms, and he catches me, falling back a step or two and laughing.
"She loves it. Whew!" he says while dramatically wiping his brow. "It will be the only bakery in town."
"And shall we call itPenny's Pie?" Buddy asks with a shit-eating grin.
"No!" Colton and I both say simultaneously.
We grin at each other, and then I tell Colt, "I was thinking something simple like Penny's Bakery."
He smiles and gives me a chaste kiss. "That sounds perfect," he whispers in my ear. "Now come on inside. I have a lot to show you."
Colton went all out on state-of-the-art machinery, and the kitchen gleams with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. I ooh and aah over every little thing as he proudly shows me all the hard work he put into making this happen. He did all of this for me, to show me how much he loves me. And it's overwhelming….or maybe it's just the pregnancy hormones. Either way, my eyes well up with tears, and I can't stop them from overflowing down my cheeks. "Oh, Colt," I whisper.
"Are those happy tears?"
I nod, unable to speak.
"Good. 'Cause that's exactly how I want you to be from now on, Penny. Happy."
"I am happy," I say. "Unbelievably happy."
Colton rubs his hand over my round belly. We have three months to go until our little boyandlittle girl come into the world. We're still trying to get over the fact that we're having twins. But I guess that's what happens when you can't keep your hands off each other for more than a few seconds every day. Shelby Rae told me she was surprised we weren't having quintuplets.
Shelby Rae puts on her apron and smiles. "Let's get to bakin', Penny. Our grand openin' is in a week!"
My mouth falls open. "A week?" I watch as Colton and Buddy try to sneak out the front door. "And where do you think you two are going?" I ask with my hands on my hips.
They stop and turn to me with mischievous grins on their faces.
"Wash up, boys," Shelby instructs. "Penny and me are gonna put ya'll to work."
* * * * *
WE CELEBRATE THE grand opening of the bakery the next week. All of our friends and family and almost the entire town of Willowbrook show up. Shelby is officially working in the bakery, and we hired another girl, Paula, to help out while I'm pregnant and after the babies are born.
"Speech. Speech," Buddy chants.
Colton glances at me, and I quickly say, "Don't look at me."
He grins and takes the small stage in front of the bakery. "First of all, thank you all for comin' for the grand openin' of Penny's Bakery. We hope to have a long successful business in the town of Willowbrook." He turns to me, and he looks at me so adoringly that it makes me blush. "I'd also like to thank my wife, Penny, who made this dream possible. It was a hard, long road to get us to here, but it was worth every single second, and I wouldn't change a thing. Thank you for bein' my wife, my best friend, and the soon-to-be mother of my children. I love you so much, Penny. Thank you for never givin' up on me, because I don't know what the hell I would do without you."
