Christmas Wishes: A Small Town Christmas Love Story
Page 25
Molly breathed in deep, and then gagged slightly.
“Are you okay?” Nicholas asked. Molly had gone slightly green.
“Does it smell off to you in here?” she asked him, glancing around. “It's almost too sweet. It's so sugary in here.”
Nicholas pressed the back of his hand to her forehead. “Are you feeling okay? Too sweet?”
She pushed his hand away and stuck out her tongue at him.
“Well, if something smells funny in my shop, I better find out what it is,” a voice said from behind the counter.
Molly spun and found Hannah behind the counter. It was obvious she wasn't working today as she was wearing a chic pantsuit with her curly hair loose around her head.
“Hannah!” Molly cried, completely forgetting her previous discomfort as she ran to greet her friend. “I didn't know you'd be in town!”
“Just for today,” Hannah replied, hurrying around the corner to give Molly a giant hug. “We came home to see family for a day before we head off to Cabo.”
“Cabo?” Molly raised an eyebrow. “That sounds fancy.”
Hannah nodded. “Yup. I think Luke is going to propose.”
“It's been long enough,” Nicholas said, shaking his head. “I was sure he was going to do it over the summer.”
“We've been busy,” Hannah explained. “Since you gave him partnership of the business, he's been working so hard. Plus, my TV show keeps me crazy busy too. This will be our first real vacation in over a year.”
“Luke has done amazing things,” Nicholas said. “I should have made him a partner years ago. He's grown business like crazy, and I still have time to work at Christmas Wishes. You two deserve a good vacation.”
“Well, I'm happy for you,” Molly told her. “And Luke, too. You two are just so good together.”
Hannah beamed at her friend. “Thanks. I hope we end up as happy as you and Nicholas.”
“Hopefully you eat better food,” Nicholas murmured under his breath, still stuck on the breakfast hot dog.
“Let me get you guys some drinks,” Hannah said, not hearing Nicholas's comment. “On the house. Americano for Nicholas and vanilla hazelnut latte for Molly.”
“Actually, can I just have a cup of peppermint tea?” Molly asked. “The latte doesn't sound good today.”
Hannah and Nicholas stared at her for a moment.
“Who are you and what have you done with Molly?” Hannah asked after a moment.
Molly rolled her eyes. “What? I'm not allowed to want a little less sugar in my diet? My stomach's not super happy with me this morning.”
“After the hot dogs, I'm not surprised,” Nicholas told her.
“Hot dogs?” Hannah asked, looking between the two of them.
“What? They were delicious,” Molly replied. “But now, I just want some tea.”
Hannah shook her head and poured a cup of hot water and found the tea bag. “Anything for my friend,” she said.
They sat at the counter and talked for a few minutes, enjoying their time together before it was time to open the store. Molly was so glad she got to see her friend, even if it was just for a few minutes. They made promises to come visit in New York soon, and Hannah promised to show them all around her fancy TV show set.
When it was time to open the store, Molly and Nicholas reluctantly left the warmth of Sweetness & Light and headed out into the winter morning. When they were nearly there, they found Liam leaning on the wall. He was innocently throwing a snowball up and down in the air.
“This looks like trouble,” Nicholas warned, blocking Molly with his arm, like he was holding her back from something dangerous. “I thought we called a truce, Liam!”
“No truce.” Liam caught the snowball, this time with a sense of finality. “But this year, I’ll give you a head-start.”
“Run, Molly, run!” Nicholas shouted, grabbing for Molly’s hand, and they ran down the street, Liam in hot pursuit.
After a few snowballs, near misses and a couple complete bulls-eyes, Liam was once again crowned the king of snowball fights. The three of them, now with snow in their hair and covering their jackets, opened the store.
It was a banner year for Christmas Wishes. With Molly and Nicholas running things, the store had prospered. People came from miles around to visit and they'd been written up as one of the best Christmas stores in the nation.
Around lunchtime, Hannah came by with a plate of freshly baked cookies. While Nicholas and Liam dove into the sugary goodness, Molly didn't eat a single one. In fact, she turned that pale green color again.
“Are you okay?” Nicholas asked, pulling her to the side. “You look awful.”
“They just don't smell right,” Molly told him, frowning. “Nothing for the past week has smelled right. It all smells awful, even though it's fine.”
“That's not normal,” Nicholas said, shaking his head. Worry started to creep into the pit of his stomach. He could remember his aunt saying things didn't smell right to her either when she first got sick.
“I know. I made a doctor's appointment this morning. Will you come with me during lunch?” Molly asked.
“Of course,” Nicholas promised, putting a kiss on forehead. “Of course.”
* * *
Nicholas sat in the waiting room while Molly was being seen by her doctor. At one point, Nicholas took it upon himself to crack open one of the magazines on the table in front of him. He smiled to himself once he got to a certain section about holiday baking and saw Hannah Johnson’s face smiling back at him from inside the magazine’s glossy pages. He then thought about taking the magazine home with him as he was sure Molly would love to read it in her spare time.
Would the doctor’s office notice a missing magazine from their racks?
Was it treasonous to steal a magazine from a doctor’s office in the first place?
These are the questions that plagued Nicholas as he tapped his toe to the beat of the song playing overhead.
The doctor’s office was playing O Holy Night.
Because of course they were.
“Mr. Kerstman?” A young nurse popped her head around the corner, grinning when she saw Nicholas. “Would you mind coming to the back with me, please?”
Nicholas followed the nurse’s lead, heading around that same corner. He couldn’t help the anxious feeling that was growing in his chest as he wondered why he needed to be called back into Molly’s private appointment.
He managed to smooth the worry from his face by the time he’d reached Molly’s exam room, even if his thoughts were running wild.
Whatever it was, he wanted to be strong for his wife.
The doctor greeted Nicholas with a firm handshake. “Good morning, Mr. Kerstman. How are you doing today?”
“Good morning,” Nicholas greeted the doctor, pulling his hand away. “And I’m fine, but I’d be better if I knew what was going on.”
Nicholas looked over at Molly and it seemed like she was hiding her face away from him.
Why?
Oh no.
Molly had been crying.
“Your wife has something she’d like to share with you...” The doctor took a few steps back towards Molly, patting her on the shoulder.
Molly wiped at her cheeks and eyes before she swiveled towards Nicholas to face him. “Nicholas, I—”
“Whatever it is, Molly, whatever it is, I’ll be here, 100%,” Nicholas assured her. He to his knees before her. “We’ll figure it out. We can figure whatever it is out, together. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Good to know you’re committed,” Molly told him, a slow smile filling her face. “Because I’m pregnant.”
“I’m sorry?” Nicholas turned back towards the doctor, but the doctor only offered him a shrug and a smile.
Nicholas then turned back towards his wife. “Pregnant? Are you sure? Are you really, really sure?”
Molly nodded, and her grin grew further across her face. “Do you wanna know the best part?”
“What’s the best part?” Nicholas struggled to ask the question as he was feeling a little wobbly in his knees.
“We’re having twins,” she whispered. Molly wrapped her arms around her husbands neck and hugged him. “We’re getting two for the price of one!”
“What a deal, what a deal...” Nicholas collected his nerves while holding Molly tight in his embrace. “And, just to be sure, you’re, uh, sure about all of this? That we’re definitely pregnant? That we’re definitely having two?”
“We’re as sure as sure can be, Mr. Kerstman,” the doctor answered Nicholas’ question from near the door.
“Alright then.” Nicholas’ words came out with a sense of certitude.
“Alright then?” Molly repeated Nicholas’ words back to him. “What’s that supposed to mean, Mr. Kerstman?”
“It means bring it on, Mrs. Kerstman,” he told her. He grinned and picked Molly up by her waist, twirling her around the room. “You think having twins is going to make me lose that bet? The one about me getting tired of you before you get tired of me? You’ll have to try a bit harder than that.”
“You’re really willing to put yourself through raising twins all for the sake of five bucks?” Molly feigned a loud gasp.
“I think that I’m pretty much willing to do anything, as long as it’s with you, Mrs. Kerstman,” he told her. Nicholas smiled down at Molly, and he kissed her forehead.
Molly kissed Nicholas’ chin in response, and a few minutes later, they were checked out of the doctor’s office.
Somewhere along the way home, Molly decided that it’d be an amazing Christmas present to wait to announce their pregnancy to both of their families. Nicholas agreed with the thought, and he imagined the look of surprise and joy that would fill his own mother’s face.
* * *
When Christmas day rolled around, Molly chose to gather everyone into their living room with the over-sized candy cane set up beside Nicholas and Molly’s Christmas tree.
Molly handed out boxes to each of the soon-to-be grandparents, her hands shaking as she told them to open them at the same time.
Four boxes opened. Four t-shirts with the words “I'm a Grandparent!” came out of the boxes.
Molly started the announcement off rather nervous, stumbling over her words. Nicholas jumped in at the very last second, pointing down at Molly’s abdomen, and then pointing to the baby cherubs which hung as ornaments on the New Kerstmans’ Christmas tree.
“Oh, Nicholas,” Mrs. Kerstman sobbed. “Really? Are you sure?”
“I’m sure,” Nicholas replied. “And good news! You won’t ever have to fight over who gets to babysit the grand kid, because there’s two. We’re actually having twins.”
The now-grandparents in the room exchanged worried looks with each other, and Nicholas couldn’t help but to break out into a laugh. “Oh, come on. We all know two is better than one.”
“It’s a good deal! We promise!” Molly chimed into the conversation now as she took her husband by the hand. “I think it’ll be a lot of fun, too. With two of them around.”
“Uh-huh. You two better enjoy your Silent Nights while you still got ‘em.” Mr. Carmichael’s voice was deadpan as he added to the conversation.
And in that moment, the entire room erupted into laughter. With all the joy and cheer brought forth by the announcement, Nicholas and Molly took a moment to glance at each other, with enough love in both of their hearts to last over several, several lifetimes.
And with that, they turned their focus back to the celebration at hand, fielding questions from their respective parents about potential baby names, potential baby shower dates, and potential job titles for the little helpers that would soon be a permanent part of Christmas Wishes by this time next year.
If you liked this book…
An American Cinderella: A Royal Love Story
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"I'd give up my whole kingdom to be with you. I want to be your Prince Charming."
Aria has a big heart but bigger problems. Her whole life is a mess thanks to her controlling stepmother. But when she's knocked over- literally- by the hottest man she's ever had the pleasure of tangling up her body with, everything changes.
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There's only one problem: Henry Prescott doesn't exist.
The man she thinks she loves is actually Prince Henry, second in line for the throne of the nation of Paradisa. He's the man who Aria's entire department has to impress for trade relations. And that makes Aria's stepmother's plans even more dangerous.
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An American Cinderella: A Royal Love Story
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today Bestseller Krista Lakes is a thirtysomething who recently rediscovered her passion for writing. She is living happily ever after with her Prince Charming. Her first kid just started preschool and she is happy to welcome her second child into her life, continuing her “Happily Ever After“!
Thank you for supporting an indie author. Anything you can do, whether it be writing a review, or even simply telling a fellow reader that you enjoyed this, helps me out immensely. Thanks!
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Further reading
Bad Boys and Babies
Family Doctor’s Baby
The Billionaire’s Baby Arrangement
Crime Boss Baby
Kinds of Love
A Forever Kind of Love
A Wonderful Kind of Love
An Endless Kind of Love
A Hopeful Kind of Love (novella)
Billionaires and Brides
Yours Completely: A Cinderella Love Story
Yours Truly: A Cinderella Love Story
Yours Royally: A Cinderella Love Story
The "Kisses" series
Saltwater Kisses: A Billionaire Love Story
Kisses From Jack: The Other Side of Saltwater Kisses
Rainwater Kisses: A Billionaire Love Story
Champagne Kisses: A Timeless Love Story
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Barefoot Kisses: A Billionaire Love Story
Sunrise Kisses: A Billionaire Love Story
Waterfall Kisses: A Billionaire Love Story
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Other Novels
I Choose You: A Secret Billionaire Romance
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An American Cinderella: A Royal Love Story
Mr. Darcy’s Kiss: A Contemporary Pride and Prejudice
Check out my new Youtube channel for promotional videos, exclusive content, and my smiling face reading my books!
Don't forget to join my mailing list as well for updates! (clickable link)
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