by Cindy Kirk
Stan rose from the chair on the front porch of the old farmhouse when the truck pulled into the drive. He stood at the top of the steps and lifted his hand in a friendly wave.
Molly raced down the steps and toward the truck.
“Don’t hit her,” Charlotte warned.
“Molly knows to keep her distance,” Adam assured her, driving until they reached the edge of the house, then pulling the car to a stop. “Let me get out first. I don’t want her jumping on you.”
Charlotte didn’t need protection from the yellow Lab, but she needed the few extra seconds to compose herself. Gladys’s words kept circling in her head, and she found herself clenching her hands into fists. She didn’t like surprises, and Gladys knowing her personal business had been the worst kind of surprise.
It took only seconds for Adam to round the front of the truck. She heard him speak to the Lab in a firm tone.
When Charlotte stepped out, the dog sat quivering with excitement beside him.
“Molly.” Adam’s warning had the dog staying seated.
“This is a nice surprise,” Stan called from the porch, his voice warm with welcome. “I thought the two of you would still be at the festival.”
The way the older man clutched the post beside him was the only indication of his unsteadiness.
“We saw all we needed to see.” Adam spoke with equanimity. “Something came up that we want to discuss with you.”
“Would you like a glass of sun tea? I just had a glass, and it’s really good.”
“Not right now, but thanks.” Adam glanced at the dog. “Good Molly.”
Charlotte liked Molly. Normally, she’d have at least spoken to the dog or given her a pat on the head, but her mind was preoccupied at the moment.
“Let’s sit on the porch.” Adam’s voice remained even and conversational. “It’s such a nice day, it’s a shame to be inside.”
“Couldn’t agree with you more.” Stan shifted his gaze to Charlotte, who’d yet to speak. “I’m happy to see you again. How’ve you been?”
“I’ve been better,” she muttered.
“Oh.” Concern furrowed Stan’s brow. “Are you feeling okay?”
“Dad, why don’t you sit? You’ve had a busy day, and your legs must be tired.” Adam shifted his gaze to Charlotte, and she saw the hint of warning. “Charlotte and I will sit, too.”
Charlotte didn’t feel like sitting. All the emotions pumping inside her had her restless. What she really wanted was to pace, to throw something, anything to relieve this tension roiling inside her.
But she knew Stan’s medical history and understood that, while his legs might be shaky, he was a gentleman. He would stand until she sat.
Charlotte took a seat in a rocker with a woven wicker back, leaving the other rocker and a straight-backed wooden chair, which hadn’t been there on Wednesday, for Adam and his father.
Stan chose the straight-backed chair with arms, gingerly lowering himself down, then breathing an audible sigh of relief when he sat.
Molly moved to him, resting her head on his lap.
Stan’s gaze remained on Charlotte and Adam as he stroked Molly’s head.
She expected Adam to sit. Instead, he began to pace.
“Remember when we talked about Charlotte and the baby?” Adam stopped moving and leveled a glance at his father. “You promised you wouldn’t say anything, not to anyone, until we gave you the go-ahead.”
“I remember.” Stan slanted a glance at Charlotte. “What’s this about?”
“Who did you tell?” Charlotte demanded.
Surprise skittered across Stan’s face at her tone. “I-I didn’t tell anyone.”
“You had to.” Charlotte ignored Adam’s look of warning. “Otherwise, how did Gladys know?”
“Gladys Bertholf knows about the baby?” Stan’s voice now matched the surprise in his eyes.
“About the baby and about my fertility struggles in San Diego.” Charlotte decided to lay it all on the line.
“What fertility struggles?” Stan shot a sharp-eyed glance at Adam before returning his gaze to Charlotte. “You told me on Wednesday you weren’t trying to get pregnant.”
There was more than surprise in his eyes. There was a protective papa bear look. A look that said, Did you set out to trap my boy?
Unless Stan was an actor capable of an Oscar-winning performance, her fertility struggle was news to him.
“We already discussed that, and no, I wasn’t trying to get pregnant when I slept with Adam.” Charlotte narrowed her gaze. “The point is, Stan, you told someone my personal business. I want to know who you told and why.”
Not, Charlotte thought, that it made that much difference now. In time, everyone would know. But it seemed important he confess what he’d done so that his son would understand he couldn’t be trusted.
“I told no one. Whoever said I did is a liar. I would never—” Stan paused as if to gather himself, his voice shaking with emotion. “I would never betray either of your confidences. You have to believe me.”
Adam dropped into the seat Charlotte had left empty next to his father. He reached out and clasped his father’s hand, gazed straight into his eyes. “I do believe you.”
Charlotte blew out a breath. “Then who told Madame Gitana?”
Stan shifted his focus to Charlotte. “This came from Madame Gitana?”
“Gladys is Madame Gitana,” Charlotte reminded him, but felt an odd sense at the look in his eye.
“Gladys is psychic,” Stan said, as if he’d just divulged her political party. “Powers arise when she becomes Madame Gitana and uses her crystal.”
“Dad, surely you don’t believe—”
“I’ve seen too many of her predications come true to doubt.” Stan gave a little laugh. “I was a skeptic, too. But she’s predicted pregnancies and life events—and gotten them right—for too many here in Good Hope for me to doubt.”
“She said we’re having a boy.” Adam spoke the words slowly, as if they were just now registering.
“A boy.” A wide smile broke out on Stan’s face. “How ’bout that? You’re going to have a son.”
“She’s got a fifty percent chance of being right,” Charlotte reminded the two men.
“She’s never been wrong,” Stan insisted.
“Back to the issue.” Charlotte felt suddenly weary, as if she’d run a long race and the finish line remained out of sight. “If you didn’t tell anyone, how did Gladys, er, Madame Gitana know?”
“All I can say is it wasn’t me.” Stan’s eyes implored her to believe him. “I wish you knew me better. If you did, you’d understand you can trust me.”
The sincerity in Stan’s voice spoke to Charlotte’s heart. She might not have psychic abilities herself, but she knew when someone was lying to her.
“I do believe you,” Charlotte grudgingly admitted. “I just wish I could figure out how Gladys knew.”
“I’m telling you, it’s Madame Gitana and her crystal.” Stan lifted a hand when Charlotte opened her mouth. “Ask Ami, Marigold or Eliza, or any of the others in town who’ve been the recipient of her visions. The woman is never wrong.”
On that point, Charlotte remained skeptical.
Stan cocked his head. “I guess I don’t understand what’s with the big secret. Why don’t you want anyone to know you’re having a baby and that Adam is the father?”
“This is a difficult situation for me, Stan.” Charlotte didn’t look in Adam’s direction, but kept her gaze focused on Stan. “I recently began a new partnership, and I need to show Marigold I can pull my own weight. And to be honest, I’m not ready to deal with the gossip and the questions.”
Her voice trembled ever so slightly, but thankfully no one appeared to notice.
No one but Molly. The old dog padded across the porch to lay her head in Charlotte’s lap.
“You have a right to decide when you share this news. That’s something the two of you can decide together, without this ol
d man’s input.” Stan’s gaze searched her face. “But remember that people love you and will want to share your joy. Don’t be scared of hiding good news. Gossips will do what they do. You know who you are and how wanted this child is. In the end, that’s what matters.”
The smile he offered her was so warm and, well, fatherly, that Charlotte’s heart swelled in her chest.
Pushing to her feet, she crossed to where he sat, leaned over and wrapped her arms around his frail body. “I’m sorry I doubted you. Forgive me.”
The pat on her back was awkward. As they parted, Stan had to clear his throat before speaking. “Nothing to forgive. Just know you can come to me about anything, anytime.”
Blinking back unexpected tears, she sniffled and blinked rapidly. “I’m sorry. Hormones.”
“You’re a good girl, Charlotte. I’m glad you’re going to be the mother of my grandson.”
Adam offered his father a quick smile. “I bet you’re thrilled you’re getting a grandson.”
“I’d love that.” Stan shifted his gaze to Charlotte. “Though a little girl would be nice, too.”
His qualifier spared Charlotte the need to remind the men that, despite Madame Gitana’s pronouncement, the sex of the baby was still very much an unknown.
Chapter Nineteen
Instead of returning to the festivities, Adam and Charlotte stayed to have a slice of the cherry nut bread Stan had baked that morning. They sat on the porch and laughed and talked about inconsequential things.
By the time Stan excused himself to work on payroll for the farm, any remaining tension between him and Charlotte had drifted away on the warm afternoon air.
The door had barely shut behind the older man when Charlotte pushed to her feet. “I suppose we should get going.”
Adam heard the reluctance in her tone. When Molly dropped a red ball at Charlotte’s feet, he saw an opportunity.
Picking up the ball, he glanced at Charlotte. “Or we could stay a little longer and make Molly happy.”
Charlotte glanced at the dog, whose tail swished like a fast-paced metronome.
Adam wasn’t sure if it was the low whine or those beseeching brown eyes that had Charlotte plucking the ball from his hand.
Snapping her wrist back, she released the ball, sending Molly scrambling.
For the next ten minutes, they took turns throwing the ball. Adam breathed in the fresh air, loving the sound of Charlotte’s laughter when Molly came back, but shook her head and refused to release the ball.
“Come on, Molly girl,” Charlotte urged, holding out her hand. “Give it to me.”
The Lab shook her head, sending slobber flying.
“She’s doing you a favor.” Adam leaned close to Charlotte and spoke in a conspiratorial whisper. “Trust me. You don’t want that slimy ball.”
“I think you’re right.” Charlotte pulled her hand back.
Adam loved seeing her like this, so happy and relaxed. The incident with Gladys had brought them here, and for that he was grateful.
“You know,” he said, “seeing Gladys today made me wonder if we should try to get those questions out of the way.”
Charlotte’s head tilted. “What questions?”
As her eyes met his, he saw realization dawn.
She grimaced. “Do we have to?”
He grinned at her look of dismay and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. Then, because he couldn’t resist, he brushed her mouth with his. “We don’t have to do anything.”
Adam could have left it at that, but he realized that despite all he knew about Charlotte, it was only a fraction of what made up this wonderful woman. He wanted to know more.
After the baby came, they’d likely be so busy working out scheduling and dealing with baby issues that getting deeper insights into each other would fall by the wayside.
“It shouldn’t be too painful.” He kept his tone light and hoped he spoke the truth. “Let’s give one a try.”
Heaving an exaggerated sigh, she gave a grudging nod. “I suppose you have the deck with you?”
“In the house. I’ll be right back.” Adam found the cards on his dresser. Scooping up the deck, he returned to the porch, where he found Charlotte stroking Molly’s head and telling the Lab what a good girl she was.
She looked up. “She’s an amazing dog.”
“We think so.”
Molly’s tail thumped.
“You won’t have to worry about her being around the baby. She’s great with kids.”
“I don’t worry about her.” Charlotte gave Molly one more pat, then straightened. “I see you were successful in your mission.”
He cocked his head. “Mission?”
She pointed to the deck in his hands.
“The way I figure it, the sooner we get through the final two, the sooner we’re rid of them.” He dropped down beside her on the front step. “Would it be more comfortable for you if we moved to the chairs?”
“You’re sweet to ask.” Her smile arrowed straight to his heart. “But I’m good here.”
What was it about this woman that brought out this rush of emotion whenever she was near? Sure, she had a quick mind and an amazing body, but something about her spoke to him, called to him…
Aware of her curious stare, he shoved the fanciful thoughts aside and held out the deck. “Want to shuffle?”
She shook her head. “I trust you.”
The simple words shouldn’t have mattered as much as they did.
“You draw.”
Suspicion filled her gaze. “Does that mean that I have to answer first?”
He laughed. “I don’t mind going first.”
Selecting the top card, she flipped it over and read aloud, “Do you hold grudges, or do you forgive easily?”
Inclining her head, she gave him an expectant look.
Adam thought for a second. “I consider myself to be a fairly easygoing guy. It takes a lot to rile me. I find it easy to forgive most things.”
Charlotte seized on the qualifier, arching a brow. “Most things?”
“I don’t know that I’ve ever completely forgiven my mother for leaving Stan. Even though I accept their marriage wasn’t working, Stan was struggling when she left. His decreased mobility and strength weighed heavy on him.”
Her eyes never left his face. When she reached out and took his hand, he gripped it.
“It felt, to me anyway, as if she used him all those years. He gave her and her child a home and financial stability. He gave her his love. But the second his condition made it difficult for him to keep up with her, she was gone.”
“You’ve been angry at her for a lot of years.” Her thumb stroked his hand.
“I guess I have been.” Adam gave a little laugh. “If you ask Stan, he’ll say she loved him, but she wasn’t cut out for hard times. He accepts that about her. Anyway…”
Expelling a long breath, Adam took himself off the hot seat. “What about you?”
Charlotte’s blue eyes took on a distant glow, and she appeared to be giving the question serious consideration. “This is going to sound bad…”
When she hesitated and seconds ticked by, Adam waited, their fingers still entwined. He didn’t say anything, simply let his touch hopefully be the reassurance she needed to continue.
“I’ve never cared that much about anyone to hold a grudge.” Her eyes remained somber. “Even the idea of people gossiping about me—I hate it on principle, because I feel it’s disrespectful—but I don’t stay angry at people for it. But the thought of anyone gossiping about my baby…”
Our baby, he silently corrected.
She paused for several heartbeats, then added, “That’s why we’re dating, to protect the baby from future gossip.”
“And because you can’t resist my charms.” He flashed a smile.
Poking him in the side, she laughed. “That, too.”
Charlotte scheduled her first official OB appointment at a time that wouldn’t interfere with her appoi
ntments at the salon.
“I’m meeting Adam for a late lunch,” she told Marigold as she gathered up her purse on Tuesday. “I have a cut scheduled at two thirty. I’ll be back way before then.”
“You and Mr. Vogele seem to be spending a lot of time together lately.” Marigold shot her a teasing smile. “Seems like it’s getting serious.”
“We enjoy each other’s company.” Charlotte fell back on her pat response.
“What did Madame Gitana have to say about you and Adam?”
“What do you mean?” Charlotte could have cheered at the casual tone she managed.
“I heard the two of you had a session with her on Sunday.” Marigold leaned forward. “I hope you know that whatever she told you, you can take it to the bank.”
Charlotte waved a dismissive hand even as she kept her eyes on the clock. “Don’t tell me you believe in all that mumbo jumbo.”
“Every prediction she’s made has come true.” Marigold’s expression turned earnest. “She predicted Caleb and even predicted I’d be having twins before Cade and I knew.”
“Wild guess.”
“I battled infertility for years, Charlotte,” Marigold reminded her. “A wild guess would be one baby, not three.”
“She was pretty cryptic with me.” Charlotte shrugged. “Hedging her bets.”
“She was cryptic with me, too. She talked about big changes and our family growing. When I tried to pin her down by asking if she was referring to two babies or something else, she said, ‘Two babies. That’s exactly what I’m talking about.’” A dreamy smile lifted Marigold’s lips before her eyes turned sharp and assessing. “If you tell me what she said, I may be able to help you decipher it.”
Charlotte glanced at the clock. “I need to get going. I don’t want to keep Adam waiting.”
“You like him.”
“What’s not to like?”
The simple comment went around and around in Charlotte’s head on the drive to the doctor’s office. As she expected, Adam’s truck already sat in the lot.
He got out when he saw her pull into the lot.
His cargo shorts and T-shirt might be übercasual, but the sight of him still had her heart skipping a beat.