Love Lessons in Good Hope : A Good Hope Novel Book 14

by Cindy Kirk

  “It’s very interesting.” Charlotte caught Adam’s eye.

  “I don’t believe that for a minute.” Jeremy laughed. “I can’t imagine those topics being of interest to anyone who doesn’t have a baby boy.”

  “Adam and I are having a baby,” Charlotte said, as if announcing she wanted another soft drink. “We found out today the baby is a boy.”

  Charlotte would bet a bomb wouldn’t have gotten a bigger response.

  Marigold shrieked, then hopped up to hug her.

  Fin lifted her glass in a salute.

  “Congrats, man.” Cade slapped Adam on the back.

  “You’re going to love having a son.” Jeremy shook Adam’s hand as if pumping a well. “This calls for a drink.”

  Jeremy motioned the waitress over. “Another round here. Put it on my tab.”

  Ethan Shaw was the one who strode over later with a tray of drinks. His hair was as dark as Adam’s, but instead of brown eyes, Ethan’s were a smoky gray. Despite his surroundings, the son of one of the town’s founders carried off a smooth sophistication like it was an elegant topcoat.

  One of the principal investors in developing Wrigley Road, he’d been more hands-on in the running of the Ding-A-Ling than either of his two partners.

  Ethan smiled as he glanced around the table, his gaze coming to a stop on Jeremy. “Allie told me you ordered a round for everyone at the table. What’s the occasion?”

  Jeremy shot a questioning look in Adam’s direction.

  “Charlotte’s pregnant with my son,” Adam said.

  “That is a cause for celebration. Congratulations.” Ethan set down the tray and shifted his gaze to Charlotte. “To both of you.”

  If Ethan found it odd that she’d just returned to Good Hope earlier in the summer and was already pregnant, he didn’t show it.

  “If there’s anything else we can get you, let Allie know.”

  “You’re here all the time lately,” Jeremy observed. “What happened to Darold?”

  Ethan shrugged. “Being a manager ended up not being a good fit for him.”

  Translation: The guy was fired or was asked to resign.

  “We’re on the hunt for a new manager.” Ethan smiled. “I feel confident we’ll find him. Or her.”

  Ethan’s suave demeanor reminded Charlotte of Paul. Both had been born into money, raised with privilege and possessed a quiet confidence.

  When Adam moved to stand beside her chair, then leaned down to kiss her, all thoughts of Paul fled. This guy did it all for her.

  Adam might not know it yet, but he was the one she was taking home with her tonight, the only one she wanted to be with tonight. Maybe forever.

  She smiled as her lips met his, surprised the thought didn’t strike fear in her the way it once had.

  The next morning, Adam framed her face with his hands and kissed her. “I’ll run to the market.”

  “You don’t have to.” Charlotte swung her bare legs over the side of the bed and sat there naked, watching Adam pull on his pants. “I can go without half-and-half.”

  “It’ll start your day out right.”

  She motioned him over and lifted her face to him for a kiss. “I thought that’s what we just finished doing.”

  Adam laughed, and she felt his warm lips curve as they lingered on hers. “Back in ten.”

  Grabbing a robe, she followed him to the door where she kissed him again before he bounded down the steps.

  He stopped at the bottom and offered her one last heart-stopping smile.

  She’d never been so glad that her first appointment at the salon wasn’t until noon. Charlotte wanted to savor this time with Adam just a little while longer.

  Adam was a gem. Just like now, he didn’t have to run to the market for half-and-half. But he knew how much she liked it in her single daily cup of coffee.

  Love is not what you say, it’s what you do.

  The saying popped into Charlotte’s head, and a lump formed in her throat.

  Impulsively, Charlotte pulled on a pair of running pants and shirt and headed down the steps. In less than five minutes, she was back in her apartment with a sack of two delicious-smelling pastries.

  She remembered how Adam’s eyes had lit up the time she’d given him and his dad the kouign amann and cinnamon roll. This time, she’d purchased two kouign amanns.

  After setting placemats on the table, she added two stout mugs for the coffee, then cut one kouign amann in half. That way, Adam could take the other one home to Stan.

  Charlotte found herself humming under her breath as she grabbed two napkins. Yesterday had been the best. They’d found out her baby—their baby—was healthy. She’d meant what she told Adam. She wasn’t disappointed she was having a boy. She knew she could count on Adam and Marigold and Fin to help her with the boy things.

  Her phone dinged.

  She scooped it off the end table, anticipating a text from Adam telling her he was on his way back.

  Her smile faded.

  Hey, beautiful. Hope you’re close to closing the deal with Leticia, because Sydney is jazzed. In touch soon. I’ll bring the champagne.

  Charlotte studied the message. She wasn’t at all excited to see Paul again. For a second, she was tempted to text him back and tell him not to bother because Leticia had never contacted her.

  The sound of Adam’s footsteps on the steps had her setting down the phone and opening the door.

  “What is that?”

  “Flowers for you.” He held out a gorgeous bouquet of white miniature callas, blue hydrangea and white hydrangea accented with assorted greenery.

  “Why?” She couldn’t hide her pleasure.

  “To thank you for being, well, you.”

  As far as flowery speeches went, it was bare-bones, but a lump still formed in Charlotte’s throat. None of the flowers she’d ever received meant as much as this particular bouquet.

  She cleared her throat and touched her palm to his cheek. “I thought nothing would make this past twenty-four hours any more special. I was wrong. Thank you.”

  Dropping the sack containing the creamer to the sofa, Adam slid his arms around her and lowered his forehead to the top of her head. “I lo-I adore you, Charlotte.”

  Charlotte had to admit the feelings she saw in his eyes went both ways. She liked Adam. Liked him a lot.

  Reminding herself every journey started with a single step, Charlotte took a deep breath. “That’s good, because…I adore you, too.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Charlotte dressed quickly once Adam left. The door had barely shut behind him when the Open Door e-newsletter hit her inbox. She scanned it for any mention of her and Adam’s baby news.

  The e-newsletter went out to everyone in Good Hope. In addition to information about upcoming events and stories featuring locals, there was a gossip section. Though it wasn’t labeled as such, that was exactly what everyone scrolled to first.

  Charlotte had no doubt that news of her pregnancy, along with the fact that Adam Vogele was the baby’s father, would be in the next issue. Which meant she had to get to Piper first.

  She’d barely rapped on Piper’s door when it opened.

  “Charlotte. I wasn’t expecting you.” Judging from the messy hair, pajamas and slippers, Piper hadn’t been expecting anyone. Lines of fatigue edged her friend’s eyes and her skin seemed unnaturally pale.

  “I have something to tell you, but if now isn’t a good time, I understand.”

  “Now totally works. I was just getting ready to make lunch.” Piper cocked her head. “Have you eaten?”

  As it was barely eleven, lunch wasn’t on Charlotte’s radar. “Not yet.”

  “We can eat together.” Piper motioned Charlotte inside. “If you’re not too picky.”

  Charlotte shot her a smile. “I like most everything.”

  Lunch ended up being a grilled three-cheese sandwich and potato chips.

  They ate on the sofa with paper plates and plastic cups of
soda on boxes in front of them. The brown packing boxes were everywhere, their contents noted in black marker on the sides.

  When Piper brought out bowls of ice cream for dessert, Charlotte mentally added another mile to her daily run.

  “How’s the move to the new space coming?” Charlotte dipped her spoon into the mound of vanilla, not sure if it was the caramel or the chocolate syrup that made the ice cream so yummy.

  “Everything with the shop is done.” Piper sighed. “I can’t wait until I can make the switch to my new apartment. I’ve got movers coming on Monday for the big stuff. I’m moving the small boxes myself on Sunday.”

  “Sounds like a busy weekend. Not only relocating a business, but moving to a new apartment.” Charlotte tapped her spoon against the bowl and decided it was the caramel. “It’s cool you get to live above your store.”

  “I’m happy about that,” Piper admitted, “though Wrigley isn’t as convenient as this location.”

  Charlotte nearly asked if Piper thought the noise from the Ding-A-Ling across the street would bother her, then decided there was no reason to bring attention to a possible negative.

  “It’ll be nice,” Charlotte said instead, “having a place that’s brand new.”

  “You might ask Bea what she plans to charge for the space over the bookstore.” Piper’s expression brightened. “If you rented that apartment, we could be neighbors.”

  “How big is the unit?”

  “About the same as what you have now.”

  Charlotte made a face. “I’m going to look for a two- bedroom.”

  “I know a lot of people like that extra bedroom for an office, but—”

  “I need it for another bedroom.” Charlotte met Piper’s gaze. “For the baby.”

  Piper blinked. She stared at her for several seconds, as if Charlotte had spoken in a foreign language. “You’re pregnant?”

  “Yep.” Charlotte set down her spoon. “Due in March.”

  “That would mean you got pregnant in July.”

  Charlotte had to give it to Piper. Her friend had stellar math skills.

  “Adam is the father.” Charlotte saved Piper the trouble of asking.

  Piper shoveled a large spoonful of ice cream into her mouth. Swallowed. “Wow. Are you happy about it?”

  “I am.”

  “Wow.”

  “I wanted to tell you before you heard it from someone else.”

  “Like who?”

  “Adam and I went to the Ding-A-Ling last night and ran into Marigold and Fin and their husbands.” Charlotte paused. “We were celebrating that we’d found out the baby is a healthy boy, and the happy news spilled out.”

  When Piper only continued to stare at her, Charlotte continued.

  “It’s not how I planned on telling people. Well, really, it’s not how I planned on becoming a mom. But my point is, you’re my friend, Piper. My best friend.” Charlotte thought of her conversation with Stan about the importance of sharing your joys with friends, and added, “I don’t want you to think I wasn’t excited to tell you.”

  “Well, congrats.” Piper dipped her spoon into her never-ending mound of ice cream. “I assume by the fact that Adam has a house and you’re looking for a two-bedroom apartment you guys aren’t thinking of doing anything crazy like getting married.”

  Charlotte wondered why Piper’s remarkably accurate assessment of the situation chafed. “Just for the sake of discussion, why would that be crazy?”

  “Well, duh.” Piper waved her spoon in the air. “He’s a farmer. You’re a sophisticated city gal. Too sophisticated to be a farmer’s wife. E-I-E-I-O and all that.”

  Piper appeared too interested in finishing off her ice cream to notice Charlotte’s frown.

  “I’m proud of you,” Piper set down her spoon and held up her hand for a high five. “You’re smart not to let him get too close.”

  Reluctantly, Charlotte gave Piper’s hand a light slap. Piper sounded bitter. Was that how she herself had sounded when she’d talked about not wanting a man in her life? Had her experience with Jake closed her eyes to the possibilities of life with the right man?

  “Sounds like I’m not the only one who’s had a bad experience with a guy.”

  Piper’s mouth was once again filled with ice cream. She nodded.

  Instead of jumping into the silence, Charlotte offered an encouraging smile.

  “There was a guy I thought I loved. It was a long time ago.” Piper waved a dismissive hand.

  “My marriage was half a lifetime ago.” Charlotte’s chuckle held no humor. “I still bear the scars.”

  “Heath cheated on me.” Piper’s eyes grew hard. “With my best friend.”

  “Slimeball.”

  “He was a nasty piece of work, but so incredibly smooth.” Piper’s voice dropped. “My parents still think he’s wonderful.”

  “No way.”

  “Yes.” Piper’s lips pressed together. “My own sister thinks he walks on water.”

  “How could she? Not just her, but your parents.” Charlotte didn’t bother to hide her shock. “When you told them that—”

  “I didn’t tell them.” Piper glanced down at her empty bowl. “It was a choice. One I don’t regret.”

  “You must have had a good reason.”

  “I thought so.” Piper shrugged. “At the time, anyway.”

  A story here, Charlotte thought, not sure whether to press or let it go.

  “I’m going to get some more ice cream.” Piper jumped up from the sofa. “Want a refill?”

  Though she didn’t go in until noon, Wednesday ended up being one of those days when Charlotte was at a dead run. Her salon schedule, with every slot filled, had appointments running over and into each other.

  Marigold’s schedule appeared equally onerous, other than when she took time to put her feet up while she called and checked on Caleb. Charlotte barely found time to down a fiber bar and a bottle of water. She vowed to discuss the schedule with Marigold once she could catch her breath.

  They needed to adjust the times allotted for each service, or maybe Evie had squeezed a few too many extra clients into the mix. Though they were supposed to close at six, it was nearly seven by the time the last client walked out the door.

  Charlotte had just kicked off her shoes and dropped down on her sofa when her phone dinged twice in quick succession.

  The weekend after next is a go. Save Saturday night for me.

  Presumptuous, Charlotte thought, but that was Paul. Did she really think he’d show up in Good Hope next weekend? Not on her life. She’d learned he was all pie-in-the-sky promises.

  Case in point, his big talk about Leticia and Sydney. She couldn’t believe she’d fallen for the pretty picture he’d painted.

  Feel up to a walk on the beach?

  This text was from Adam. The truth was, she wanted nothing more than to slip on her pj’s and put up her feet. Then she thought of the ice cream she’d consumed. Not to mention the grilled cheese and chips.

  Yes!

  With Adam, Charlotte could relax. Recharge.

  By the time he knocked on the door downstairs, Charlotte had pulled on the beach shoes she’d purchased in San Diego. She replaced the stylish top she’d worn at the salon with a cotton sweater. At the last second, Charlotte grabbed a waterproof jacket. Past experience had taught her it was usually cooler by the water.

  She opened the door. “I’m ready.”

  “Don’t you look nice.” Adam bent over and kissed her lightly on the mouth. “I’m glad this worked out. I know you had a busy day.”

  He took her hand as they started walking in the direction of the beach. “There’s a full moon tonight, so we should have enough light.”

  “I need to walk.” As they strolled in the direction of the water, Charlotte found herself telling him about her time with Piper. “Something is bothering her. I can feel it.”

  “Do you think it could be related to the move? She’s had to not only relocate her
business, but find a new place to live. Those are a couple of big changes in a short period of time.”

  Charlotte appreciated that, while he offered alternative suppositions, he didn’t say she was wrong to suspect something deeper was going on.

  He took her arm as they navigated the wooden steps to the beach with only the glow of moonlight to light their way. Once they reached the sand, his hand slid down her arm, and he linked his fingers with hers.

  She realized she’d grown used to his touch, to the way his callused palm felt against her smooth skin, to the warmth that flooded through her each time he touched her. “You’re always holding my hand.”

  When he started to pull back, she gave a breathless laugh and tightened her fingers around his. “Don’t. I like it. It makes me feel close to you. Which is crazy because we’re so different.”

  Slanting a sideways glance, Adam smiled. “Not so different.”

  Charlotte muffled a snort.

  “Think about it,” he urged. “We both like pizza and dogs and walks on the beach in the moonlight.”

  The moon hung big over Green Bay as he lifted their joined hands to his mouth and placed a kiss on her knuckles.

  Her heart, she was embarrassed to admit, simply melted. His dark hair shimmered in the moonlight, and the light accentuated the lines and planes of his striking face.

  Charlotte had known more handsome men, guys who turned women’s heads wherever they went. But never had a man stirred her senses like this one.

  All the more reason she needed to keep her head. All the more reason not to get caught up in kisses and moonlight and the longing.

  “I’m more social,” she began.

  “That’s a characteristic, not a difference.” A slow smile lifted his lips. “I like people. I enjoy backyard barbecues and festivals. Perhaps not to the same extent as you. I admit I can be content working in the garden, and I’m okay without seeing friends for days.”

  Charlotte opened her mouth to tell him she’d go bonkers working in a garden for days with no one around but family. She couldn’t push out the words. The truth was, she could imagine planting tender shoots into rich dark soil beside Adam and Stan.