by Natasha Boyd
“I know,” I admitted. “That is a long time.”
“Seriously, I’ve already had my publicist on the phone asking if she can share the news about the engagement. I want her to wait, obviously. Because if there’s too much time between sharing the news and the wedding, it’s liable to become a circus. We may as well start planning to have dancing elephants or acrobats from Cirque du Soleil to entertain the guests. The wedding will be massive. Everyone I’ve ever crossed paths with will expect to be invited.”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re being dramatic.”
“Eh. Not really. And maybe not the dancing elephants, that’s cruel, but acrobats would be awesome.”
“Nicole’s about to get married. I can’t suddenly have my own wedding. I know I’ve just met her, but I can hardly do that to someone.”
“And your concern for people you barely know is another thing I love about you. Even if it’s extremely inconvenient.” Jack pouted.
“Careful you don’t trip over that lip.”
“And I love your sharp tongue.”
I stopped and stretched up on my tip toes to press my mouth to Jack’s.
He quickly snaked his hand into my messy bun and held me to him. His kiss deepened, salty from sweat and sea air, then he drew back to deliver tiny nips along my lips and my jaw.
My skin instantly prickled to attention. I wondered if this man would give me goose bumps until I was eighty years old.
“A couple more things,” Jack said against my ear. “You were the one who said you didn’t want to look like a whale, not that you ever would, but that means sooner is better.”
I pulled back and sighed. He was right, I had said that. “And the other thing?”
“You think I don’t know that watching someone else plan to have their wedding there, at the Butler House, your family home, is killing you?”
My teeth met. I took a short breath, then held it, puffing my cheeks out. It wasn’t upsetting me that much. Was it?
Jack watched me, expectant.
I exhaled. “Okay, maybe a bit. It’s not killing me. But do I wish Joey or I were the ones to have the first weddings there. Yes. For Nana’s sake. If not our own.” I squeezed Jack’s strong forearm. “But it’s not even ours anymore, really. So what does it matter, you know?” Though, if the ache in my throat had anything to say, that did make me a bit sad. The inn belonged to the public now, and to Jack, as the owner and investor. It was no longer just my childhood home.
Jack took my hand from where it lay on his forearm and slipped it around his waist, pulling me against him. He stared down at me, his green eyes hidden by his sunglasses.
He pulled them down his nose so I could see his eyes. “It is yours,” he said. “It’s all yours. I may have been the investor, but I put all my ownership in your and your brother’s name. Happy birthday.”
“What?” I whispered. I pulled his sunglasses off his face entirely and stared at him.
“I’ve always meant to do this for you after I got the situation stable again.”
Years ago, when we had almost lost the house due to the burden of massive property tax increases we couldn’t pay, combined with the upkeep, Jack had stepped in and offered a business proposition to my brother. He wanted to invest in property, but it had to be income producing. Jazz had come up with the concept of The Butler Rooming House, and after some reservations, I had relented. Jack had become a silent investor so that our property could have another lease of life.
It had been a difficult emotional decision, but an easy financial one. “The only reason I agreed to let you help was because I was helping you too and not just taking a hand out. I can’t believe you were that sneaky.” But being sneaky to help me feel secure. I’d had a panic attack about this very thing just a few days ago—about how I felt as if I had no home without Jack. In his own way, Jack was making sure I had independence if I wanted it.
“Before you freak out,” Jack said quickly, and I realized my face must have been scrolling through emotions. “It’s just the deed. I put up unsecured operating capital as well, and the business still pays me as an investor. I promise. So don’t go all crazy on me.”
“I—”
“And while I’m laying it out there, I should tell you I put our home on Daufuskie entirely in your name too.”
I shook my head, not believing my own ears.
“I was going to save telling you that as your wedding present, but it’s a dumb wedding present.”
“No, it’s not.” I laughed incredulously. “They’re not dumb birthday presents either. But—”
“They are. Especially because I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about me doing this. How do you feel about it?” He tugged at his hair nervously. “Are you mad? If you think I’m just spoiling you, I’m not.”
“No, I’m not mad. And you are spoiling me. I can’t accept this, it’s too much.”
“It’s not generosity. It’s actually pretty selfish. Remember how I was saying I got scared that sometimes I felt like you had to be with me, rather than wanting to be with me?”
I winced. I thought we were through this. “No, Jack,” I said. “We went through this. I don’t ever think that. I want to be with you.”
“Shhh. Let me finish. I know you want to stand on your own two feet and not be in my shadow. And you do. God, you are glorious. But, I want us to be equal. And I don’t want you to ever feel as if you have to stay with me.”
He was trying to remove all the strings of me being with him out of necessity.
I should have been irritated he’d gone behind my back again, but the complete selflessness of the act just floored me. Maybe it was my hormones, or the fact we were engaged, but oh my God, this man was something else. Jack was nothing if not an extravagant gift giver.
“Jack, I love you. I don’t feel like I have to be with you. I admit I might have had a small panic attack when I realized I was pregnant and you were second-guessing getting married. But that doesn’t mean rationally I would feel I had to stay with you just for money and shelter.”
“I know. But one day you might, and I don’t ever want that to be a thing between us. It would break my heart more than you not loving me, if I felt like I’d somehow ... trapped you.”
I hooked the sunglasses I’d pulled off him onto my shirt front and lifted my hands, fisting them in Jack’s luscious dark hair. It was silken, cold, and windswept. “Lead me into the trap then. I’m coming willingly. If anyone’s worrying about trapping someone it’s me, carrying your baby that I know you’d never abandon.”
“Never,” he said and lowered his forehead to mine. “God, I’m a mess, aren’t I?”
“No more than I am. My head is spinning. You went from getting spooked about marriage to wanting to get married as soon as possible. Now you’re bestowing all these things on me. I just ... We’re doing something huge. Getting married, creating humans, those aren’t things to be done lightly. We need to just breathe for a moment.”
“Yeah. I know.” He pulled me against him, tucking my head under his chin. “Here’s the thing though. Now that I’ve gotten control of my self-doubt, and we have a tiny human on the way, I want us to start on that beautiful secure future right away. I guess I’ve never felt more vulnerable and also more responsible.”
I pressed my lips briefly to his. “Me too. Now let’s go have my birthday lunch with your parents. I’m starving again.”
The Butler Rooming House, nestled amongst live oaks off the main road of Butler Cove, appeared calm and welcoming as we pulled up in the Jeep. As Jack parked, I looked through the windshield and took in the majestic lines of the Southern beauty that’d been restored to its former glory. It was still mine. The magnitude of the thought hit me anew. The porch, the columns, the crisp black shutters, the pink camellias Jazz had planted along the sides. All the memories inside. Tears sprang to my eyes. It was still mine. Ours. I hadn’t realized until that moment how much I’d emotionally distanced myself from my home because it
no longer quite felt like it belonged to me. I climbed out the Jeep, just as Jack jogged around to open my door. I grabbed his hand and breathed in deeply. “Thank you,” I said, meaning it with every fiber of my being.
His dimple creased his cheek as he grinned at me. “You’re welcome.”
We trotted up the steps to the house just as the door flung open and David, Nicole’s fiancé, came barreling out the front door with a bag slung over his shoulder.
Jack pulled me to the side.
“Sorry,” said David, glowering at us as he passed.
We stepped inside, glancing at each other. Jack’s eyes were wary as if we’d just made it past a rabid animal. Jazz was on the phone at the desk.
What the heck had just happened?
“Any chance you guys have Uber in this Godforsaken place?” David asked from behind us.
I turned back and shook my head.
“No,” said Jack.
“Just fucking great,” David snapped.
I raised my eyebrows. “You can call a cab. Where to?”
“The airport.”
Jazz came up and ushered us away from the front door, looking calm and poised. Her eyes flashed briefly to mine. Then she looked out the front door. “I took the liberty of calling one for you, Mr. Rothstein. They should be here shortly. Are you sure you don’t want to wait in the library?”
“No,” he said stiffly. “I’ll wait out here.”
“Can I bring you anything while you wait?”
“A time machine,” David snarled. “So the stupid bitch hadn’t ever come down here.”
My mouth dropped open. A hiss sounded behind me.
“Cooper,” Jazz barked out and I turned around to see my friend, his arms crossed over his broad chest, his eyes raining fire upon the small dark haired man on the front porch.
Whoa, I mouthed to Jack, who returned my look of shock. We stepped sideways toward the kitchen, both of us knowing distance from this volatile situation was probably the best thing. “I’ve got this, thank you,” Jazz told our friend. “Keri Ann and Jack, would you mind taking Cooper to the library then since Mr. Rothstein won’t be using it?”
“Uh, sure,” I said quietly, but Cooper had already turned and headed back that way. We followed, and Jazz gently closed the front door in the face of a confused looking David Rothstein.
Silence reigned for a good thirty seconds as we all assimilated.
“Where are my parents?” Jack asked eventually.
Jazz grimaced. “Hiding in the kitchen. That was not a great first impression of our inn.” Then she turned the lock on the front door.
“Don’t worry about it. One supreme idiot wouldn’t put my parents off.” Jack slipped his fingers between mine. “Besides, you don’t need their approval.”
Cooper sat down in an armchair in the library nook and picked up an open gossip magazine. “Anything about you in here, Jack?”
“I joined the Church of Scientology, didn’t you know?” Jack joked.
Cooper looked up. “Really?”
“No, not really.” Jack rolled his eyes with a laugh. “Why does Jazz insist on keeping these magazines here?”
Jazz let out a long breath and headed toward the stairs. “Because they entertain me. I’m just going to check on Nicole.”
“Is her mom still here?” I asked.
“She left yesterday afternoon. Thankfully, after leaving a large check for the remaining deposits,” Jazz called over her shoulder.
“You better get that cashed before she cancels it,” Cooper muttered.
“You okay, Coop?” I asked.
He scowled. “I’m fine. But that guy’s a prick. Anyway, I’m going to get my boat out of storage from Skull Creek Marina this afternoon. Do you guys need a ride over to Daufuskie Island?”
I raised my eyebrows at Jack. We hadn’t discussed when we’d take Charlotte and Jeff back to our house. “Today would work,” I said. “Especially now that it doesn’t seem like I need to stay here and help Jazz with wedding planning.”
“Okay.” Jack shrugged. “Makes sense. Thanks, Cooper.”
Cooper nodded and picked up a discarded newspaper. “I’ll shoot you a text when the boat’s ready.”
“Come on,” said Jack. “Let’s rescue my parents.”
We headed toward the kitchen.
“Can I just say I love that you’re calling them your parents instead of your mom and Jeff?” I told Jack.
Jack gave a small frown as if it had just occurred to him. “Huh, I guess I am. I mean they’ve been together at least fifteen years. It’s about time.”
“I’d say so.” I squeezed his hand. “You ready to tell them they’re going to be grandparents?”
Nineteen
I was devouring a delicious, juicy, but well-done burger when Jack excused himself from the lunch table to take a call.
Jack’s parents were trying Paulie’s shrimp n’ grits and oohing and aahing over every bite.
The Snapper Grill hadn’t changed much in the three or so years since I’d worked there, apart from a secluded booth that Paulie had recently built. He’d made no bones about the fact he expected me and Jack to keep coming around, and was providing us a spot where we could eat with some privacy.
It was fall and low season for tourists, as well as late in the day for lunch goers, so privacy wasn’t too much of an issue. Jack had asked me if he could take point on bringing up the baby news, but so far he’d said nothing.
“So.” Jack came back and plopped down in his seat. “Keri Ann and I were thinking we could drop you back at the inn after lunch to pack up while we run a couple of errands, and then Cooper’s going to give us all a ride over to Daufuskie in his boat.”
“Sounds fine, love,” said his mother distractedly. “These might be the very best shrimp I’ve ever had.”
I raised my eyebrows at Jack in question about when we were going to tell his parents, but he merely winked at me. Okay, so no baby news delivery yet.
“And,” said Jack, addressing his stepfather. “I know we only just got engaged, but I have an important question. Jeff, I was wondering if you’d do me the honor of being my best man.”
Jeff looked up from his plate, his mouth full, and a shrimp tail still stuck out between his lips that he hadn’t bitten off yet.
I covered my mouth, trying not to laugh, but also moved and surprised by Jack’s request.
“Oh,” gasped Charlotte. “Oh how wonderful.”
Jeff’s eyes bulged and he made quick work of the shrimp tail, swallowing in a gulp.
“I’m sorry.” Jack winced. “I didn’t mean to shock you. It’s just, it would mean the world to me to have you by my side. You’ve been there almost my whole life after all. At least the parts I care to remember.”
I grabbed my napkin to dab my eyes, noticing Charlotte doing the same.
“Goodness,” Jack’s stepfather managed. “Are you sure you don’t have a friend you’d rather ask? Devon, perhaps? What about your friend, Max in England?”
Max was an old friend of Jack’s from boarding school, who now owned a small hotel on the south coast of England. I’d met him when Jack took me to England for our first Christmas.
“I’d rather have you, if you’ll accept,” said Jack solemnly.
“Of course. Then I will. I accept.”
Charlotte took her husband’s hand across the table and squeezed.
“I got us a doctor’s appointment,” said Jack as soon as we’d dropped his parents off at the inn to gather their things. “Joey’s referral said she can see us right now.”
“What?” I sat back in the passenger seat of the Jeep. “Wow. I, uh, didn’t realize she could see us so soon.”
“Is that okay?” Suddenly Jack looked worried. “I figured we should set up the appointment.”
“No, no. It’s good.” I rubbed my belly. Was I full, hungry again, nervous, or getting nauseous? I really couldn’t tell these days. Maybe the doctor would see an intact hamburger
on the ultrasound since I’d inhaled it so fast.
Jack’s face relaxed with relief though it was quickly overtaken with excitement. “Thank goodness. I’m dying to make sure it’s real and that you’re okay, and the baby’s okay.”
I grabbed his hand that was on the gear shift.
He entwined his fingers with mine, drawing our hands to his mouth.
“It’s going to be okay,” I said with more calm than I felt.
He nodded.
“I guess that’s why you didn’t tell your parents yet.”
“As soon as I thought the doctor would be able to fit us in, it seemed wise to wait.”
“On a Saturday.”
Jack nodded. “On a Saturday.”
“You didn’t bribe her, did you?”
“No. Apparently your brother has the knack of people owing him favors that they are desperate to fulfill.”
“Um ...” I raised an eyebrow.
Jack glanced at me briefly as he turned the car around in the driveway to head to the doctor’s office. “Her words, not mine.”
“Interesting. Let’s hope she’s not young and beautiful and doesn’t have her eye on Joey. Or Jazz may have to be informed of a potential rival.”
Dr. Ashley Berry was young and in fact very attractive. But also according to the family photos framed around her office she appeared to be very happily married. Her husband was a dark-haired hottie, not like my Jack, of course, but he could hold his own. Her sweet little girls sure looked secure in their parents’ adoration. I breathed a sigh of relief.
“So wonderful to meet you both,” Dr. Berry said as she ushered us in to her office. “Have a seat. We’ll have a little chat first and see how you’re doing. We may not even have an examination today if it’s too early on.”
Jack pulled out the far chair for me and then flopped into his own, removing the ball cap he always wore in public and scrubbing his fingers through his hair.
The doctor asked me some basic questions as she filled in my chart. “Happy birthday,” she exclaimed when I gave my birthdate.
“Thank you.”
“And have you been having regular gynecological checkups?” she asked.