by Regina Duke
At the end of a trying day...three students cried for mama at different times during the morning, and one hid in the coat closet and wouldn’t come out until Callie bribed her with crayons, so she was glad when it was over...Andrew was there, whisking her away to pick up Louie.
The week flew by, and Callie was excited about the coming weekend. Andrew had planned a short hike to start the day. A part of her twinged on Saturday morning when Louie squealed with delight at the sight of Tracy at the trail head. She reprimanded herself silently. Louie loved Tracy, and that was good. After all, she was providing day care. And I sincerely hope she can do another week, at least, thought Callie.
Even so, she could feel the green monster raising its ugly head.
As if reading her thoughts, Tracy said, “He squeals even louder when you pick him up in the afternoon.”
“Thanks,” said Callie. “Say, did I see Roy across the street from the school yesterday? Going in and out of an empty building? It sure looked like him.”
Tracy nodded eagerly. “Yes. What do you think?”
Callie paused. “About...?”
“The location,” said Tracy, turning sideways to adjust George in the toddler back pack Roy was wearing.
“Location for...?”
Andrew was securing Louie in a front carrier. “I haven’t had time to tell you yet.”
“Tell me what?” asked Callie.
Andrew grinned and deferred to Tracy, who explained, “We decided that the best business we could open at this point in our lives would be a day care center. We already have two babies enrolled.”
Callie shrieked with delight. “Oh my gosh, that’s awesome! Right across the street from my school!”
“And you can visit Louie on your lunch hour,” said Roy, shrugging to find a comfortable spot for the baby carrier. “By the way, this is an easy trail. We’ll only do an hour with the boys along. Be sure to let me know if little George looks like he’s getting too much sun, okay?”
Callie turned to Andrew. “How long have you known about this?”
Andrew offered fingers for Louie to grab with his chubby little fists. “I found out last night. Don’t worry. I’m not keeping secrets.”
Callie slipped her hand through the crook in his elbow and fought back tears of joy. “I feel so lucky to know you all,” she said.
CHAPTER 6
By the end of the first month of school, five of the other young teachers also had their children staying at Tracy’s daycare. Callie and Andrew spent every spare moment together, and soon discovered that evenings were much more entertaining after Louie went to bed.
It was the day the rent was due that Callie would remember forever. Her short, dumpy little landlord came to the door, as cheerful as ever, to collect the rent.
Callie’s face fell when she saw who it was. Andrew was on the sofa, playing soldier with four stuffed toys and Louie, when she came to the little table to search for her rent check. “Oh darn,” she said. “I totally forgot, he raised the rent! I don’t have enough in my checking account to cover the extra hundred.” She was so embarrassed. She tried to keep her voice down so the landlord wouldn’t know she was short. “It’s not officially due until tomorrow. Maybe I can post-date the check.”
Andrew stood up, carrying Louie to the door. Callie followed him, clutching her useless checkbook.
The landlord looked surprised to see Andrew there. “You have a guest?” he asked. “Well, I suppose you know that this apartment rent covers one person. You had a baby, so I let the rule slide, but if you have a gentleman friend staying over, I’m afraid that’ll be an additional two hundred dollars a month.”
Andrew screwed his features into a mask of disapproval. “You’re raising her rent again?”
Callie moaned, “For the second time in a month.”
The landlord humphed. “It’s my prerogative to adjust the rent as needed. The small print in the lease makes allowances for that.” A purple vein stood out in his neck.
Andrew shook his head. He was over a foot taller than the pudgy little man. “No way, mister. You’re not running that scam here.”
The landlord looked offended. “I charge rent based on the wear and tear on my property,” he insisted, jabbing at the door frame with one finger.
“And she paid you on the first for this whole month, right?”
“So?”
“So, you’re a day early. Take your raise in rent and peddle it somewhere else.”
“I’ll call the police,” he threatened.
Andrew pulled his cell out of his pocket. “Here’s my phone. Want me to dial it for you?”
The landlord backed up, his face bright red. “I’ll be back tomorrow.”
Andrew closed the door. “Good riddance,” he muttered.
“Wow,” said Callie. “That was awesome to watch, but I’ll still owe him more money than I’ve got tomorrow morning.”
“I don’t think so,” said Andrew. “Would you hold Louie for a moment?”
Callie took the baby, biting her bottom lip. “What am I going to do?”
Andrew dropped to one knee and pulled a small black box out of his pocket. “I was hoping you’d be my wife,” he said softly.
A moment later, Callie sank to the floor, too, so she could set Louie down and throw her arms around Andrew’s neck. “Yes,” she whispered. “Yes, yes, yes.”
CHAPTER 7
Callie never realized how little she actually owned until Andrew had it all packed in his Jeep the next morning. The tiny apartment had come furnished, so all she owned were baby things and clothes. They were packed and ready to leave at eight a.m.
“Shall we wait across the street to watch him bang on the door of your empty apartment?”
Callie giggled. “Where are we going?” Louie shook her key ring. “I should follow you in my car.”
“We’ll come back for it,” said Andrew. “I don’t want you to get lost on the way to our new place.”
Her eyes grew big. “You already found a place?”
“If you approve,” he said. “If you don’t like it, we’ll find something else. I just wanted an option for us, in case you said yes to my proposal.” In that moment, he looked so vulnerable that Callie’s heart melted.
“I love you, Andrew Chapman.”
“I’m so glad.” He leaned toward her and kissed her warmly.
Callie was on pins and needles as Andrew drove, wondering where they were headed. Her tiny apartment had already begun to close in around them, not nearly big enough for three people. Soon he turned down a tree-lined street less than a mile from her school. Another block and he pulled into a driveway.
“This isn’t an apartment,” said Callie, wide-eyed.
“Nope. It’s a three-bedroom two-bath little home with a big grassy back yard. There are a few things to repair, but Roy is great at that stuff, and he promised to help. It’ll be a labor of love. What do you think?”
Callie leaned across the front seat and kissed him passionately. When they could breathe again, she said, “I think I’m the luckiest woman in the world.”
EPILOGUE
Eight months later...
Callie emerged from Principal Toad’s office, nearly floating on air despite her obvious baby bump. “All done,” she said as she wrapped her arms around Andrew’s neck. “I never knew submitting a resignation could be so satisfying.”
Little Louie was walking now, and he toddled away from them down the hallway, giggling with delight.
“Good,” said Andrew. “Tracy will be thrilled. She was hoping you’d choose the daycare center over teaching. Besides, she hopes to need a certified teacher when the business gets a little bigger.”
“And the salary is way better,” laughed Callie.
Andrew held her close. “Not to mention the fringe benefits. Our wedding might have been a trip to the county clerk’s office, but I’m hoping in a year or two we can take the kids camping for our honeymoon. Or maybe even leave them in daycar
e and go somewhere…alone.” He started to nuzzle her neck, but Louie squealed and toddled back in their direction. “No!” he said. It was the only word he could say so far, besides “Mama” and “Daddy,” and he enjoyed practicing it a lot. “No! No! No!”
Andrew laughed and scooped him up. “Yes, yes, yes! Come on, little man. Daddy is taking Mommy out to lunch. We’re going to celebrate her new job and argue about what to name your baby sister.”
Callie squeezed him tight. “We’ve got half of it,” she said teasingly.
Andrew looked puzzled. “We do?”
“Yes, silly. Chapman!”
Andrew grinned. “Our second labor of love.”
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Other Books by Regina Duke
Colorado Billionaires — Contemporary Romance
The Wedding Wager (Colorado Billionaires, 1)
The Wedding Hope (Colorado Billionaires, 2)
The Wedding Venture (Colorado Billionaires, 3)
The Wedding Belle (Colorado Billionaires, 4)
The Wedding Guest (Colorado Billionaires, 5)
The Wedding Toast (Colorado Billionaires, 6)
The Wedding Gift (Colorado Billionaires, 7)
The Wedding Deal (Colorado Billionaires, 8)
The Wedding Veil (Colorado Billionaires, 9)
The Wedding Song (Colorado Billionaires, 10)
Colorado Billionaires Boxed Set (Contains novels 1, 2, and 3)
Colorado Billionaires Boxed Set (Contains novels 4, 5, and 6)
Colorado Billionaires Boxed Set (Contains novels 7, 8, and 9)
Colorado Billionaires 8 Novellas (Contains: Sunny’s Christmas, Krystal’s Christmas, Christmas Angel, Love Again, Twice the Joy, Jingle Bell Magic, Jingle Bell Wedding, Jingle Bell Romance)
Colorado Billionaires Christmas 2014 (Sunny’s Christmas, Krystal’s Christmas, Christmas Angel)
Colorado Billionaires Christmas 2015 (Jingle Bell Magic, Jingle Bell Wedding, Jingle Bell Romance)
Love on the Lazy B: Love Again, Twice the Joy (Two Colorado Billionaires Stories)
Now and Forever Romance — Contemporary Romance (One-hour Reads)
June Bride (Now and Forever Romance, 1)
Chapel of Love (Now and Forever Romance, 2)
The Christmas App (Now and Forever Romance, 3)
The Christmas Sweets (Now and Forever Romance, 4)
The Christmas Light (Now and Forever Romance, 5)
The Christmas Beau (Now and Forever Romance, 6)
Labor of Love (Now and Forever Romance, 7)
Silver State Romance — Contemporary Romance
North Rim Delight (Silver State Romance, 1)
The Woof in the Wedding Plans (Silver State Romance, 2)
Calin's Cowboy (Silver State Romance, 3)
Silver State Romance Boxed Set (Contains novels 1, 2, and 3)
Paranormal
My Vampire Wedding
Sugar Rising (Mindflesh Saga, 1)
Hope Eternal (Mindflesh Saga, 2) COMING SOON
Strange Tales (Shorter reads by Regina Duke and K.B. Woods)
Song of the Elephant Lady (A Short Story) (Strange Tales, 1)
Garden Variety (A Short Story) (Strange Tales, 2)
Where Shiny Ones Love People (A Short Story) (Strange Tales, 3)
Aid and Comfort (A Short Story) (Strange Tales, 4)
Face to Face (A Short Story) (Strange Tales, 5)
Trickster (A Short Story) (Strange Tales, 6)
Sorcerer’s Apprentice (Strange Tales, 7)
Good Dog (Strange Tales, 8)
Stillhunter (Strange Tales, 9)
Other
Self-Help for Writers: Being Your Own Cheerleader
Loving the Sensitive Dog
If you enjoy Regina Duke’s books, you will love Sandra Edwards’ romances and paranormals.
Also look for Stevie Lynn’s urban fantasy and paranormal.
About Regina Duke
USA TODAY Bestselling Author Regina Duke writes sweet romance, cozy mystery, and paranormal. She lives in the High Desert with her three dogs, and when she’s not writing she’s playing the piano and enjoying her friends. For more info on Regina’s books, visit her website: ReginaDuke.com.
Visit the author at her author page http://www.amazon.com/Regina-Duke/e/B005KB08YM or email her at [email protected].