“I don’t know. I mean, were there no rapidly enlarging peanut—coconut—in my belly, I…” She smiled, imagining the impossible. “Without the coconut, if this were happening organically? I think I would. But…”
“How can you know it’s you and not the coconut?”
“Exactly. How do you know something like that?”
He handed back the phone and folded his arms over his chest. “And if he loves youboth? Haley is my partner, but the moment Emerson came into our lives, he’s both of our world. It’s not a both or nothing thing, but it’s also not a one or the other.”
“Not ready for the L word yet, let alone confusing psychologizing.”
“Or the house.”
“How do I tell him it’s too much?”
“The same way you told him about the coconut. Be honest. Tell him you need to slow down.”
“Stop making it sound so easy,” she said as she knocked her fist into his chest. She glared down at her rapidly expanding belly. “I’m not sure there’s time to slow down.”
“Zoe, you’re a fighter. You’ve been knocked down a lot the last few years. It’s hard to get back up, trust me, I know, but it’s going to feel so good to stand on solid ground again.”
“You sound like Pops.”
“And Mom would tell you to stand in the middle of the garden and take a deep breath. It’ll come to you.”
Liquid pressure building behind her eyes, Zoe blinked before anything trailed down her cheeks. “I wish she was here.”
“Me too. But you know what? Our kids are going to love hearing stories about their grandma, and we’re going to love getting to see what parts of her they inherited.”
13
Romaine
RyderheldZoe’shandloosely in his as they walked along the river’s edge. The leaves were long gone, the winter chill pervasive, but the sun was brilliant and the wind tame. “Perfect afternoon,” he said.
Inhaling the crisp air, she closed her eyes and nodded. “My favorite kind. Not too hot, not too cold, a steady glow of sunshine.” She squeezed his hand and added, “And good company.”
He pulled her close and embedded his hand in her hair. Fluidly, as easily as that first night, she melted into him and sent him spinning as their lips met. Lingering, tasting, he savored her familiar taste, the heat stirring deeper every time.
Biting his lip to contain his irrepressible grin as he pulled away, he asked, “How did you manage to get the day off?”
“You know the part timer we hired?”
“Yeah, she’s working out okay then?”
“Better than okay. She’s taking over my shifts, and I’m just there as backup for the next few months, and Evan’s available to jump in if we get really desperate, once I’m officially on maternity leave.”
“Good for you. Mick is already up on doing orders and the back end of things?”
“He’s amazing. I mean, this isn’t new for him. I’m doing my utmost to stay out of it, while he learns how to run everything without me. Our plans to add catering were put off for a while, so he’s glad to stay busy.”
“What are you going to do with all this free time on your hands?”
“Maybe take my boyfriend out on the occasional date.” She winked with a gleam in her melted chocolate gaze, sending an arrow straight into his chest.
Walking hand in hand further along the riverside trail, they stayed quiet for a while. Would it always be so easy with Zoe? No pressure, no demands. A plane rumbled overhead, the river babbled around them, but the park was quiet today.
“What did you come up with for the winery?” she asked, swinging her hand with his.
“I’m not sure yet. Either highlight their old-world charm, as they’ve got this incredible main building that looks like it belongs overlooking the Mediterranean, or hype their environmentalism. They’re moving toward a fully organic vineyard and improving sustainability, while keeping with their family traditions.” Maybe in a year or two, when the baby was big enough for them to take a weekend away, he’d see if Zoe wanted to stay at the bed-and-breakfast onsite.
