Page 37 of Christmas Rings

With a trembling hand, she took the test and went back to the bathroom. She shut the door behind her and sat on the toilet. Her hands continued to shake as she opened the box and pulled out the small wand. There were two in there. Good. Better accuracy. Too nervous to pee on demand, she had to wait a moment for the stream to start, then stuck it under there.

“Are you done?” Jed said from behind the door.

“Hang on.” She set the wand on the counter, then wipedand pulled up her leggings. After washing her hands, she glanced at the wand. Two pink lines had already appeared.

“What’s it say?” Jed asked, still on the other side of the door. “Can I come in?”

“Yes, come in.”

A second later, he stood beside her, looking down at the wand. “Two lines means yes, right?”

Alissa simply nodded, her mouth too dry to speak.

“We’re having a baby.” He grinned as he wrapped his hands around her shoulders. “A baby.”

“Oh my God. A baby.”

He let out a whoop and twirled her around in a circle. “You’re having my baby.”

“Don’t. No more turning. I think I might be sick again.”

He immediately went still. She broke away and headed for the toilet. Kneeling over the porcelain god, she whispered, “Get the bacon out of the cabin.”

“On it.”

Chapter 11

All night with her sisters and mom, she carried her little secret around. She would announce it during their toasts, not at dinner. Jed had discreetly asked the staff to pour her a glass of sparkling cider to keep anyone from noticing that she wasn’t having real champagne.

When it was time for the toasts, she quickly realized she wasn’t the only one with a big fat secret. Her mother and sisters, one by one, introduced their new partners. “How did this happen while we were at the cabin?” she asked.

Stevie’s eyes twinkled. “Mine started a long time ago. This was more like the second act.”

“Love’s in the air,” Hailey said.

“Or in the snow or something,” Mom said, eyes shining.

“It’s just dumb luck,” Stevie said, rolling her eyes.

“Or fate.” Jo grinned back at her sister.

Alissa could weep with joy for all of them. She’d never seen her sisters glow as brightly. This was what they looked like in love, she thought. It was about time they all had what she had with Jed.

“Alissa, it’s your turn,” Mom said.

Alissa lifted her glass of cider. “Well, as it turns out—ourwedding was actually quite necessary for more reasons than just being madly in love and wanting to spend the rest of our lives together.”

Mom cocked her head. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying that by this time next year, there will be a baby added to our family,” Alissa said.

Mom’s hands flew to her mouth. “I’m going to be a grandma?”

Nan, also beaming, pulled Alissa into a hug. “And I’m going to be a great-nan.”

“This is amazing,” Stevie said, gruffly. “You’re going to be the best mom ever.”

“You totally will be,” Hailey said. “I can’t wait to be an auntie.”

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