Page 72 of Conflagration
“Why do you look like you’re the one who just spent seven days on a honeymoon and you’re sad to be back to reality?”
I blush, a sheepish expression crossing my face, wondering how she could so easily read my mind. “Seven days? Try seven weeks. Seven weeks of lying around the house with no one but each other. I’ve gotten a little too used to it, I think,” I lament, letting out a deep sigh. “Branson barely made it five hours at work on his first day back before he came home and spent the rest of the week working from his home office.”
“Right, like he got much work done,” Charlie teases, and my blush increases.
“No, it wasn’t like that. I swear. It was actually pretty standard. We woke up, had breakfast and coffee together, and then he closed himself off until lunch. After that, he went right back to work until dinner.”
Charlie’s eyebrows rise. “And after dinner?”
I grin. “After dinner is none of your business.”
She and Andi look at each other with knowing smiles. “You’re really good for him, you know,” she says. “It’s been about a year since I first met him, and the change in him? It’s incredible.”
Andi nods in agreement. “It’s true. He’s so different now that you’re around. Happy. It’s nice to see.”
“I can’t take all the credit. He’s done some of that on his own,” I protest, and Charlie gives me a soft smile.
“That’s probably true, but since we have no idea when the two of you got together, I couldn’t tell you whether you were a catalyst or not.”
I blanch, but she shakes her head.
“I’m only teasing. It’s just… It’s nice to see him happy with something other than work. After his divorce, he spent even more time at the office, and I know Amelia was really worried about him for a while. Now? It’s like he’s a completely different person.”
“It’s not just me, Charlie. It’s the family, too. I think all he really needed was to know he was forgiven. That he still had a place among the Wellingtons that didn’t include the office. I know his choices are what ultimately led to the rift in the family, and he needed to forgive himself before anyone else could, but I know being close with his brothers and his parents has been therapeutic for him, even if he won’t admit it.”
“I know Knox is happy that everything’s behind them. It’s just crazy. Flash back a year ago and I never thought I’d be standing here, married, pregnant, and watching Knox play basketball with his brothers. And with two soon-to-be sisters. Don’t get me wrong. I love my dad to pieces, but growing up with just him was lonely sometimes, and I’m so happy my family has expanded so much.”
“What?!” Andi squeals, beating me to the punch. “You’re what?!”
Charlie reaches over and pinches her arm, shushing her at the same time. She looks around to ensure no one heard Andi’s outburst. The men are oblivious, and Amelia must still be inside.
Charlie turns back to us, a beaming smile on her face. “It’s true, but dammit, I didn’t mean to blurt it out like that. It wasn’t planned or even expected. I started getting sick on the honeymoon, and after looking at the calendar, I realized I was late. As soon as we got back home, I took a test. And well, it was positive.” Tears shimmer in her eyes as Andi and I both squeal, piling on her for a group hug. She wraps her arms around us quickly then pushes us away. “Okay, okay. Back off, ladies.”
“We can’t help it!” Andi exclaims. “The first Wellington baby. Amelia’s going to be so excited.”
Charlie laughs, wiping her eyes. “We weren’t planning on telling anyone until after we went to the doctor, but I’ve always been horrible about keeping secrets.” She then looks at me, raising an eyebrow. “I guess Grandma Kate’s going to lose the pool.”
“What?” I ask, completely confused. “What pool?”
Andi grins at me. “I completely forgot about that already! After watching you and Branson all over each other at the reception—not to mention the way he couldn’t take his eyes off of you at the wedding—Grandma Kate thought it would be fun to make a wager with Amelia to see who was going to give her the first grandchild. She put her money on you. And, well, I did, too. Looks like we were both wrong.”
“What?! That’s insane,” I protest, and she just raises a brow at me. “Okay, so maybe it’s not that crazy. There were a couple of times we didn’t use condoms, but I got my period as normal. No babies brewin’ in here,” I tell her, patting my stomach. A small hint of disappointment washes over me, but I’m quick to mask it.
Apparently, I wasn’t quick enough.
Charlie leans in, whispering conspiratorially. “I see that look on your face, Ariana. Baby fever is going to hit you so hard. And we used birth control, too, but you know what they say… It’s not always one hundred percent effective. Come on. How fun would it be to have cousins close to the same age?”
She has a point. “Okay, so I admit that does sound pretty nice. Especially with what you said, not having grown up with a large family. I didn’t either, and I’d love that for my kids. Plus, Branson was so good with Jacob, and I think he’ll be a great dad. But Jesus, we haven’t even set a wedding date yet.”
“Don’t discount Vegas if he suggests it,” Charlie jokes.
“Trust me. I have half a mind to suggest it myself.”
“Ariana Covington, don’t you dare even joke about something like that!” Amelia huffs as she walks up behind us.
Charlie blanches, and I give a slight shake of my head, almost positive that she didn’t overhear anything about the pregnancy.
“Cohen insists he’s going to make me wait at least four years for his wedding, so you and Branson better not even think about running away to elope.”
