Page 63 of All Inn Thyme
“Wait, what?” Allie and I say at the same time.
“Okay, so I tried to hold it in, but I couldn’t. I have to tell someone or I’m going to explode.” Beth eagerly clasps her hands together and jumps up and down on the last stair.
“Please don’t do that,” I say nervously, my eyes wide, looking at her belly and back to her.
“Are you telling me—” Allie begins.
“Twins!” Beth shouts. “Twins! I just found out, and I’m stress-eating because I don’t know how to tell Evan. I need your help.”
“He’s going to lose his mind.” Allie’s face lights up. “He wanted a baby so bad, and now there’s two? Oh, Beth…”
“I know. That’s why I need you two to help me come up with a clever way to tell him.” She beams.
“Isn’t he coming to get you tonight?” Allie fills up water glasses for the three of us.
“Yep, so we gotta think fast.”
Allie brings the drinks to the dining area and sets them down.
“This is a lot of food.” I smile with delight as I look at it all and think about how I want to dig in.
“Have you seen how much Beth eats lately?” Allie asks. “I’m still trying to figure out where my pan of cinnamon rolls went.”
“They went to averygood place,” Beth says seriously, rubbing her belly. “I wasn’t the only one who demolished them. Evan and his babies helped.”
“Oh my God, he’s going to lose it. I can’t wait to see his reaction.”
“For sure, we’ll do it when he comes.” Beth snags a handful of nuts and grapes. “Now, tell us about Ty. What’s going on?”
“Ty and I…” I realize it feels good to say that out loud. “Well, I told him I loved him.”
“Did he say it back?” Allie asks.
“Yeah, he did. But then he kind of turned me down, like he didn’t want tobewith me. He said something about wanting it to be perfect.”
“Wanting what to be perfect?” Beth asks.
I blow out a breath. “I don’t know. That’s just it. I don’t know what I did wrong.”
“Maybe he has something special planned for when he gets back?” Allie says.
“Maybe.” I shrug. “He’s so confusing. He loves me, but he’s holding back with something.”
“How do you feel about everything?” Beth asks.
I think about it for a second and my heart warms. “He helped me with my gardens, and it was great, you know. He’s patient. He doesn’t make me feel dumb when he shows me how to do something. He’s kind, and he seems to truly like being with me,” I say, confused. “I mean, he’s falling in love with me, and I can’t for the life of me understand what he sees.”
“You’re a total catch, Mellie. I mean, look at you. You’re the whole bag. Strong, assertive, beautiful, loving, and fun to be around. Who wouldn’t want that?” Beth argues. “Don’t you feel that about yourself?”
Allie looks at me dreamily. “There’s nothing more attractive than a man who teaches you something without making you feel dumb. Just connecting with you and being in that moment.”
“Exactly. We do have a special connection.”
“What do you think is the biggest thing stopping you?” Allie asks.
“I feel like he’s holding back, like there’s maybe something he’s not telling me. I don’t know what it is or why I feel that way, but I do.” I can’t put my finger on it, but something feels off, and I don’t know if it’s me just being paranoid or what.
“Like he has a secret?” Beth asks.
