Page 11 of Under the Island Moon
“You are positively glowing,” Lila said. “What’s going on?”
Molly looked around, but they were alone. “We’re decorating the sailboat tonight and I wanted to do something special for the guys.”
Lila gave her a long look. “How special?”
“I’m pregnant,” she whispered. “My first appointment is coming up in about ten days and Miles will want to be there. It’s probably best if that isn’t the first time he hears the news.”
“He hasn’t figured it out?” Lila asked, her eyebrows flexing low in disapproval.
“I’ve been sneaky,” she admitted. “But I’m afraid delaying the news is just worrying him at this point.” She outlined her ideas for the cookie box and Lila bounced on her toes, eager to help.
“That’s going to be perfect.” Lila pulled her into a hug. “Congratulations. I’m so happy for all of you. Come on.”
Within ten minutes, Lila had the special cookies decorated and wrapped and Molly went out through the back door, returning to the flower shop next door.
At her workstation, she assembled the special treat boxes. Gluing a layer of black lace around a white gift box, she added orange ribbon, and touches of green and gold leaves. She added a monogram tag so she could tell the gift boxes apart and lined the inside with black tissue paper. After a brief debate, she followed her intuition and added pink and blue tissue shreds to cushion the personalized pumpkin-shaped cookies. On orange cardstock she wrote out “We are adding another pumpkin to our patch” for Miles and “You’ll be the best big brother” for Bryce. She decorated each note with little baby toes and hearts and added a second layer of black tissue over the announcement. Then she placed a Reese’s peanut butter cup pumpkin on top for each of them to enjoy right after dinner. Finished, she carefully tucked the boxes into her tote bag where the guys wouldn’t see them until after dinner.
That evening they gave her a tour of the outside of the not-too-scary maze and Bryce proudly showed off all his hard work on the paths to and from the maze itself. “Dad has all the boat stuff down there already,” Bryce said, tugging on her hand. “Can we go?”
“You don’t want dinner first?” Molly showed him the takeout bags from Benny’s. “I guess that’s more for me while you guys do all the heavy lifting.”
“No! You have to feed me,” Bryce said, leaning deep into the drama. “Cuz you love me.”
She laughed. “That’s the truth. Should we have a boat picnic or stay here?”
“Boat picnic!” Bryce hollered, running for the dock.
Miles took advantage of his distraction and pulled her into his arms. “Are you feeling better? You look energized tonight.”
She was wired for excitement, for sure. “I’ve been feeling great, just a little tired, that’s all.”
“Hm. I guess I’ll believe you.”
“Gee, thanks.”
Bryce shouted from the dock, “Hurry up!”
“We’d better go,” Miles said with a grin. “He’s excited to get started and we’ve both worked up an appetite.”
Laughing, the two of them joined Bryce at the boat where she was surprised to find everything was already set up for a family picnic. Including a bouquet of sunflowers and a box of chocolates from her favorite shop in Charleston.
“What did you do?” She kissed him, snuggling close. “Thank you.”
“Figured we deserved a family fall festival just for us.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
They feasted on barbecue and Molly was careful not to overdo it. Being sick was not how she wanted to let them know their family was growing. They laughed and joked and tried to scare each other as they decorated the boat with spooky colored lights and fabric that looked like torn sails. They wound garlands of black roses up the mast and across the rails, adding oversized tentacles that disappeared into the water as if a great squid was about to drag the boat under.
Then they stood on the dock, admiring their work.
“This will be the best Halloween ever!” Bryce declared.
“I think so too.” Molly gave his shoulders a squeeze. “That reminds me, I made a special surprise for each of you. Back on the boat.”
Bryce scrambled on board in a hurry. “Tell me it’s dessert. Please let it be dessert!”
“You guessed it.” She handed each of them their box. Her heart pounded as she waited for the reactions.
