Page 126 of Lavender Lake
“There can only be one dramatic person in this family,” I said after I recovered. “And I’ve long claimed that title. So next time, don’t drop a bomb so casually. Speaking of casual, how did you know? And why aren’t you shocked?”
“I had a hunch,” she said. “But I didn’t know for certain. Now I do. As for shocked, nothing shocks me. Someone has to be level-headed in this family. God knows you’re not. Neither is your father.”
“My father,” I groaned. “I’m going to have to tell him I’m pregnant.”
“Yep.”
“Not before the wedding,” I said. “No one can know.”
“You don’t think the morning sickness is going to give it away?”
“Muddy, please,” I begged. “I can’t do this to Hadley.”
“Do what to Hadley?”
“I can’t announce this before her wedding. I won’t. I won’t steal her day. Because you know the minute this gets out, it won’t be about her anymore, it’ll be about me.”
She patted my cheek. “You’re a good egg, Salem.”
“I’m cracked.”
Muddy grinned. “This stays between us. I swear.”
I hugged her tightly.
“One more question and I’ll let it drop,” she said.
“What’s that?”
“Does this mean you’re staying?”
I pulled back to peer at her.
“Cas and I haven’t talked about anything like that yet.”
“Okay.” She gave me a squeeze, and then let me go. “Whatever you need though, you come to me, yeah?”
I nodded.
“I lied. I have one more question to ask.”
I couldn’t stop the smile. “Shoot.”
“Are you scared?”
My smile softened. “No. I’m not scared. I was in shock. But that wore off pretty quickly. And in its place . . .”
“Yeah?”
“Love.”
“Love. It’s almost like that’s the entire point, huh?”
I laughed. “Yeah. The entire point.”
“It’s not my birthday,” Dad said, looking at the cupcake in front of him. “Why is there a candle in my cupcake?”
“It’s a celebration,” Hadley said. “You just had your first meal at the kitchen table since you’ve been home.”
