WHAT WERE THEY supposed to do now?
A few days after returning from their trip to the big island, Holly was starting to feel better. The suggestions the doctor had given her for morning sickness were helping. And she’d been monitoring her fluid intake.
She was still trying to come to terms with the fact that she was pregnant. There was no question in her mind about keeping the babies, but that was the only thing she knew for sure.
Maria and Emilio had been called away from the island. This meant Holly and Finn had the entire island to themselves. In another time, that might have been exciting, even romantic, but right now, they had serious matters on their minds.
She paced back and forth in the study. Where would she live? How would she manage a job, helping out her mother and being a mom all on her own? And where did this leave her and Finn?
The questions continued to whirl around in her mind. She would figure it out—she had to—because she wasn’t going to fall back on Finn. She’d counted on two men in her life and they’d both failed her. She knew better this time around. She could only count on herself.
Deciding she wasn’t going to get any more work done, she headed for the kitchen. She needed something to do with her hands and she had an urge for something sweet.
As she searched the cabinets, looking for something to appease her craving, her thoughts turned to Finn. He’d barely spoken to her since they left the doctor’s office. The occasional nod or grunt was about as much as she got out of him. She couldn’t blame him. It was a lot to adjust to. Her mind was still spinning. Her hand ran over her abdomen.
A baby. No, two babies. Inside her. Wow!
“How are you feeling?” Finn asked.
Four whole words strung together. She would take that as a positive sign. “Better.”
“And the babies?”
“Are perfectly fine.” She bent over to retrieve a cookie sheet from the cabinet.
“I can get that for you.” Finn rushed around the counter with his hands outstretched.
“I can manage.” She glared at him until he retreated to the other side of the counter.
She placed the cookie sheet on the counter before turning on the oven. “Did you need something?”
“You’re planning to bake? Now?”
“Sure. Why not? I have a craving.”
“Isn’t it a little early for those?”
She sighed. Why did he have to pick now of all times to get chatty? She just wanted to eat some sugary goodness in peace. “Not that kind of craving.”
“Then what kind?”
What was up with him? He’d never been so curious about her dietary habits before. Or maybe he was just attempting to be friendly and she was being supersensitive. She choked down her agitation, planning to give him the benefit of the doubt.
“These are cravings that I get when I’m stressed out.” She pulled open the door on the stainless-steel fridge and withdrew a roll of premade cookie dough. “Do you want some cookies?”
“If you’re stressed about Project Santa—?”
“It’s not that!”
His eyes widened. “Oh. I see.”
This was another opening for him to discuss the big pink or perhaps blue elephant in the room. And yet, he said nothing. Her gaze met his and he glanced away. Was this his way of telling her that he wasn’t interested in being a father?
She placed the package of cookie dough on the counter before moving to the oven to adjust the temperature. Next, she needed a cutting board. There had to be one around here somewhere. The kitchen was equipped with absolutely everything. At last, she spotted a small pineapple-shaped board propped against the stone backsplash.
With the cutting board and a knife in hand, she moved back to the counter. “I’ll have some reindeer cookies ready in no time. I thought about some hot chocolate with the little marshmallows, but it’s a little warm around here for that.”
“Thanks. But I’ll pass on the cookies. I have some emails I need to get to. By the way, do you have a copy of the Cutter contract?”
“I do. It’s in my room. Just let me finish putting these cookies on the tray.” She put a dozen on the tray and slipped it in the oven. “Okay. There.” She turned back to him. “Stay here and I’ll be right back.”
She rushed to her spacious guest room that overlooked the ocean. It was a spectacular view. She was tempted to take a dip in the sea or at the very least walk along the beach, letting her feet get wet. Maybe she’d do it later, after she was done working for the day.
Turning away from the window, her gaze strayed over the colorful packages she’d brought back from the big island. She’d splurged a bit, buying a little something for everyone, including her half-sisters, Suzie and Kristi.
Holly worried her bottom lip. She always tried so hard to find something that would impress them and each year, she’d failed. Thankfully she’d bought the gifts before her doctor’s appointment because afterward she hadn’t been in a holly-jolly spirit. The bikinis, sunglasses, flip-flops and a cover-up with the name of the island were placed in yellow tissue-paper-lined shopping bags. The girls would be all set for summer. About the same time she was giving birth.
With a sigh, Holly continued her hunt for the contract. On top of the dresser, she found the file folder. She pulled it out from beneath a stack of papers and an expandable folder when the back of her hand struck the lamp. Before she could stop it, the lamp toppled over.
Holly gasped as it landed on the floor and shattered, sending shards of glass all over the room. As she knelt down to clean up the mess, she muttered to herself. It was then that she heard rapid footsteps in the hallway.
“What happened?” Finn’s voice carried a note of concern. “Are you okay?”
“I am. But the same can’t be said for the lamp.”
“I’m not worried about it.” His concerned gaze met hers.
“I’ll have this cleaned up in no time. Your contract is on the edge of the dresser.”
When he stepped forward, she thought it was to retrieve the contract. However, the next thing she knew, he knelt down beside her.
“What are you doing?” she asked, not quite believing her eyes.
“Helping you.”
“I don’t need your help—”
“Well, you better get used to it because I plan to help with these babies.”
It wasn’t a question. It was an emphatic statement.
Her stomach churned. She was losing her control—her independence. She was about to lose her sense of security because her life would no longer be her own—Finn and the babies would now be a part of it—forever.
Holly sucked in a deep breath, hoping it’d slow the rapid pounding of her heart.
“Did you cut yourself on the broken glass?” Finn glanced down at her hands.
“I’m fine.” She got to her feet, needing some distance from him. And then she smelled something. She sniffed again. “Oh, no! The cookies.”
She rushed to the kitchen and swung the oven door open. The Christmas cookies were all brown and burnt. With Finn hovering about, she’d forgotten to turn on the timer. She groaned aloud, not caring if he heard her or not.
She turned to the garbage and dumped the cookies in it. Her gaze blurred. The memory of Finn’s words and the knowledge that life would never be the same made her feel off-kilter and scared. What were they supposed to do now?