Chapter 31

Chapter Thirty-One

Melody

It was funny the difference three months could have on a person’s life. I stared out at the ocean, standing on the beach next to the lighthouse. The weather was growing warm, but it was windy. I pulled my sweater tighter around me.

I’d never expected this, and part of me was terrified. How would I tell Charles about this? It had happened so quickly.

“Melody,” Charles called out.

I turned and saw him running toward me.

I opened my arms, and we embraced, kissing passionately. Every time we were apart, we greeted each other like this, and I loved it. I wondered if we would’ve taken each other for granted by now if we’d gotten married when we were young.

Out of breath, I leaned back and smiled at him. “How was your trip?” He didn’t travel a lot. I had gone with him to New York a few times, but this time I hadn’t felt well.

He studied my face. “I don’t want to talk about the trip; I want to talk about you. I want to talk about that text you sent me. What do you have to tell me?”

I smiled. “I guess it was ominous, wasn’t it?”

“Are you okay?”

I sucked in a breath, nerves fluttering again. “I have to tell you something.”

He took my hands. “Woman, just tell me. You’re scaring me to death.”

“This may sound ridiculous…” I swallowed hard. “Since we’ve been married, I quit my birth control. I just didn’t think of it. Two days ago, I found out that I’m pregnant.”

“Really?” A huge smile brightened his face. “You’re pregnant? We’re pregnant?”

Tears slipped down my cheeks. “Are you mad because it’s so soon? Or because … I don’t know. I’m freaking out.”

He crushed me against him, and then I found myself flying in the air, clinging to his shoulders as he spun me around. He laughed and then put me down. “How could you think that?”

Relief washed over me. “So you’re happy? What if there are problems? I’m scared.”

“You’re in perfect health. I’ll hire help. I’ll be the help.” He laughed and then crushed me to his chest again. “Wait. Are you okay? Should you be walking? That’s okay. I’ll just carry you everywhere. You’re a tiny thing.” He picked me up and began trudging back toward the parking lot.

I laughed. “Put me down. I’m fine.”

“Well, I’m not fine.” He set me on my feet, then took my hand as we continued walking. “I have a pregnant wife to take care of. I don’t need to work. We’re going to raise this child and do everything with him. We’ll homeschool. I’ll tutor him. We’ll take him all over the world. He can sit in all my meetings. And we can have another one.”

I was shocked. All of it was hitting me at once.

Charles stopped walking and took both of my hands. “I’ll quit talking now. It’s just … I’m excited. I always wanted a family with you.” His voice broke. “But I want you to be okay. Your health comes first.”

I sniffed, and another round of tears washed down my cheeks. “You’re happy?”

“I’m happy if you’re happy. I don’t want to compromise you.”

“I’m happy and fine.” I waved a hand, laughing. “You can just carry me if I need you to.”

He laughed along with me. “Right.” He put a gentle hand to my forehead. “Are you really happy?”

I sniffed. “So happy. I was scared, and we had sort of talked about it, but not really.”

Charles put his forehead against mine. “Melody Ray King, you are my happiness.” He pulled back, tears of his own washing down his face. “Our family is my happiness.”

“Okay.”

He paused and pulled out his phone. “Have you told Will yet? We should tell him.”

“Wait.” My heart raced. “There’s more.”

Charles’s eyebrows furrowed in concern. “What do you mean?”

I didn’t know why I was so nervous, but I was. I blurted it out. “It’s twins.”

Charles blinked once. “What?”

“You're mad, aren’t you?” All of my PTSD with Peter had surfaced since I’d found out yesterday. I rushed on. “Since I wasn’t feeling well, I went to the doctor and now they have a scan where they can tell you … if there’s two babies.”

Charles froze for a long second. Then he laughed and reached for me. “Wow. Why would you hesitate to tell me?”

I shrugged. “Because one baby is a lot, but two, at my age? Of course there’s a higher chance of twins at my age and I didn’t want to scare you and I…” More tears fell. “I was scared you’d be mad or overwhelmed or …”

He bent and picked me up in his arms. “Now I do have to carry you everywhere.” A huge smile filled his face, and he slowly kissed me. “I love you.”

I sniffed and then leaned into his chest, feeling so much better than I’d felt since finding out. “I love you, too.”

“But let’s call Will.”

“Yes, let’s.”

Charles and Will had gotten close over the past three months. He’d given Will all the attention and connection that he’d missed with his own father.

“On it.” He pressed the number, then leaned in and kissed my cheek. “I love you. I love you. I love you.”

“Me, too.”

“Hello?” Will answered.

“Hey,” I said, my voice breaking.

Charles gave me a soft smile and spoke into the phone. “Hey, Will, we have news.”

“Oh yeah?” Will asked.

My heart fluttered. Would Will even be happy? All of this was so new. I couldn’t find the words to tell him.

Charles put his cheek to my head. “Yep. Are you sitting down?”

“No. Do I need to be?”

I pressed my head into Charles’s neck, trepidation filling me.

“I don’t think so, but … we’re pregnant.”

“What?” Shock was clear in Will’s voice.

“With twins,” Charles said, ripping it off like a Band-Aid.

“Oh gosh,” Will said.

I added, “If you need time to process this, it’s fine.”

There was silence, then Will laughed. “I don’t need any time. I always wanted a baby sister and brother. Maybe I’ll get both now.”

I laughed, relief washing through me. “Yeah,” I said, my voice laced with emotion. I was so happy.

“Mom, are you okay? Do I need to fly out there?”

I laughed again, so completely happy he wanted to fly out here. “It’s okay. I’m just… happy you’re happy, too.” I pulled back, smiling at Charles. I signaled I wanted to be put down.

Charles and Will talked for another five minutes as we walked toward the parking lot.

“Mom, I love you. I have to go. But I’m really excited.”

I smiled at Charles. “Me, too. Bye. I love you.”

“See you, bud,” Charles said.

They hung up and once again Charles put his arms around me, then pressed his lips to mine. “I’m so completely, utterly overwhelmed with how happy I am. You should know that.”

Warmth filled me. “I’m so glad. I’m happy too. But you have to promise me something.”

“Anything.”

“We will try to always celebrate Christmas with our kids and make it memorable every year.”

Charles brushed his lips over mine. “Only if you promise me something.”

My heart raced, and I pulled back and met his eyes. “Anything.”

He grinned. “To kiss me anytime I want. Forever.”

I tilted my head up and complied. “Deal.”

**

Thank you for reading A Second Chance Christmas Kiss!

Are you ready for A Second Chance Christmas Arrangement—the next book in the Jewel Cove Beach Romances?

Keep reading for Chapters 1 and 2!

**FREE BOOK**If you would like to receive updates on new releases and receive a book FREE— The Country Star Billionaire Groom -A Second Chance Story get it by clicking HERE!