Be with Me (Return to Haven 2)
“Yeah, I’ve discovered that. Twice.”
Jax grabbed the wrench and tapped it against his palm. “You told Melanie about—”
“No. Not yet.”
Coming to his feet, Jax blew out a sigh. “You don’t have to take my advice, but if you want a future with her, not just the baby, but with Melanie, then you need to be completely honest.”
Tanner nodded. “I don’t want to have this conversation with you over your shitter.”
Jax smiled. “You wouldn’t want my advice no matter what. Figured now was as good a time as any.”
Flipping Jax his middle finger, Tanner stood up. “Let’s get this over with. I left your wife near tears, and apparently Piper is in her room crying, too.”
“Yeah. Dealing with a clogged commode is nothing compared to two crying women.”
* * *
“Ask your doctor about marathons.”
Melanie chopped the cauliflower and eyed Jade across the island. “I’m not so sure about a big belly crossing the finish line.”
“It’s only two months out,” Jade explained. “You won’t be huge by that point.”
“Who knows with me.”
Jade set her phone on the island and braced her hands on the granite. “Listen, I’m sure you’re concerned with the weight, but you’re a different person now. You’re supposed to gain when you’re growing a person.”
Melanie attempted a smile, but the burn in her throat indicated tears were a definite threat. “It’s still scary, Jade. I mean, I worked so hard to better myself and what if I lose sight of that person, that vision?”
“Or what if you are in the best shape of your life and inspire other women who are expecting?”
Melanie refocused her attention on the cauliflower. She was hoping to try a new recipe and take some pictures for her blog. The last recipe she’d posted two weeks ago had been a huge hit and had gotten her the attention of a few personal chefs. She was in contact with them now about guest appearing on her site. Bringing in people from various fields, like chefs and trainers and motivational speakers, was only one of the ways she’d expanded so quickly in such a short time.
“When are you announcing your pregnancy on your site?” Jade asked.
“I was thinking in the next couple weeks, but apparently I’m announcing it at Tanner’s mother’s house first.”
“What?” Jade gasped.
Melanie met her friend’s shocked gaze. “On Thanksgiving.”
Jade let out a whistle. “Damn, girl. When you go for the family thing, you go all-in.”
Using the edge of her knife, Melanie slid the chopped veggies to the side and pulled out another freshly washed chunk of cauliflower.
“This certainly wasn’t my idea.”
Jade shifted on her stool and crossed her arms on the island top. “But you’re going along with it.”
“Might as well, right? I mean, it’s not like I can hide from his mother forever. She is going to be the grandmother to my child. I just hope she’s not an ogre and overbearing.”
Her ex-mother-in-law flashed through her mind. The woman epitomized the MIL from hell. It was no wonder Neville was so damn controlling and abusive. His mom definitely wore the pants in the family and his father bowed to her every command.
Melanie couldn’t even imagine what her life would’ve been had she gotten pregnant by Neville. A whole new level of hell she was thankful to have escaped.
“Tanner’s mom is a sweet woman,” Jade stated. “Trust me. In fact, you two may have something in common. Tanner’s father was a complete asshole.”
Melanie studied the notes on her phone to see what steps she needed to do next. Her recipes were completely original, but she always jotted down her ideas when they came to her.