914 Bittersweet Ln. (A Cherry Falls Romance)

He hung my guitars up one by one. He got me a piano and a keyboard. For my birthday, he got me a signed Dolly Parton record, which is pretty much my most sacred possession. My husband-to-be is the best man in the whole damn world.

Abilene realizes now she was wrong 100 ways this side of Tuesday, but I've forgiven her. Really, she was just looking out for me, which is why she's going to be my maid of honor when we get married next week. I guess that's the kind of friend everyone wants, a friend who looks out for you. Even when it's hard to say the thing you've got to say, she does.

Right now, Sarah Jo is looking at me with starry eyes.

"What?" I ask. We're in my bedroom getting ready for the festival.

"I'm just thinking that you must be really nervous."

"Well, when you say things like that, I get really nervous."

"No, I'm just thinking you must be really nervous about what you have to tell Holt tonight."

I frown. "What do I have to tell Holt?"

She smirks. "Well, you know that thing."

"What thing?" I ask, narrowing my eyes.

"That thing, thing."

I swivel in my chair. I've been sitting at my vanity putting the finishing touches on my makeup. We're about to leave for the Cherry Falls Festival any minute. I have been nervous about it all week. This is going to be the first time I'm performing in front of everyone in town since I was in high school, which was four years ago. So yeah, the pressure's on. But that's not what Sarah Jo means. She knows something.

I swallow. "What do you know?"

She smiles. "You're pregnant."

My eyes widen.

"I'm sorry," she cringes. "I was taking out the trash and I saw the test box and..."

I blink back tears. "We're going to have a baby."

"Oh my God," she says, "this is so perfect."

"I can't believe it," I say. "I mean, we weren't planning on it."

Sarah Jo, now 12 going on 20, smiles at me. "Paisley, I don't think life ever goes as you plan it, but isn't that when all the best things happen?"

"I think so."

"Maybe you'll have twins." Then she gasps. "Or triplets."

"Stop it," I say. "Now let's not get crazy."

She laughs. "Okay. I promise I won't say a word."

"You better not."

"You better not what?" Holt asks, coming into the room.

"Nothing," I say. "Nothing at all. We need to go."

Holt frowns and Sarah Jo squeals, running out of the room.

"Okay, now you have to tell me."

"Nothing," I say. "We've got to go to the show. I don't want to be late. I'm already nervous."

"I know, but what aren't you saying?"

I groan. "Okay. It was going to be like a big thing later. I had this whole thing planned. I was going to..."

"What?" he asks. "You have me all squirrelly."

"Squirrelly?" I laugh. "Do 30-year-old men use the word squirrelly?"

"I don't know. I guess I did."

"Hey, how's your mom?" I ask, patting his shoulder, trying to switch topics.

"Is that your way to deflect?"

"Kind of. Did it work?"

"My ma's great. She actually had a really good morning."

"That's great," I say. "She settled in well?"

"Yeah. And I'm so happy that we found the facility we did. I've never seen her so relaxed."

Her home nurse suggested a new home for early-onset Alzheimer's patients that’s only 45 minutes away and has more therapeutic care options for Holt’s mother. And there are women her age there, so she has lots of company and friends. She has been there three weeks and has been really enjoying it. It's been a weight off Holt’s shoulders. Not because he has been resenting caring for his mom, but because he felt bad about her loneliness. She's able to work in the kitchen and help with baking and have more comradery. It's been really good for her mental health.

"So what were you and your sister conspiring about?"

"You really want the good news before we go?"

"Please," he says. "I hate surprises."

"That's true, you do. Okay. The thing is, I know you're going to get emotional when you hear the song today and I know this news is going to get you emotional too, so I just don't want you to be crying all day long."

Holt chuckles. "You're saying I'm not going to be able to keep myself in check?"

I laugh. "I don't know. I'm just saying you're going to be a father."

Holt's eyes light up. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"I know, right?" I start laughing. "I'm pregnant."

"Are you kidding me?"

I shake my head. "No. I took a test this morning while you were gone." I reach into my vanity and pull out a test stick. "Look, it's positive. We're having a baby. Well, here's another one. I took a couple of them. I told you. It's really real. I was a few days late and we weren't trying or anything and I'm never..."