Tea & Comfort (Madrona Island Series Book 2), page 22
Luke caressed her cheekbone with the back of his hand. “You can thank him for these beautiful cheekbones,” he said. “Why have you not talked about him with me before?”
“It wasn’t exactly a childhood of the highest social register. And it left me damaged in its wake.” Kyla remembered how her mother had drilled into her brain not to trust men and to make sure she relied only on herself.
“You know I don’t care what my parents and society think,” Luke said.
“I’ve never trusted anyone,” she said slowly. “Until now.”
Luke stared at her for a full minute. “Are you sure?”
“Completely,” she said.
“You never saw your father again?” Luke asked.
“According to my mother, my father was a professional musician and played with bands at big festivals. But his career was waning when they met in the 1980s at a concert in the park. She called him an old hippie.”
“Sex, love, and rock ‘n’ roll?” Luke said.
“And free love it seems.” Kyla sighed. Was any love free? she wondered. “What I mostly remember was my mother laughing more when he was around and the bedroom door was shut a lot. And the yelling. Then he’d stomp out and leave for days at a time. Not even close to the childhood you had.”
“I’m sorry,” Luke said. “My dad wasn’t around much, but he was there. Unfortunately, most of his focus was either telling me what to do or what I was doing wrong.”
“At least he cared,” Kyla said. She cleared off the table and brought the dishes to the kitchen. “My dad always bragged he was a distant relation to Crazy Horse. He seemed to value his freedom more than his family. I used to look around at the other kids’ dads at school functions and wish they were mine.”
Luke stood behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. His strong fingers worked out the knots in her shoulders. “You have me now,” he whispered in her ear.
She turned and let the years of buried tears surface. “I made my mother tell me the whole truth while I was home. She’d kept it from me all these years. My father was found dead and alone by a neighbor covered in his own vomit, whiskey bottles strewn everywhere.”
Luke held her close and stroked her hair. “Shhhh, it’s okay,” he said. He turned her around. “None of that was your fault.”
“I know,” Kyla said. She reached for some tissue on the sink and wiped her eyes. “It was just one more thing hidden.”
“The good news is,” Luke said forcing a smile, “we’ll both be much better parents than our own.”
Kyla froze. “If we get a chance to be parents.”
“What do you mean, Kyla? What else haven’t you told me?”
She turned, walked over to the couch, and plopped down. “I see how much you trust me.”
Luke stood over her. “That’s not fair. What am I supposed to think? You’re still holding things back.”
She forced herself to look him in the eye. “I went to see my old physician in New York. The one who diagnosed me with lupus. I’m feeling fine now, but I had to find out about getting pregnant.”
“Don’t you think we should have discussed that together?” Luke said. “I would have flown out and gone to the appointment with you.”
“You kept talking about having a child and I know how much it means to you.”
Luke let out a long sigh. “Give me some credit, Kyla. I know all about lupus and was well aware it could affect pregnancy. I thought we would cross that bridge together when we were ready.”
“You’re right,” she said. “I was just afraid you’d marry me and if I couldn’t have children you would…”
Luke pulled her off the couch and drew her up to him. “Either we face our fears together or we let them drive us apart. Which is it going to be, Kyla?”
Her body shook uncontrollably. In a split second, everything that mattered could be gone. Fear bit at her heels and doubt reared its ugly voice, but love spoke loudest of all.
“Together,” she said. Kyla reached out to him with open arms. She could feel his body trembling and pulled him close.
He tipped her chin up to meet his gaze. “Together,” he said. Luke put an arm around Kyla’s waist and brought her to the couch. “Tell me about the doctor visit.”
She sat down next to him, relief flooding every cell. Her secrets were out, and here she was sitting next to the man she loved, ready to discuss their future together. “The good news is if we wait to get pregnant until I have been in remission for at least six months, the doctor said having a healthy, full-term baby is very possible.”
Luke looked visibly relieved. “Whatever it takes,” he said.
“I will need to be closely monitored by a specialist in Seattle during pregnancy to avoid possible issues.”
“We can do that,” he said. “Ferry over to Seattle, go to Pike Place Market after your visit, make a day out of it.” He was staying upbeat and supportive and she knew he’d be there no matter what.
“There are risks,” Kyla said. “Luckily, there is a very small chance of the child having lupus. But there is also an increased chance of miscarriage and premature delivery. There are many things we can do to prevent it.”
Worry was written on his face, but his spirit was strong. “Just name it,” Luke said.
“I’ll need to eat healthy, relax, get lots of sleep, and stay out of direct sun.”
Luke laughed, “Not much sun here to worry about.”
She scowled at him before laughing.
“No, seriously,” Luke said. “Once we’re married and living together at the winery, you’ll have all the help you need. Becca can work in your herb fields in the summer. I can bring you breakfast in bed and…”
“I won’t be an invalid,” Kyla said. “I’ll need to stay active. Becca will manage the shop, but I’ll keep working and hire another part-time person and go in fewer hours. The more immediate focus is finalizing our wedding plans and picking out some baby gifts for Ian and Lily.”
“Shall we go shopping?” Luke asked. He glanced at his watch. “If we leave now, we can get off island to the Babyland shop before they close.”
Kyla retrieved her purse and followed him to the car. “A man who likes to shop? How did I get so lucky?”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Grandpa John’s living room was filled with pink balloons and a bright banner announcing, “It’s a Girl!”
Luke took the giant, stuffed dog he’d picked out and laid it next to the handmade cradle the baby rested in. “For the little one,” he said.
Lily laughed. “It’s bigger than her. Thank you.”
Ian rocked the cradle gently. He held a finger to his lips and whispered, “Shh.”
“Honey,” Lily said. “They’ve all come to see Gwyn. Let’s give them a viewing.”
Kyla and Luke leaned in close as Lily lifted the blanket.
“She’s a beauty,” Luke said.
“And she has your little turned-up nose,” Kyla said to Lily.
Out of the corner of her eye, Kyla noticed Ian checking to see if the comment was correct.
The baby stirred and opened her eyes. “Look at that,” Kyla said. “She has her father’s eyes.”
“Yes, she does,” Ian said. “She quiets right down when I hold her.”
Katherine joined the conversation. “I think she’s a bit of a daddy’s girl from what I’ve seen.” She smiled at her own daughter, Lily.
Ian all but gloated. “Yes you are, little one,” he said to the baby.
“No wonder,” Lily said. “Except for feeding time, Ian barely lets me see the baby.”
“I didn’t mean…” Ian stammered.
Lily took Ian’s hand. “I’m just kidding. You are the best dad any baby could ever want.”
Luke put his arm around Kyla’s waist. “Let’s go put your gift down and give some of the others a chance to see Gwyn.”
As planned, Jude and Ryan had come over earlier and arranged a table with fresh flowers and various appetizers. Shirley would be bringing the cake. Kyla walked over to the counter already overflowing with gifts, placed their cellophane-wrapped basket on the table, and admired its contents. Healthy Baby soaps, creams, and shampoos rested on top of a soft, hooded bath towel and washcloth set. Tied in a satin ribbon was a hand-carved comb and brush set with pink and purple hearts on it.
“It’s lovely,” Jude said, looking over Kyla’s shoulder. She pointed to a package. “We got her a dozen receiving blankets with bunnies and kitties on them. You can never have too many of those.”
Kyla nodded. Jude had more experience in these areas, since she had a daughter. Although she hardly ever spoke of her and Kyla had not met her yet.
Ryan leaned over the table and pointed. “And I picked out some TinyTot tableware with a coordinating melamine ladybug plate, bowl, and spoon set for her.”
“A budding chef perhaps?” Kyla asked.
Ian approached them. “What a bounty of gifts,” he said. “Thank you all. Now, what can I get you all to drink?” He looked sleepy, but his wide grin said it all.
“We’ll help ourselves,” Jude said. “You go be with your wife.”
Kyla turned and saw Luke admiring the baby now in Ian’s arms next to them.
“She’s sleeping,” Luke whispered. “So peaceful.”
“Wait until you hear her cry,” Katherine said with a yawn.
At those words, Gywn’s eyes burst open and a hungry wail filled the room. Lily started to get up, but Ian insisted she sit down and he’d bring the baby to her.
“Daddy’s angel,” he said. He patted the baby’s back with his artist’s hands. “It’s okay, little one,” he cooed at the baby. “Mommy’s here.” Gwyn was swaddled in a light blanket, wearing a tiny knit cap. Ian carried his precious bundle over to her mother.
Lily held the baby to her chest and wrapped a blanket around them both as she nursed the infant.
Katherine sat at her side. “I remember when I nursed you at your grandmother’s house next door.”
Lily looked up at her. “Three generations now.”
Kyla imagined nursing her own child with her grandmother and mother at her side. It would be four generations for her.
The front door burst open and Shirley and Ron arrived, followed by Betty. “The cake is here,” Shirley called out. She put the pink, buttercream-iced sheet cake on the table.
“Sorry we’re late,” Betty said. “Shirley had us all putting on the final touches at the last minute.”
“Well worth it,” Grandpa John said, admiring the masterpiece.
Kyla agreed. She loved how they’d decorated the plate around the cake with little rattles, beaded baby bracelets, and plastic safety pins.
“My sweetie is quite the baker,” Ron said, beaming at Shirley.
Lily handed the baby back to Ian. He placed a towel over his shoulder and patted her back for a soft burp. Together they walked over to admire the cake.
“How cute,” Lily said. “It’s shaped like a onesie. And I love the little elephant design.” She turned and hugged Shirley, then Betty. “You two are the best neighbors ever.”
Betty pointed to a package on the table. “I got you a gift that will last Gwyn’s lifetime,” she said.
Kyla watch Lily slip off the ribbon and paper and hold up an elegant, pale pink baby book. On the front, behind a sheet of plastic, was a picture of Gwyn on her first day of life.
Lily held it to her chest. “It’s like my grandmother’s guestbook, only for babies.”
“My sister does come up with some good ideas once in a while,” Shirley said.
“If you’re up to it,” Ian said, “let’s open our gifts from these wonderful people.”
Lily sat at the head of the table.
“I’ll hold the baby, if you want,” Katherine said. “You’ve already opened mine.”
Lily held up a plastic fishing tackle box and opened the top. “Look what my mother gave me.”
Kyla leaned in close to see. “Very clever,” she said. “Look, Luke.”
She pointed to the drawers stocked full of every supply from baby Tylenol to aloe wipes, creams, salves, and even baby Band-Aids.
“A helpful thing to have on hand,” Luke said with a nod toward Katherine.
Katherine smiled and sat down in the rocker with the baby and sang her a soft lullaby.
Lily held up a set of pink, blue, and yellow stuffed ducks. “She’ll certainly have enough stuffed animals to fill her room.”
Ian petted the head of the massive stuffed dog from Luke. “And a guard dog.”
Kyla watched Lily hold up tiny T-shirts, hair bows, and booties. Grandpa John gave them a little red wagon painted to say, “Welcome Wagon.” It was filled with diapers and other supplies and wrapped in a big red bow. Lily passed the gifts around for all to see.
Kyla was swept right into the sweet scene. Everyone around the table was smiling, all worries forgotten and the joy of the new baby filling everyone’s soul.
As Luke snapped pictures with his cell phone, Kyla posed holding a Sweet Dreams mobile in the air. Cute little animals circled the rainbow-colored base as it played a lullaby. Luke moved in next to her and snapped a selfie of them together.
He showed the picture to Kyla. “A glimpse of your future,” he said.
In a flashing vision, Kyla knew his words were the truth.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Luke carried the multi-colored, handwoven basket as Kyla scouted Saturday’s local farmers’ market for her next purchase. Booths lined the grassy park, covered with white awnings and filled with everything from food to crafts. The buttery smell of fresh kettle corn filled the air. The wedding was only a week away, so they had a long list of items to buy and people to meet with for final planning. Luke adjusted the heavy shopping basket in his hand. Island Thyme Café was catering the wedding, but they needed to stock up the house with appetizers to serve the company as they arrived this week.
“Looks like half the island is here today,” Kyla said, waving to Audrey, who was walking with Frank and Marco from Books, Nooks & Coffee.
Luke was glad he’d worn a T-shirt, as the early summer sun beat down on his shoulders. He’d had to dig up his sunglasses for the day.
“Let’s go over to the Happy Goat Pastures booth. We can get some of these herbed spreads to go with Brett’s crusty bread.”
Kyla counted out the money and piled the cartons of cheese in the basket next to four boxes of local eggs, jars of local preserves and honey, bags of fresh greens, and an overflowing bunch of garlic shoots. “I don’t think the basket will hold much more,” Luke said. He set it on the ground and shook out his hand. “Why don’t I go empty everything into boxes in the car and meet you at Brett’s Bread?”
“Good idea,” Kyla said.
“Hi, you two.” Jude approached with Ryan at her side.
“Need any help with that?” Ryan asked Luke.
“I’m taking our loot back to the car. Be right back.”
Luke often ran into Ryan at the market buying produce for Island Thyme Café, but today he supposed they were shopping for his and Kyla’s upcoming wedding.
On his way to the parking lot, Luke passed the perpetually tanned woman with the fish trailer covered in pictures of mermaids. Her husband caught king salmon in Alaska, flash froze it on the boat, and packaged it to sell. Luke had never tasted better. He added a few fillets to his load to make for dinner. He emptied the basket into boxes in the back seat of the car. He was parked right by the post office, so he ran in to see if any last-minute RSVPs had come in.
Luke leafed through the mail. Nothing from Stefan. He’d hoped, after his brother’s peace offering to Kyla, he would rise above their differences and come to the wedding after all. He still didn’t know for sure if his father was coming. Luke told himself it didn’t matter, but deep down he knew it did. And he wanted everyone there for Kyla, to support their union and new life together. A now-empty basket in hand, he hurried across the parking lot and located Kyla. She was talking to Kelly, the local reporter, with Jude and Ryan near the Friends of the Library book sale. She held a large bag with breads looming over the top.
“Here, I’ll take that.” Luke placed the bag in his basket.
“Thanks,” Kyla said. “Kelly was just filling us in some more on the movie being filmed next month in Grandview. The producers wanted a seaside town, and they picked ours because of the Victorian architecture and protected harbor.”
Kelly continued. “It’s called Murder Most Magic. I hear it is a cozy mystery and romance with a twist.”
“You know they’ve asked if they can paint all our shops white for a few weeks,” Kyla said, “but then we can get any color we want done after they leave.”
“Nice way to get a free paint job,” Ryan said as he scanned the piles of used books for sale. “It should bring in a lot of business while they’re here.”
“That’s what I was thinking.”
“Me, too,” Marco said, joining the conversation. His arms were filled with books. “I expect they’ll drink lots of coffee.”
“And tea,” Luke said, winking at Kyla.
“Becca around?” Marco asked.
“She’s minding the shop,” Kyla said. “But I’m sure she wouldn’t mind some company.”
Luke noticed Marco blush. Another budding romance. Then Ryan slipped in close to Jude and took her hand. He looked up and saw Kyla notice as well. She winked at him. Another wedding in the works, he wondered?
“I’m off to shop,” Kelly said, turning to go. “Oh, and one other thing. Guess who is playing the lead role? Peyton Chandler!”
The gasp from Ryan was just loud enough for all of them to hear. He covered his mouth with his hand as his face went white as pure marble.
Jude stared at him. “Are you all right?”
Luke’s eyes met Kyla’s. The same concern registered in her as Luke felt. Something was not right, not right at all.
“Ryan.” Jude shook his shoulder gently.
“I’m fine,” he said.
Ryan’s voice was flat and distant. Luke got the distinct impression that Ryan wished he were alone. “Kyla,” Luke said. “We need to go pick out the flowers today. Let’s head over there.”
