Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 29253 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 146(@200wpm)___ 117(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29253 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 146(@200wpm)___ 117(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
“You know, when I found out Joey was dating you, I wasn’t happy. I thought my daughter was making a giant mistake. I know about your reputation and what you’re like. I’ve met men like you over the years.”
This was where he told him no. Axel didn’t know what he was going to do.
“However, I’ve seen the way you are with Joey and Adeline. I’ve heard people talking, and you have shocked the whole town with the way you are with my girls. You’re a good man, and I’m assuming up until now, you’ve never known what it means to be in love, but that has all changed. You’re in love, and I will not get in the way of your and Joey’s happiness. You love my daughter, then you can be with her. No questions asked.”
Axel was in shock.
At first, it didn’t quite register what he had said, and when it did, he couldn’t hold back. He closed the distance between them and threw his arms around him. “You won’t regret this. I promise. You won’t regret it.”
Alice rushed in and hugged them as well. She had been listening outside the door.
“I owe her a spa day,” Marshall said.
“A spa day?” he asked.
“Oh, I bet him that you had come to ask for Joey’s hand in marriage.”
He looked toward Alice. “You knew?”
“Of course I knew. I am her mother, and there is no way you’re going to be able to keep that kind of secret from me.”
She winked at him. “But now, you’ve got to go and propose to Joey.”
He had thought that was going to be the easy part, but in fact, that might be the hardest part of all.
Axel didn’t stay behind and talk with Marshall and Alice. He had their blessing, and now it was about getting everything in motion.
Pulling out his cell phone, he dialed Ashley’s number.
“I need to know if Joey would like elaborate or private?” Axel asked.
This was real freaking important.
****
“So, I’ve, um, got something I want to show you,” Axel said.
Joey was nervous. She had stored the pregnancy test in her bag and sworn Ashley to secrecy, but she knew there would come a time she was going to need to tell Axel.
He had picked them up at the coffee shop, and rather than go to her place, they had come to Axel’s. Dinner was already cooking in a Crock-Pot, and Axel had wanted to take them upstairs to show them something.
Joey didn’t have a clue what could possibly be upstairs, but she followed behind Adeline and Axel. They turned to the right and took a few steps toward one of the spare bedrooms, and when he opened the first door and flicked on the light, Joey was shocked. It was a bedroom that looked so much like Adeline’s room at her house.
Adeline gasped.
“I wanted you to know that you’re welcome to stay here whenever you want. My house is your house.”
Adeline rushed toward the bed, threw herself on it, then she started to jump up and down on the bed.
“Sweetheart, be careful.”
“Mom, this is amazing.”
She smiled at Adeline. It was so sweet of him, that she couldn’t deny it. Axel did think of everything.
He smiled at Adeline.
He moved toward the far door and opened it. “I also took the liberty of hanging up a few of your ... treasures.”
“They’re beautiful,” she said, rushing toward the closet.
With them dividing their time between her place and his, some of their clothes had been left behind. She knew Adeline missed her home, but she also loved staying in Axel’s place as well.
“You really did think of everything,” Joey said.
“So, I am going to leave you to, you know, enjoy your room. Dinner will be soon, and I’ll call you,” Axel asked.
Joey was pretty sure her daughter and Axel were sharing a knowing look. She wasn’t quite sure how she knew this, but it was the way they looked at one another.
“What’s going on?”
“Nothing, Mom, I’m just really happy that I’ve got my own room.”
Adeline was not looking at her, and she couldn’t help but frown. She didn’t get a chance to ask another question, as Axel was already leading her out of the bedroom and taking her downstairs.
They made their way through to the kitchen, and the smells that were coming from the Crock-Pot were making her mouth water. She was so hungry. And she even said so.
“So, uh, Joey, how was work?” Axel asked.
“It was good, you know, I couldn’t complain.”
He nodded.
There was silence between them. She wanted to tell him she was pregnant, but right now she couldn’t get a read on him, and she didn’t know if this was going to be news he wanted to hear. There was no way she was going to be able to keep her pregnancy a secret for long. She was going to get bigger. Not to mention he was probably getting suspicious with the morning sickness that had decided to kick in. It was the one part of pregnancy she wasn’t a fan of.