Read Online New Beginnings by Charlotte Carter - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Charlotte Carter
Ads: Link
green candles flickered in their silver candleholders. Her best crystal goblets sat at each adult’s place along with sterling silver flatware and fine china plates.
She loved an opportunity to use her good silver and china, and really should do it more often. Family dinners were a perfect excuse.
With plenty of food and jovial conversation, the meal proceeded smoothly. After a bit, both Lindsay Belle and Olivia became restless. Their mothers allowed them to get down from the table to play with their new toys.
Pumpkin and pecan pies were the choices for dessert, which Ainslee and Kirstie served. Cam, Evan, and Doug all took small slices of each.
When the table quieted, Doug tapped his water glass. “Folks, Ainslee and I have an announcement to make.”
A forkful of pumpkin pie in hand, Anabelle looked up, her heart striking an extra beat. She held her breath.
The look in Doug’s eyes was adoring as he smiled at his wife. “Go ahead, Ainslee. You tell them.”
Her cheeks turned a bright pink. “We’re going to have another baby.”
Everyone gasped in pleasure.
Dropping her fork, Anabelle’s hand flew to cover her mouth. Tears of joy burned in her eyes. “Oh, honey, that’s wonderful! I’m so happy for you. Happy for both of you.” The tears escaped to trickle down her cheeks.
“When are you due?” Kirstie asked.
Smiling up at her husband, Ainslee said, “We think July.”
“A summer baby. That’s perfect.” Maureen’s eyes searched out her youngest. “Olivia’s birthday is in July.”
Cam and Evan dutifully congratulated Doug, razzing him about who would be doing the 2:00 AM feedings this time around.
In the midst of all the excitement, Anabelle noticed a faraway look in Kirstie’s eyes and a thoughtful smile on her lips. She wondered if her daughter was envious of her big sister. Or if she was thinking she shouldn’t have broken up with Mark. But it was impossible to read her mind.
Later, Anabelle would have a talk with Kirstie. Maybe she simply felt left out, that Ainslee was getting all the attention.
After dessert, everyone helped to clear the table and put the leftovers away. By then, Lindsay Belle was getting fussy and little Olivia had curled up in her mother’s lap, her thumb in her mouth.
Time for the parents to take their children home.
Kirstie remained behind helping Anabelle and Cam in the kitchen. Cam let Sarge out of the mudroom where he’d been locked away during dinner.
He charged out into the living room, quickly discovered the party was over, and made a U-turn back to the kitchen. He sat down, panting, and looked at Cam as if to say “How come I had to miss all the fun?”
Anabelle laughed. “What an exciting day with Ainslee’s announcement and Evan here with Maureen. Her children are lovely.”
“They’re very well behaved. Olivia is a real cutie,” Kirstie idly hung up a drying towel she’d been using. She still had that distant look in her eyes.
“What’s up honey?” Anabelle said, sure that Kirstie had something on her mind.
“Well…” Kirstie hesitated. “Turns out I have an announcement too.”
Cam halted midstride. “Are you sick?” he blurted out.
Kirstie shook her head. “No, Pop, I’m as healthy as I can be.”
Although Anabelle hadn’t been worried about Kirstie’s health, she felt a surge of relief. “Then what’s your announcement?”
“I’ve given notice at school. I’m leaving at the end of the term and moving to Chicago. I’ve accepted a permanent position at the Shedd Aquarium.”
For a moment, Anabelle’s breath lodged in her throat. Her daughter was moving away? She pressed her hand to her chest. Kirstie was her baby! They had seen her through the awful bike accident that had taken her right leg. She couldn’t be moving away.
“But I thought you loved your teaching job.” Anabelle’s voice faltered.
“I do love teaching. I’m going to head up the School and Youth Educational Programs at Shedd, so I’ll
She loved an opportunity to use her good silver and china, and really should do it more often. Family dinners were a perfect excuse.
With plenty of food and jovial conversation, the meal proceeded smoothly. After a bit, both Lindsay Belle and Olivia became restless. Their mothers allowed them to get down from the table to play with their new toys.
Pumpkin and pecan pies were the choices for dessert, which Ainslee and Kirstie served. Cam, Evan, and Doug all took small slices of each.
When the table quieted, Doug tapped his water glass. “Folks, Ainslee and I have an announcement to make.”
A forkful of pumpkin pie in hand, Anabelle looked up, her heart striking an extra beat. She held her breath.
The look in Doug’s eyes was adoring as he smiled at his wife. “Go ahead, Ainslee. You tell them.”
Her cheeks turned a bright pink. “We’re going to have another baby.”
Everyone gasped in pleasure.
Dropping her fork, Anabelle’s hand flew to cover her mouth. Tears of joy burned in her eyes. “Oh, honey, that’s wonderful! I’m so happy for you. Happy for both of you.” The tears escaped to trickle down her cheeks.
“When are you due?” Kirstie asked.
Smiling up at her husband, Ainslee said, “We think July.”
“A summer baby. That’s perfect.” Maureen’s eyes searched out her youngest. “Olivia’s birthday is in July.”
Cam and Evan dutifully congratulated Doug, razzing him about who would be doing the 2:00 AM feedings this time around.
In the midst of all the excitement, Anabelle noticed a faraway look in Kirstie’s eyes and a thoughtful smile on her lips. She wondered if her daughter was envious of her big sister. Or if she was thinking she shouldn’t have broken up with Mark. But it was impossible to read her mind.
Later, Anabelle would have a talk with Kirstie. Maybe she simply felt left out, that Ainslee was getting all the attention.
After dessert, everyone helped to clear the table and put the leftovers away. By then, Lindsay Belle was getting fussy and little Olivia had curled up in her mother’s lap, her thumb in her mouth.
Time for the parents to take their children home.
Kirstie remained behind helping Anabelle and Cam in the kitchen. Cam let Sarge out of the mudroom where he’d been locked away during dinner.
He charged out into the living room, quickly discovered the party was over, and made a U-turn back to the kitchen. He sat down, panting, and looked at Cam as if to say “How come I had to miss all the fun?”
Anabelle laughed. “What an exciting day with Ainslee’s announcement and Evan here with Maureen. Her children are lovely.”
“They’re very well behaved. Olivia is a real cutie,” Kirstie idly hung up a drying towel she’d been using. She still had that distant look in her eyes.
“What’s up honey?” Anabelle said, sure that Kirstie had something on her mind.
“Well…” Kirstie hesitated. “Turns out I have an announcement too.”
Cam halted midstride. “Are you sick?” he blurted out.
Kirstie shook her head. “No, Pop, I’m as healthy as I can be.”
Although Anabelle hadn’t been worried about Kirstie’s health, she felt a surge of relief. “Then what’s your announcement?”
“I’ve given notice at school. I’m leaving at the end of the term and moving to Chicago. I’ve accepted a permanent position at the Shedd Aquarium.”
For a moment, Anabelle’s breath lodged in her throat. Her daughter was moving away? She pressed her hand to her chest. Kirstie was her baby! They had seen her through the awful bike accident that had taken her right leg. She couldn’t be moving away.
“But I thought you loved your teaching job.” Anabelle’s voice faltered.
“I do love teaching. I’m going to head up the School and Youth Educational Programs at Shedd, so I’ll
Similar Books
