Good thing I had nine more months to get used to the idea.

Because the last two days hadn’t even cracked the surface.

“I still can’t believe it,” I said to Connie, as I opened the kitchen door to let Reilly out. She put a platter of bacon and eggs on the table. “And I don’t think it’s going to feel real until I tell Jason.”

“Well, if I know him, he’s trying as hard as you are to get a call through. Are you even sure you want to spill the beans before your wedding day? Imagine what that would be like. To make him a husband and a father on the very same day…”

I smiled at the idea, but shook my head. “Maybe I just need to hear his voice,” I said. “I always thought we’d be taking that test together… that we’d be together, and climb back into bed to celebrate the news together…” I wrapped my hands around my mug to warm them. “I didn’t picture it this way, Conn. That we’d be so far apart that we couldn’t even share the most important thing that ever happened to us.” I paused and looked at her. “We still have so many things we need to say to each other… Is this really how our family begins?”

“Trust me,” she said, “even if he was right here and you were sitting on his lap, you’d still be having a few second thoughts.” She smiled at me reassuringly. “It’s the baby hormones, is all. Welcome to Club Motherhood. Just wait until you start showing. Then it gets very real, very fast. And it seems to have a way of putting things into perspective…” She looked past me to the clock. “We should get headed into town right now if we’re not gonna keep Sarah waiting.”

Reilly scratched at the door, business finished and wanting his own breakfast. “I know you’re right…” I said. “But I just can’t seem to shake this feeling. The only thing that really matters to me now is telling Jason we’re having a baby.”

“There’s still no answer,” I said, putting the phone back in my bag. I’d called from the florist shop… and the first two dress shops. The need to reach him was getting more overwhelming as the day went on. I couldn’t keep the secret much longer, not from Mom. And I’d wanted so much to tell him first...

“So… whadda ya think…?” Connie spun around in a pale pink gown that swept her ankles. “Too light for a winter wedding?”

“I think it’s perfect,” Mom said, reaching to fluff out the skirt. “With your blonde hair and delicate skin… you’d be overwhelmed with anything darker.”

“Not to mention I get the pounding of a lifetime every time I wear this color,” Connie whispered to me with a wink. “I’d choose it for that alone.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, blushing at the same time because this was my brother we were discussing. “I think pink and green are the perfect colors,” I said, changing the subject. “Pale, … hinting that spring is right around the corner. If we’re lucky enough to have snow, it’ll be absolutely beautiful.” I ran my hands over the pristine silk of my own gown and smiled to myself.

“So is this the one?” Mom asked. She took my hand and twirled me a little so the long skirt billowed softly. The dress itself was as light as air; the shimmering velvet cape and hood I would wear over it would make it warm enough for an outdoor wedding. I nodded.

“You’re sure you two don’t want to wait a little longer?” she asked. “You look like a winter princess in that dress, but you could be a springtime goddess in only a few more months. Just imagine the fields full of flowers.”

“But we already picked out the flowers, Mom,” I said. “Yes, this is the dress. And no… we’re not waiting any longer than we already have. I always wanted a winter wedding… with the snow sparkling like diamonds and ice frosting the tops of the trees. I used to dream about it when I was little. And I would pretend the glade was a cathedral when it was covered in snow.”

“So that’s it, then,” Mom said. “We’ve got the place, the dresses… the colors… the flowers are paid for. I say let’s go have lunch and we can talk about the cake and the guest list. I can’t believe it’s all coming together so fast,” she said proudly. “But I think this’s going to be the most beautiful winter wedding anybody’s ever seen.”

While Mom and Connie headed for our table, I slipped away to the ladies room to call one more time. Halfway to the restaurant, it had occurred to me that Jason just might have called the cabin. Sure enough. I tapped in the code to retrieve my messages… I closed my eyes and listened to the sound of his voice, so deep, so close… “I love you, Ember… You’re the love of my life…”

My skin tingled responsively, tightening my nipples into hard buds underneath my sweater. Our news would have to wait a little while longer, but at least I had gotten to hear his voice, and knew that he was safe and well. It wouldn’t be much longer now.

“God, I should have been home…” I muttered, chiding myself. “I love you too, Jason…

“And I think I’m only starting to fully understand just how much…”