An Unexpected Joy (Treasured Dreams Book 6) Read online

  “That's just like you.” He smiled, and for a moment his tension seemed to lift. “Such a soft heart. Do you think daddy and baby bracelets would be big sellers, though?”

  “Would you wear one?” I asked, my heart pounding in my chest.

  He gave me a side-glance that took my breath away. “A Treasured Creations design? You bet. But, then again, I know the artist, so I might be biased.”

  My belly danced. “Well, that's what had me so stressed. The mommy and baby bracelets came easily. The daddy and baby bracelets? A bit more challenging.” I took a moment to catch my breath, then continued hiking again. “I tried setting the stones in all different ways, but I didn't love any of the designs. First, I tried a pendant, but I didn't think a man would want something clacking against his wrist. I tried a charm style bracelet, but shot that down quickly.”

  “Sorry, the design was such a struggle,” he murmured sympathetically.

  I nodded, then stopped in my tracks. “Wow,” I said, getting my first view of Lake McDonald. The steel gray water stretched out below, studded on either side by rocky outcroppings covered with pine and scrub brush. Magnificent. “See? Aren't you glad that we didn't let my, er, indigestion stop our hike today?”

  He stared out at the lake, his forehead crinkling. “I do love this view. You feeling better?”

  “Yes,” I said, wanting to wipe away the tension visible on his forehead.. “Let's get up to the lookout. I want to see the full view.”

  “Let's do it,” he agreed.

  We continued to walk along the ridge. When we arrived at the base of the lookout tower, Dave's cell phone buzzed in his pocket. His eyes widened as he pulled out his phone.

  He stared at the screen. “It's Samantha.”

  “Answer it,” I urged, then settled back onto the stairs.

  “Hi, Samantha.” He paced back and forth. “I hope you have good news for us.” He paused, listening quietly for a few moments, then his face fell.

  My heart broke for him, for both of us, but I didn't feel as sad as I thought I would. I believed what I'd said earlier-that we'd find the perfect house when the time was right. “Okay, thank you.” He hung up the phone and turned to me. “We didn't get the house.” His voice was barely a whisper, then he cleared his throat. “The seller accepted an all cash offer. We're never going to find our perfect home. It's just not going to happen.”

  “We'll find a place,” I said. “We need to be patient awhile longer.”

  “I wanted to buy that house for you,” he said, visibly upset.

  “Honey, don't worry about me,” I said. “I'm not that sad.”

  He stopped pacing. “Really?”

  “Really,” I said. “I promise.”

  He came over to sit on the steps beside me. “Maybe it's a good thing we didn't get this house,” he said slowly. “I mean, our house is big enough for the two of us. Now we can go on that cruise we've been wanting to take.”

  “Um, that's possible . . .” I swallowed, a tendril of worry curling in my chest, and my nausea suddenly returned in the worst way.

  “And we're both so busy with work, so moving would be inconvenient at this point in our lives,” Dave continued.

  “Well, we're not that busy,” I said, a sinking feeling growing inside me.

  “You mentioned adopting a dog awhile back. We couldn't get a pet if we were busy moving, but that's not a problem now.”

  “Yeah, uh, a dog might be nice . . .” I liked that he didn't seem to be panicking, but I had the horrible feeling he wouldn't be happy with the timing of my good news. I needed to change the subject. Fast. “Should we hike the rest of the way?”

  “Yes, let's go.” He tipped back his head, and we both gazed up at the two-story lookout station. The history of Apgar Lookout always sparked my imagination, making me wonder what life would've been like here over a century ago. My stomach tightened. That wasn't why I'd chosen this hike today, though. I'd picked Apgar for the other meaning and deep down I'd naively hoped Dave might ask me about the name, which was lame thinking on my part. He probably didn't even know about the Apgar score for babies.

  We climbed the steps, which were covered with snow. When we got to the second story platform we stopped to detach our snowshoes from our boots. We propped them up against the wall of the shuttered ranger station, and walked carefully around to the front. The first glimpse of the view took my breath away.

  From our vantage point we saw the entire expanse of Lake McDonald. The low hanging clouds obstructed the highest peaks off in the distance, but I didn't care. Being up where we were and having conquered the hike feeling the way I did made me feel on top of the world. Nerves still roiled in my stomach as I remembered Dave's words about a cruise and a dog.

  My new bracelet practically pulsed around my wrist. My hand flew to my throat where the eagle charm on my necklace nestled beneath my coat and scarf. As my finger slid over the familiar feel of the eagle's crystal eye, I remembered when I'd made this treasured creation for myself back when I'd needed strength and bravery to embark on the new adventure of living in Whitefish, Montana.

  Dave and I would now be embarking on a new adventure of our own. But his talk of staying in the small house we lived in now made me wonder if he wasn't quite ready anymore. A skitter of nerves skated down my spine, making me shudder.

  “You cold?” He slipped his arms around me and pulled me close, rubbing his hands up and down my back as we gazed out at the lake in silence. Our souls were drawn to this place, to this landscape. There was something magical about the way the view drew us in, wrapped us in love, and held our hearts firmly in its grip.

  Maybe we really would find a house with some property. Somewhere a child could run and play freely in the wild. I could feel the words pressing against the back of my throat, waiting for me to let them out.

  “I have something to tell you,” Dave said, his voice catching slightly.

  My gaze shot to his, and I swallowed. “What?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

  “This offer on the house? I'm disappointed. But that's not what I've been upset about.”

  “I know,” I said softly.

  “We've been trying for a baby for over a year now. The thought that we might not be meant to have a family is tearing me apart. It's hard.” He looked away from me, gazing up at the sky. “Sometimes I feel like I can't take any more disappointment.”

  “I know exactly how you feel.” I reached up to touch his cheek with my gloved hand. “I've felt stretched so thin, like the slightest thing might break me.”

  “Do you think we're meant to have a baby this way?” he asked, sounding forlorn. “I've been doing work for a restaurant owner in Kalispell, and she mentioned her niece is accidentally pregnant and might be considering putting the baby up for adoption . . .”

  My eyes watered, and I opened my mouth to tell him our good news-

  “I know we have so much already. Each other, our careers, and a little place to live. I shouldn't complain. It's just . . . I have this vision in my head of all the things I want to give you in life. And that includes a family of our own.”

  “Oh, Dave,” I said, a tear spilling over my cheek. “We have so much. All of those things you want for us? We'll get them.” A small laugh escaped through my tears, and I sniffed. “Some sooner than others.”

  “That's what I love about you, angel. You look at the bright side of things.” He gently pulled me to him, leaned down, and captured my mouth in the sweetest kiss I'd ever known. As we broke apart, he pulled me into a hug, his breath warm against my neck. I pulled him close, and pressed my ear against his chest, listening to his heart beat strong and true. Being in the midst of all this beauty, I felt his love radiating all around us, enveloping me.

  As we stepped apart, he chuckled. “I just realized we never finished talking about your new line.”

  “Um, well . . .” I fumbled for the right words as I gazed out across Lake McDonald. A light snow began to fall, the tiny flak
es drifting down around us like magic. I laughed aloud, feeling like we were standing in a snow globe. A feeling of peace washed over me.

  There was nowhere I'd rather be than here with Dave in this moment. Still, I wasn't sure how to tell him my news, our news. Even though he'd had his revelation that we'd have our family no matter what, I couldn't be sure if now was really the right time for us. Then, suddenly, I realized that our moments as just the two of us would soon change to the three of us.

  In the midst of the swirling snow, my heart leapt into my throat. And I just knew . . . this was the perfect moment I'd been waiting for to tell Dave.

  He cleared his throat. “Holly, are you okay? You seem distant.”

  “Quite the opposite.” I took a deep breath as a stiff breeze sent flakes dancing around us. “You asked about my new line, and I finally did find the inspiration.”

  “Your inspiration comes from nature, and whatever is going on in your life.”

  “Always,” I agreed. “I was designing the line while we were trying to have a baby, and I wondered why I was putting myself through so much heartache, you know? Moxie had ordered the lines, and I thought of saying no. But I'm glad I didn't, because my longing for a baby helped me see how both parents need to be included in the celebration.”

  “You were trying to design something for the dads.”

  “Yes, I designed the mom's bracelet in sterling silver,” I said, shifting my wrist slightly so I could feel the cool metal of my bracelet against my skin.

  “I'm glad you solved half of the problem,” he said, a faraway look appeared in his eyes.

  “Well, I also solved the problem of the dad's bracelet. Let me show you.” I pulled off my glove, and reached into my pocket. My fingers wrapped around my gift for him. “See?” I held the bracelet out in my palm. “It's your birthstone, mine, and . . .” I held the leather band toward him with trembling fingers.

  “For me?” he asked, staring at the bracelet. His eyes turned glassy tears and my fingers trembled as I clasped the bracelet to his wrist. “You . . . we . . . are?” he whispered.

  I nodded, tears spilling down my cheeks. “Due in October.”

  “After all this time,” he murmured, pressing his hand against my belly. Even though I knew the pregnancy was too early, I pictured the baby moving under his touch-recognizing Daddy, who I knew in my soul already loved that growing life with all of his heart.

  I swiped at my tears. Dave pressed a kiss to my lips. We were both shaking and laughing and crying all at the same time. “Well, I'd say this news trumps getting a house,” he said.

  “I'd have to agree,” I said, smiling up at my husband's happy expression.

  We both laughed as he wrapped his arms around me, then rested his cheek against the top of my head as he placed a protective hand on my belly. Together, in silence, we watched the snow fall to the mountains surrounding us. I couldn't have imagined a more magical moment to share the news with my sweet hubby about our upcoming bundle of joy.

  THE END

  If you enjoyed spending time

  with these characters,

  be sure to read Holly’s next adventure in:

  An Unexpected Baby

  (Treasured Dreams series, #7)

  About the author:

  SUSAN HATLER is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, who writes humorous and emotional contemporary romance and young adult novels. Many of Susan's books have been translated into German, Spanish, French and Italian. A natural optimist, she believes life is amazing, people are fascinating, and imagination is endless. She loves spending time with her characters and hopes you do, too.

  You can reach Susan here:

  Facebook: facebook.com/authorsusanhatler

  Twitter: twitter.com/susanhatler

  Website: www.susanhatler.com

  Blog: susanhatler.com/category/susans-blog

  Titles by Susan Hatler

  Kissed by the Bay Series

  Every Little Kiss

  The Perfect Kiss

  Just One Kiss

  The Sweetest Kiss

  Better Date than Never Series

  Love at First Date

  Truth or Date

  My Last Blind Date

  Save the Date

  A Twist of Date

  License to Date

  Driven to Date

  Up to Date

  Déjà Date

  Date and Dash

  Treasured Dreams Series

  An Unexpected Date

  An Unexpected Kiss

  An Unexpected Love

  An Unexpected Proposal

  An Unexpected Wedding

  An Unexpected Joy

  An Unexpected Baby

  Young Adult Novels

  Shaken

  See Me