Somehow she didn’t need to keep that secret anymore. She and Henry had other things that only they knew. Only they knew what it meant to love the other. Only they knew what it meant to live their lives.
The whole room went silent.
It was good to know she could still shock her friends.
And it was good to know that she and Henry were going to make it through.
Winter
Chapter Ten
Nell stared at the windows of Stella’s Diner, the snow forming a lattice pattern on the glass. It was dark outside and the lights from the café illuminated the snowflakes. She loved the winter. Oh, she complained about it when she had to slog through the snow, but there was something infinitely soothing about watching the world get blanketed in white, in cuddling up on the couch with her husband while they talked about what to name their baby.
They’d narrowed it down to Daisy or Poppy. She smiled at the thought because she’d teased him by demanding they consider Freedom Justice Flanders or Liberty Suffrage Flanders. She’d watched her poor husband try to figure out how to maneuver his way out of those names without upsetting her.
It was then and there that she’d given up any anger she’d had with him. Mel’s words had truly sunk in over the course of long months spent simply living with the man. John Bishop might still be in there, but he loved her, too. John Bishop hadn’t become Henry Flanders to get away from his past. He’d done it because he’d finally found a future he wanted. A future with her.
And their child, who was definitely going to be a Poppy.
She turned her attention to Henry, who sat across from her, his eyes moving down the tablet in front of him. He was reading intently, his finger turning the virtual pages.
Her latest book. The one she’d started almost as a way to flip off her husband. She wouldn’t have said it at the time, but she could be more honest now. She’d started the book firmly intent on having the spy be the bad guy who tried to rip apart her young, idealistic lovers. The handsome but lying spy was supposed to ruin everything. He was supposed to be the conflict they had to get over. And he was going to die because that was what writers did when they were upset with a person. Kill them off in inventive ways.
Over the course of writing, the damn thing had become a ménage because somewhere along the way she’d realized that she loved John Bishop, too.
She loved all of the man, and the book he was reading was her way of telling him.
“Hey, Henry,” a familiar voice said. “I was wondering if you could come out and help me with the plumbing in the guest bathroom.”
Cade Sinclair stood at the front of the booth, still wearing his big overcoat.
“No,” Henry said, never once looking up.
She gave Cade a smile. “He absolutely would love to, but he’s not willing to talk about it at the moment. He’s involved in his book.”
“I told you I got us a repair manual.” Gemma joined her husband, sliding her hand into his. “Jesse can totally handle it.”
Henry kept his eyes on the page. “Jesse knows cars. He’s terrible at plumbing. I’ll be there tomorrow. Go away.”
She’d gotten used to Bishop’s growly nature. It came out only at times when he was super involved—usually with her—and she had to admit it did something for her.
“Thanks so much, Henry,” Gemma said. “The last time Jesse tried to fix something we ended up turning the water off for two days. Hey, Nell. Come on, babe. Jesse should be here soon. I’m starving.”
Nell gave the pretty blonde a wave as she led her husband away.
“When did Henry get so scary?” Cade was asking.
Gemma snorted. “He was always that way. You just didn’t see it.”
Henry huffed, a gruff sound, but went on with his reading.
Nell stretched because her lower back was aching. It had been all day, but she’d been running on the high of finishing her book that morning and having Henry be so engrossed in it.
She got a good kick to her kidneys, and then something moved across her belly. Probably a hand.
Had she complained about the baby not moving? Some days she prayed her little girl would take a nap. Her daughter was obviously practicing to be a gymnast. Or an acrobat. And she loved to get super active the minute her momma tried to get some rest.
She put a hand on her belly as though she could soothe the baby with touch. Christmas had been a lovely time. They’d been holed up in their cabin, happy and warm.
Seth, Georgia, and Logan had come home for the holidays. They’d celebrated with Teeny and Marie and Georgia’s brothers. Seth had treated Henry like a father figure.
It had been so good to spend time with family, but she was also happy to move into a new year.
Winter was when she’d first met Henry Flanders. Winter was their time.
The door opened again and the Harpers strode in with their newest member in tow. Rye held a baby carrier in one hand while Max had a bundled-up Paige in his arms. Rachel pulled her coat off and hung it on the coat rack, waving as Stella moved from the kitchen to the dining room.
“Stella, I need a meal that isn’t a casserole.” Rachel waved to all in the room, which this time of year was mostly locals. “I thank you all for the lovely dishes we have been surviving off
