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“Hey,” he said softly. “Talk to me. What’s going on?”

Imogen opened her mouth to speak, to tell him it was nothing, that she was just being emotional about the storm and worried about getting home safely. But instead, something completely different came out. The words tumbled out before she could stop them, despite her resolve all day to find the perfect moment and perfect words to tell Lincoln.

“I’m pregnant.”

For a moment, Lincoln simply stared at her, his face frozen in an expression of complete shock. Imogen’s heart hammered in her chest as she watched him process the information, and she saw the surprise give way to an expression of pure, unfiltered joy.

“You’re—” He stopped, swallowed hard, and tried again. “We’re going to have a baby?”

Imogen nodded, fresh tears streaming down her face. “I found out this afternoon. I went to the doctor because I’ve been feeling sick, and she ran some tests, and—” Her voice broke. “I’m so sorry. I wanted to tell you in a better, more special way. I’ve been trying all afternoon to figure out the perfect moment, but then the storm came, and I got so scared, and I just—I couldn’t keep it to myself anymore.”

Lincoln pulled her back into his arms, holding her so tightly she could barely breathe. She felt the way his breath hitched, and when he leaned back to look at her again, she saw that his eyes were bright.

“Imogen,” he said, his voice rough with emotion, “This is—this is incredible. This is the best news. We’re going to have a baby.” He laughed, the sound filled with pure joy, and kissed her forehead, her cheeks, her lips. “We’re going to have a baby,” he repeated, a broad smile cracking across his face.

She laughed too, relief flooding through her so powerfully that she felt lightheaded. “You’re happy? You’re really happy?”

“Happy?” Lincoln cupped her face again, his thumbs stroking her cheekbones. “Imogen, I’m beyond happy. I’m—I don’t even have words for what I’m feeling right now. This is amazing. I’m thrilled.”

“I wanted it to be special,” she said, biting her lip. “I wanted to plan something romantic, something memorable. I didn’t want to just blurt it out in the middle of a snowstorm.”

Lincoln shook his head firmly. “This is special. This is perfect. You telling me that we’re going to have a baby—there’s nothing more special than that, no matter when or where it happens.” He kissed her again, longer this time, still smiling. “Nothing could be better than this.”

Imogen was about to respond when she heard Katie’s footsteps approaching. She pulled back from Lincoln quickly, wiping at her eyes and trying to compose herself. Lincoln’s hand found hers, squeezing gently, and when she looked at him, she saw the question in his eyes.

“Not yet,” she whispered. “I want to tell her, but not like this. Not when we’re rushing to get home in a storm. I already blurted it out to you, I want to at least make it more special when we tell Katie.”

Lincoln nodded, understanding immediately. “Nothing could make it less special, I promise. But we’ll find a less chaotic time to break the news to her. Whenever you’re ready. We’ll find the right time together.”

Katie appeared in the doorway, still holding the reindeer in one hand and her doll in the other. “I’m ready!” she announced. “Can we make hot chocolate when we get home?”

“Absolutely,” Lincoln said cheerfully. He released Imogen’s hand and moved to help Katie with her backpack. “Hot chocolate and maybe some of those gingerbread cookies your mom made yesterday. Sound good?”

“Yes!” Katie bounced on her toes, her earlier worry about the storm apparently forgotten in her excitement about the treats waiting at home.

Imogen grabbed her purse and coat, her hands still trembling slightly but her heart feeling lighter than it had all day. She’d told Lincoln. The secret was out, at least partially, and his reaction had been everything she could have hoped for. The worry about finding the perfect moment seemed silly now, insignificant in the face of his genuine happiness.

Lincoln held the door open, and they stepped out into the storm together. The wind immediately whipped at their coats and stung their faces, but Imogen barely noticed. Lincoln’s arm came around her shoulders, pulling her close as they hurried toward his truck, and Katie skipped ahead, seemingly unbothered by the weather.

As Lincoln helped Katie into the back seat and made sure she was buckled in safely, Imogen stood by the passenger door, looking back at Artisan Chocolates. The shop looked warm and inviting despite the storm, the Christmas decorations visible even through the swirling snow. She’d built this business from nothing, had poured her heart and soul into making it successful. And now she was building something else, a family that felt more perfect than anything she could have imagined.

Lincoln appeared at her side, opening the passenger door for her. “Ready to go home?”

She climbed into the truck, and Lincoln closed the door behind her before jogging around to the driver’s side. The engine was already running, the heater blasting warm air that felt heavenly after the bitter cold outside. Katie was chattering in the back seat about the Christmas parade she wanted to organize with her toys, her voice bright and happy.

Lincoln put the truck in gear and pulled carefully out of the parking lot, navigating the slick roads cautiously. His free hand found Imogen’s, lacing their fingers together and resting on the seat between them. She squeezed it, feeling the solid warmth of his palm against hers, and let herself relax for the first time all day.

They were going to have a baby. She and Lincoln were going to have a baby. The thought filled her with a joy so overwhelming it brought happy tears to her eyes. She glanced back at Katie, who was now making her reindeer “fly” through the air while humming “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” and her heart swelled with love for her first child, who had made her a mother.

Soon, Katie would be a big sister. And despite the storm raging outside and the imperfect timing of her announcement, Imogen knew with absolute certainty that everything was going to be okay… better than okay. It was going to be wonderful.

Lincoln’s thumb stroked across her knuckles, and when she looked at him, he was smiling. As they drove, Imogen felt the last of her anxiety melt away. She was going home with the people she loved most in the world. The storm would pass, Christmas would come, and their family would celebrate together—all four of them, even if Katie didn’t know it yet.

She couldn’t have been happier.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Vanessa closed the oven door with a satisfied sigh, the rich aroma of pot roast already beginning to fill the kitchen despite having just started its slow cook. Outside, the wind rattled the windows with increasing ferocity, sending swirls of snow dancing past the glass. She was grateful that she and Jackson had made it home before the worst of the storm hit.