Free The Tea Shop on Lavender Lane (Life in Icicle Falls) by Sheila Roberts Page B

great Christmas present for Bailey. Even though she was probably never going to cater again, Cecily felt sure her sister would wind up doing something food-related.
    They were just about ready for dessert when Blake tapped on his water glass for everyone’s attention. Then he stood. “We’re really glad you could all come today, and I want to propose a toast. To our mothers, who do so much for us.”
    “To our mothers,” everyone echoed and clinked glasses.
    But Blake was still standing, and Cecily knew why.
    “And to our future mothers,” he said, raising his glass to Samantha, who was suddenly blushing.
    “Oh, my,” Mom whispered. “Does this mean what we think it does?”
    Blake grinned and nodded. “We’re pregnant.”
    “Oh, sweetie!” Mom jumped up and hurried to hug Samantha, as did all the other women, including Cecily, while the two other men present clapped Blake on the back.
    This was followed by a barrage of questions. When was the baby due? Had they picked out names yet? Did they know what they were having? Did they want to know? “In December,” Samantha answered. No, they didn’t know the sex of the baby yet, but they should be able to tell when Samantha had her twelve-week ultrasound. “We haven’t picked out a boy’s name yet,” Samantha said, “but if it’s a girl we’re going to name her Rose, after Great-Grandma Rose.”
    The woman who’d started Sweet Dreams Chocolates. “Perfect,” Cecily murmured. Sam deserved to be happy. She’d held their family together when they lost their father and had saved the company from ruin after their stepfather died. Like all proper heroines, she’d been rewarded with a good dose of happily-ever-after, and the baby was the latest installment.
    And, of course, they’d all get to enjoy the baby. Cecily could hardly wait to become an aunt.
    But she also wanted to become a mother. And a wife. She wanted that happily-ever-after she’d always been so good at helping other people find. She’d hit the snooze button on her biological clock, but now Samantha’s announcement had set it off again, and it was ringing loud and clear. Darn it, she didn’t want to wait until she was pushing menopause to get pregnant.
    You have time, she assured herself. Even if her twenties would be ending this fall, it didn’t mean her life was over. And it didn’t mean she couldn’t get pregnant. Samantha was over thirty, and she’d had no trouble conceiving and her baby was going to be fine. So there was no need to panic...as long as she didn’t keep making man mistakes. She had to be smart this time round and choose someone who was truly her perfect match. Not perfect—just perfect for her.
    Meanwhile, she would be happy for her sister. “We can have the baby shower at the condo,” she offered.
    “I’m not sure you’ll be able to fit everyone in the condo,” her mother said. “Not with all the people who’ll want to come.”
    “Then we can do it at my house,” Janice said. “We have plenty of room.”
    Talk of the new arrival continued through dessert and coffee, and by the time the party broke up, the child’s life had been decided. Of course little Rose—Samantha was convinced the baby would be a girl—would grow up to run Sweet Dreams Chocolates. Naturally, she’d marry a local boy.
    “Marrying local is going to become a Sterling woman tradition,” Samantha predicted, smiling at Cecily. It wasn’t difficult to guess whom her sister was thinking of. Yep, keep the production manager by bringing him into the family. Maybe that wasn’t such a bad idea. If she was going to be practical. If she could stop having stupid pirate dreams.
    * * *
    Todd called his mother Sunday afternoon to wish her a happy Mother’s Day. He hoped his little brother was taking her out. Or had at least sent flowers. Or a card. Or something.
    “Oh, Toddy, the flowers were lovely,” she gushed. “And chocolates, too.”
    “Nothing’s too good for you,” he