Forever Santa by Leeanna Morgan Page B

slowly.”
    Gracie sat up and took a deep breath. She sipped the tea, wincing at the bitter brew in her hands. “I don’t like the taste of ginger all that much.”
    “Just give it a few minutes, then let me know how you feel.”
    Gracie slowly sipped the tea. She listened to Emily tell her about a building she’d seen that might have made a great boutique. Except for the rent the owner wanted, it would have been perfect. They listened to a choir singing Christmas carols and watched people walking past with shopping bags clutched in their hands.
    Gracie pushed the empty cup across the table.
    “Well done,” Emily said. “How do you feel?”
    “I don’t feel sick anymore, but I need to pee.” Gracie picked up her decorations. “I don’t know the first thing about being pregnant and I’ve got no idea how to look after a baby. What am I going to do?”
    “Pee.” Emily stood up and hugged Gracie. “You’ve got lots of time ahead of you to work out all the other things. The rest will happen, one step at a time.”
    Gracie hugged Emily tight, then stepped back. “You’re right.” She lifted her tote bag onto her shoulder and looked around the mall. “But if I don’t find a bathroom soon, I’m going to be in trouble.”
    Emily pointed behind Gracie and grinned. “Follow me.”
    So Gracie did, one step at a time.
     
    ***
    “How did your shopping go?” Trent looked up from his desk. Paper was scattered all around him and he looked as though he’d been adding numbers to a spreadsheet.
    Gracie showed him the two bags in her hands. “I left most of the decorations in the mall.”
    “That was very restrained of you, Mrs. McKenzie.”
    “I tried my hardest, Mr. McKenzie.”
    Jordan lifted his head from the plans in front of him. “If this conversation is about to turn x-rated, I want to remind you that I’ve just broken up with my girlfriend. You’re supposed to feel sorry for me, not rub salt in my wounds.”
    Gracie smiled at her brother-in-law. “There’s no x-rated stuff happening.”
    Trent gave a dramatic sigh. “I thought I was about to get lucky.”
    Jordan muttered something under his breath and went back to studying the plans.
    Gracie thought about how lucky Trent would feel when he found out she was pregnant. She could have blurted it out, told him straight away, but she had a plan. A plan she’d worked on as she’d walked around the aisles of Baby World with Emily.
    “Have you heard from Jacob?” she asked.
    Trent stood up and took the shopping bags out of her hands. “He called as soon as he got back to your parents’ ranch. Alex had something to eat for lunch.”
    Food was good, she supposed. But it didn’t mean he was completely out of danger. “Did Jacob say anything else?”
    “Your mom and dad are doing okay. They’re staying in the same hotel they booked into for the competition. I’ve left their phone number on the notepad beside the fridge. Do you want a drink?”
    Gracie kissed Trent’s cheek before he wandered through to the kitchen. “A hot chocolate would be great.”
    She looked across at Jordan. “What are you doing?”
    “I’m trying to work out if I can finish a small part of the barn for photos. If people are going to start booking their vacation with us I need images for the website.”
    “The outside of the barn’s finished. Why don’t you focus on that?”
    Jordan ran his hands through his hair and sighed. “It’s the middle of winter, Gracie. All you can see is snow.”
    “I took some photos after the windows were installed and Trent took some amazing photos of the ranch last Fall. Why don’t you use those for now. Once we’ve finished the interior you could get some professional photos taken.”
    Jordan looked a little less stressed. “Do you know where the photos are?”
    “I downloaded them onto my laptop. Stay here, I’ll be back soon.” Gracie had left her laptop recharging in the kitchen. The smell of fresh coffee brewing nearly made her