She bit her lip, clenching the linen duvet in her hands. “Well—”

“Mommy? I pee-pee! I pee-pee in my bed!”

“Shit,” Sadie and Ethan said together, in a rare demonstration of synchronization.

*  *  *

Ethan had insisted on cleaning up the soggy mess, which included throwing all of Lincoln’s bedding into the wash before the toddler himself received a proper scrub. “You take a shower while I tackle all that,” he told her.

Sadie simply nodded, unable to blurt out the news while Lincoln was standing there cold and wet.

In the shower, she cranked the water as hot as her skin could stand and stood beneath the rain showerhead. She glared at the razor sitting inside one of the herringbone-tiled niches, knowing she should shave her legs on this rare occasion when she actually had the time. “Screw you,” she murmured in its direction.

After her shower, she made an effort to use the blow-dryer for the first time in months. Amazing the difference it made. Had her hair always been capable of such volume and shine?

Ethan gave a low whistle as she walked into the kitchen, wearing a white sundress, jean jacket, and red espadrilles. “New outfit?”

“Just something I haven’t worn in a while,” she said.

He seemed to have forgotten about the doctor’s visit news and she decided to tell him after their outing. No need to ruin a perfect family day.

They loaded up and drove to Cranberry Cove’s annual May Day Festival, holding hands like the very picture of domestic bliss. Except for the fact she felt her insides scorching under the pressure of keeping the news to herself. After they parked and walked to Main Street, she kept sneaking glances at her husband in his worn Cincinnati Reds baseball cap. He gave her a wry smile and whispered, “When we get home? Let’s pick up where we left off this morning.”

She nodded and murmured some sort of agreement, her stomach even more unsettled. Where you think we left off, and where I think we left off are two very different things.

Lincoln perched on his broad shoulders and gestured excitedly at every spring-themed float that passed by. “Daisy flower!” he cheered. “Ooooh! Look! Butterfly!”

The town’s annual May Day celebration started with a twelve o’clock parade. The high school and junior high marching bands performed, and every local business put together a creative float to welcome the new season. This year, Chickadee Studios had even created flower crowns to pass out to the crowd.

“Pretty crown for a pretty gal?” Jill Kelly smiled at Sadie. “I had so much fun making these. Makes me want to add a floral component to Chickadee. Think people would like that?”