CHAPTER 1
Candy Bolt is on her way up to the Bolt Brother's Logging Camp with a picnic basket to share with her beloved husband, Jeremy. She is dying to tell him the good news that he's going to be a Daddy. She had thought about waiting until he came home from work to tell him, but she can't keep this news to herself any longer and she does want him to be the first to know. Oh, he is going to be so excited, she just knows it.
Walking along the road she starts remembering some of the special moments she and Jeremy have had. About how they met on the Shamus O'Flynn over laundry. How he was so shy, that she was surprised he even tried to talk to her. But she is so glad he did. He won her heart during that talk and she never even wanted to see what the other men in Seattle were like. They have had their share of lover's quarrels, but they always make up. That's the fun part about quarrels, she giggles. It took them two long years to finally march down that aisle, but they got to know each other very well in those two years. Now, they know their marriage will last forever. My goodness. Just think, Jeremy and I have only been married a little over three months and here we are already going to have a baby. With that thought, she begins walking faster.
As Candy arrives at the camp, she begins to look over the scene in front of her. She sees Jason, Joshua, Corky, and some other men, but no Jeremy.
"Jason, Joshua," she calls out cheerfully with a big smile on her face. "Where's Jeremy?"
Jason looks at her with a frown. "Candy, what are you doing here?"
"Well Jason, I thought I'd bring my husband some lunch. Is that a problem?"
"Candy, it may very well be a problem. You see, Jeremy, Josh, and myself were planning to have a working lunch today. We need to talk over some plans about our next bidding trip to Olympia. You can't expect Jeremy to just drop everything and go on a picnic."
The smile quickly fades from Candy's face. With tears in her eyes, she says, "Well, I just have something I need to talk to him about."
"It can wait till later, can't it? I mean, he'll be home in a few more hours. You can talk to him then."
"But Jason, this is important," Candy says in a soft voice.
"I'm sure it is Candy, but I'm also sure it'll keep until later. This bidding trip is important too, and since we hardly get a chance to talk to Jeremy anymore, we need him to stay here and meet with us. You understand, don't you?" Jason pats her shoulder. "Now, why don't you run along home and you can talk to Jeremy when he gets there. All right?"
Looking from Jason to Joshua, Candy says in a quivering voice, "I guess I'll have to. Sorry to have bothered you, Mr. Bolt." She turns and begins to walk down the road towards home.
Jeremy comes around the corner of the tent and catches a glimpse of a woman before she walks out of his view. "Hey, was that Candy?" he asks.
"Yes, it was," Josh answers.
"Why was she here? Why didn't she wait for me?"
"Uh Jeremy, I told her that the three of us were going to have a working lunch. That she can talk to you about whatever it is she needs to tell you when you get home. Now. . ." Jason states before Jeremy interrupts him.
"Jason! Are you saying Candy needs to talk to me about something?"
Josh answers for Jason. "Yes she does, Jeremy. Candy was happy and giddy carrying a picnic basket with hopes of having lunch with you so she could tell you something important. When she left, she was in tears."
Jeremy looks at Jason with his anger showing. "Jason, how could you do that? I've got to go catch up with her. I'll see you later."
As Jeremy turns to leave, Jason grabs his arm. "Now Jeremy, calm down. You know this trip is coming up and we need to discuss our plans. Candy will be all right."
"You and Josh discuss it. Candy will be all right because I'm going after her and I will apologize for my big brother being such an ass." He rushes out of camp.
"Jeremy! Jeremy!" Jason shouts.
"Let him go, Jason. He needs to find Candy," Josh tells him.
"What he needs to do is to put his foot down and tell Candy not. . ."
"Jason, he's still a newlywed. You know you were a little rude to her."
"Rude! Me rude?" shouts Jason as he points to his chest.
"Yes, rude!" the men shout back at Jason.
Jason breaks out in a smile. "I guess I was a little rude. I'll apologize to her." He turns to Josh, "Well, it looks like it's just you and me having our talk over lunch. Come on."
Candy walks down the road with her tears falling. She stumbles but catches herself before she falls to the ground. Oh that Jason Bolt, she thinks. He makes me so mad sometimes. It would serve him right if we don't tell him about the baby. Jeremy, I'm sorry I didn't get to tell you the news about our baby.
She hears a noise, like someone walking in the woods. She stops and a chill goes down her spine. She feels like someone is watching her. "Hello!" she calls out. "Is someone there?" She lets her eyes scan the woods, but doesn't see anyone. Nervously, she begins walking faster. When she hears someone running behind her, she becomes frightened and begins to run.
A hand grabs her arm and stops her as she drops the basket and screams. "Candy, what's wrong? Why were you running from me?"
"Oh Jeremy!" she cries as she falls into his arms. "I'm so glad you're here!"
"What's wrong?" I know Jason upset you, but why. . .you're shaking. Are you scared?"
Clinging to him she cries, "I heard someone in the woods. I know someone was watching me. I started running. I thought they were chasing me."
"It's all right. You probably just heard an animal in the woods. I didn't hear or see anything. Come on, calm down." He kisses the top of her head. "Josh said you need to talk to me. Is something wrong?"
Shaking her head no, she says, "Nothing's wrong. I just need to tell you something. But not here. I can't tell you here. I want to go home."
"Okay. We'll go home. We'll have our picnic at home and then you can tell me. All right?"
"But Jason. . ." she begins.
"It's all right. I know what Jason said, but you're my wife and I'll talk to you whenever I want to. Besides, you're a lot prettier than Jason," Jeremy chuckles tying to put a smile on Candy's face.
"Are you sure, Jeremy?" she whispers.
"Am I sure that you're prettier than Jason? I'm absolutely sure." They both laugh. "I love you, Candy. I'll never let anything happen to you," Jeremy says as he wraps his arms around her and kisses her lips.
"I know, Jeremy. I feel so safe with you. I love you."
Jeremy picks the basket up from the ground, wraps an arm around Candy's waist and they go home.
When they arrive home, Jeremy asks, "Where do you want to have our picnic? Over there under the big oak or down by the water?"
"Jeremy, can we eat inside?" Candy asks.
"You're not still afraid, are you?"
"No, not afraid. You're with me. But I am a little uneasy about what happened. Do you mind eating in the house?"
"If it'll make you feel better, then we'll eat inside," he says as he takes her hand and leads her up the steps.
Once inside, Candy says, "I'll set the table while you wash up."
Jeremy replies, "Oh, no you won't. You, dear wife, promised me a picnic and a picnic we're going to have. Come on, we'll spread the cloth on the parlor floor and it'll be just like a real picnic minus the bugs," he grins.
As soon as they enter the parlor, Candy notices their wedding picture has somehow moved from the mantle to the floor. The glass is broken in the frame. "How did this happen?" she cries.
Jeremy takes the picture from her hands. "Um, I guess I didn't hang it as good as I thought I did. We'll get a new piece of glass and it'll be good as new. I'll be sure to secure it tightly this time. I'm sorry Candy, it's my fault."
"It's all right Jeremy, I'm not blaming you." She gets a puzzled look on her face. "Jeremy, do you really think it fell all by itself? Maybe someone took it down."
"Now Candy, who would do such a thing? Why would anyone be in our home without us being here? I'm sure it fell on it's own."
"I guess you're right. I'm just being silly. Sorry," she mumbles.
Laying the picture on the settee, Jeremy pick up the red checked cloth and spreads it out on the floor while Candy gets the broom and sweeps up the glass.
"Here, I'll take that," Jeremy says as he takes the broom and dustpan from her. "I'll be right back."
"Jeremy, would you check the doors to be sure they're locked?" Candy asks.
Jeremy starts to say something about her being scared, but decides to keep quiet about it. "Yeah, sure I'll check."
After being sure the doors are locked, Jeremy returns to the parlor where Candy has laid out all the food. "Did you check the doors?" she asks.
"Yes, I did. You're all safe and secure." He leans over and kisses her cheek while thinking to himself, Candy is really scared. I've never seen her act like this before. "Uh, what ? Did you say something?"
"I said I hope you're hungry."
"Oh, I'm hungry, you know me," he chuckles.
When they've finished eating and putting everything back in the basket, Jeremy asks, "All right Candy, I've been patient long enough. What is it you want to tell me?"
Candy says, "I'll get to that, but first, Jeremy will you dance with me?"
Jeremy gets up and takes Candy's hand helping her to stand. "I'd love to Mrs. Bolt." He takes her in his arms and she lays her head on his shoulder.
After a while, she raises her head and puts her arms around his neck while they continue to dance. "Jeremy, are you happy?"
Jeremy looks startled. "What kind of question is that? Candy, you know I am. I never thought I'd ever have this much happiness." He gives her a quick kiss on the lips. Pulling back just a little, he asks, "Wait! Aren't you happy? Is there something wrong in our marriage that I don't know about?"
Candy giggles, then kisses Jeremy. "Happy? Oh Jeremy, I'm deliriously happy. I don't think my feet have touched the ground since our wedding." She kisses him again. "I have a present for you."
"What? Candy, what's the occasion? I know we've already celebrated our three month anniversary and it's not my birthday. Besides, you're the only present I need," he says as he pulls her tighter.
"Oh, you're so sweet. You're such a loving husband and I know that one day soon you'll be a very loving Daddy, too."
"Well, that day can't come soon enough to suit me," he replies.
"For me either." She kisses him and then says, "Jeremy, would about six months from now be soon enough?"
"Six months? Would six months be soon enough for what?" He looks at her with a puzzled expression.
"To welcome our son or daughter into our family. Jeremy, I'm pregnant."
They stop dancing and Jeremy looks at her in disbelief. "We're having a b-b-ba-by?"
Candy is laughing and nodding her head. "Yes, we are."
Jeremy lifts her up and swings her around. "I'm going to be a Daddy! I can't believe it!"
"Jeremy, if you continue to swing me like this, I may get sick all over you. Put me down." Landing back on her feet, she says, " You better believe it. Allyn confirmed it this morning. In about six short months, we'll be parents."
Jeremy places his hands on each side of her face and pulls her close as to where their lips meet for a very long tender kiss. "I love you, Candy."
"I love you too, Jeremy."
Bending over to where he is facing Candy's stomach, he says, "And I love you too little one." He kisses her stomach. Straightening back up, he looks into Candy's teary eyes as he asks, "Uh, we can still, uh you know, uh make love, can't we?"
"Yes, we can. I ask Allyn because I just knew you would ask that question," she giggles.
"You know me too well, don't you?"
"Well, I know what you like. Jeremy, do you have to go back to work?"
"I know I should, but I also know that I'm not going to. Jason and Josh will understand when they find out the reason why," he laughs.
"You know, I was so mad and upset with Jason when I left camp, I thought about not telling him about the baby. But I can't stay quiet about this. I want to tell everyone."
"Me too. But first, let's me and you go upstairs and have a little celebration. Whatda ya say?"
"I say. . .yes. I'll race you!" she says as she runs from the room.
