He pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. Why?”
“You haven’t been weepy for days and I’m concerned because you haven’t said a lot about your mother.”
She sat up. “There’s nothing to say and I can’t do anything to change the past. So I’ve decided not to stress over it.”
He touched her cheek, needing to reassure her that he was always here for her.
Fingering the ornament, she said, “We’re going to put this at the top of the tree right under the angel because it’s so special.”
“Mmm.”
“Do you think we can get the tree tomorrow?”
“Sure. I’ll come home about four.”
She looked at him with those black eyes, so deep, so gorgeous. “You’re coming home early a lot these days.”
“Chance and Kid are taking up the slack.”
They were finally drilling in Louisiana after a ton of paperwork and permits. Kid was at the site and Chance flew over every couple of days. Cadde wasn’t on the phone constantly wanting news and he wasn’t fretting about the cost or the probability that they could hit a dry hole. He had more important things on his mind.
“Really?” She arched a dark eyebrow.
“They need to get more involved because I’m taking time off when the baby comes.”
The eyebrow lifted higher. “You’re joking.”
“No. I mean, we’re going to have a newborn in the house. Have you ever held a baby?”
Her eyes grew thoughtful. “No.”
“I haven’t, either. We’re going to have to take classes or something.”
“I have some dolls in the attic. I can get one down and we can practice.”
“I’m not playing with a doll.”
“Oh, please,” she begged, mischief in her voice. “I could take a picture for Chance and Kid, even the board. Wouldn’t that be lovely?”
“No.” He tickled her rib cage and she lay back, laughing and squirming. He pressed her into the cushions and supper was forgotten once again.
THE NEXT MORNING, JESSIE FED Bambi and watched her for a while. The fawn was getting big and fat. She needed to cut back on the cream. Her animals were all fat because she wanted them to be well cared for. The horses were in the pasture and when they saw her they would trot to the barn for feed. Her animals had always brought her so much joy, but now her interest was elsewhere. She wasn’t planning on taking on any new ones just yet. Her focus was on Cadde and the baby.
After lunch she had Felix get Christmas decorations out of the attic. She sat in the living room sorting through them. Pausing over ornaments in a box, she wondered if her mother had wanted to buy her a first Christmas ornament. Probably not. Her father hadn’t, either. They were too busy thinking of ways to claim her.
Jessie sat back on her heels. That sounded bitter and maybe she was—just a little. What type of woman had a baby for money? Those who desperately needed it, she answered her own question. And some no doubt had changed their minds, like Angela. Once giving birth and holding her child, she couldn’t let go. Jessie understood that.
But there was still a niggling doubt. What if Cadde…
Her cell buzzed and she quickly clicked on when she saw the caller ID. “Hey.” His strong, familiar voice buffeted all the concerns in her head. “What are you doing?”
“Sorting through decorations to put on the tree.”
“I’ll be home earlier than four.”
“Ah, you can’t wait to see me.”
“That’s about it.” She heard him laugh. “Bundle up. It’s getting cold outside.”
She clicked off and leaned against the sofa. Cadde had told her he wasn’t good at voicing his feelings, so she was going to take him at his word and go on the way he made her feel—over-the-top crazily happy in love. The doubts were just because she was so inexperienced. She felt Cadde’s love in his touch, his kiss and in the way he held her. It was there and it was enough.
Picking out a Christmas tree was going to be so much fun. She’d try her best to not be too indecisive. She… Her cell buzzed again.
Her heart skipped a beat because she thought it was Cadde again. It wasn’t. She clicked on.
“Hi, Fran.”
“Jessie, I hate to bother you.”
“It’s no bother. Is anything wrong?”
“Nina’s been here for over a week. Vernon beat her up pretty bad. Toby has bruises, too.”
“Oh, no.”
“Nina’s reached the end of the line and she had to make choices she didn’t want to. She met with a lawyer who does work for the center. She filed for divorce. We’re trying to get her and the kids to her aunt’s. Is that plane ticket offer still on the table?”