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Jake laughed. He’d missed this, being with his family, the comfort of familiarity, even as he didn’t know them as well as he used to or should.
“Didn’t you hear?” Aggie said. “Dixie’s moved in with Mama to help.”
All eyes turned to Joe. Jake wondered why his youngest brother and the love of his life, Dixie, hadn’t managed to find their way back to each other this time. They’d never stayed apart more than a month before, and this made six months.
“Good of her.” Joe turned away as he spoke. He rinsed out his mug and set it in the sink, the motion deliberate. “Well, some of us have to work.” He kissed his mother’s cheek and grabbed a turnover from the container Jake opened and held out to him. “See you all later.”
Donovan excused himself, as well, after also snagging a turnover. Jake set the container on the counter. He didn’t think his stomach was ready for the high-fat, high-sugar treat. “Do you want to go into the living room?” he asked his mother.
“Sure. Bring those things along. You need to eat, Mr. Skin and Bones.”
He guided her out of the kitchen. “Not now, Mom. I appreciate your making my favorite, though. I’ll take them home with me.” They sat on the sofa. He saw the unspoken maternal concern in her eyes. “You look like you’ve dropped a few pounds, too.”
“Not too much room for food in a stomach when it’s full of worry.”
He took her hand. “I’m sorry. I wish I could’ve gotten word to you.”
“Where were you, son?”
He debated how much to say. “Helping take down a kidnapping ring.”
Her face paled but her gaze held steady. She wasn’t one to crumble. “One you infiltrated, I suppose. I’ve seen enough movies and TV shows about that kind of thing.”
“Then you have an idea.” Although she really couldn’t. No one could imagine what went on unless they lived through it.
“And that you probably can’t say more than that,” she added authoritatively.
“You got it.”
“We kept your Christmas presents,” she said, her eyes lighting up. “I figure we can have a Christmas-in-May party.”
He smiled at that. “Give me time to shop first.”
She squeezed his hand. “Your being home is gift enough. And the new grandbaby you’re giving me.” She settled herself in the sofa cushions. “How’d it feel seeing Keri? I’ll bet you were surprised at how big she is.”
The understatement of the year. “Yes.”
“We think the world of her, you know.”
“She told me you all adopted her. I appreciate everything you did.”
“She’s a sweetheart. And so brave.”
Those particular traits of hers, along with extreme stubbornness, were what had led to their capture. “You’ll get no argument from me.”
“So when’s the wedding?” Aggie asked, lifting her mug.
Wedding? “Uh, we haven’t talked about it yet.”
“Don’t you think you need to get to it? She could pop any second. She’s already had two false labors.”
“She has?” He didn’t know exactly what that entailed.
“A real trouper, that one.” Her eyes, deep blue and direct, took aim at his. “We’ve had a few ‘early’ babies in our family, but none as close to the wire as this one.”
And no divorces. Jake didn’t say the words out loud, but they clanged in his head like the bell at Notre Dame, reverberating, deafening. “When Keri and I decide what we’re going to do, you’ll be the first to know.”
Aggie pursed her lips. “I don’t see how there could be any hesitation—or doubt.”
“Just give me a chance to breathe, okay?” His jaw hurt, his hands clenched.
After a long silence, Aggie said, “How is Keri feeling this morning?”
“I don’t know. I left before she woke up.” He could see her debating what to say. He was, after all, one of her children who ignored what she called her “mother’s right to know,” as all eight siblings had been told forever. To forestall any unwanted advice or recrimination, he stood. “I’ll go home right now and check.”
“Would you like to come to dinner?”
He forced himself to keep his voice level, reminding himself that she didn’t understand all he’d been through and that he needed time and space—something Keri had recognized. Score one for her. “Not tonight, okay, Mom? I’ll talk to you later.”
Jake scooped up the container of turnovers, then went out to his car. He headed up the winding road, again with no particular destination in mind, only a need for his previously unappreciated freedom, and solitude of his own choosing.
And yet ten minutes later he found himself pulling into his own driveway.
He had responsibilities he couldn’t ignore now, no matter what else was on his mind.
He could almost see his mother’s approving nod and feel his late father’s pat on the back, the weight of his responsibilities made even heavier by parental expectations—and those of his grandmother, who hadn’t yet had her say.
Chapter Four
He hadn’t even left a note.
Keri kicked a pebble and watched it tumble down the slope behind Jake’s cabin. He’d taken off this morning without extending even the most basic courtesy of telling her he was leaving, and also stranding her without a car.
She toed another pebble loose then kicked it, not giving it her all. The baby had dropped recently, shifting her center of balance, and there was nothing to grab hold of to stop her from falling.
She grumbled at the ground, feeling handcuffed by her isolation after months of living in the easy company of Nana Mae, and with Aggie right up the block, not to mention Dixie only three streets away.
Keri had constantly thought about seeing Jake again, her fantasies about their reunion mushrooming out of proportion with time and distance, and pregnancy, of course. Doesn’t every woman want her baby’s father in her life? And it wasn’t just her, but his family and friends’ steady assurance that everything would be perfect once Jake came home. She’d begun to believe it herself, needing something to hold on to.
The reality hadn’t matched the fantasy, which made the letdown even harder.
Keri heard a car approaching. Through a smattering of trees, she spotted a black SUV as it made its way toward the house. She rounded the corner of the house as Jake got out of the vehicle. She had a whole lot to say to him, then stopped short when she saw him—his too-lean body and too-tired face stark reminders that he’d been through some kind of hell.
She didn’t want to fight with him or add to his burdens.
“Good morning,” she said, as they walked toward each other.
His shoulders relaxed a little. “Morning. You okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine, thanks. How about you?” They sounded like strangers. Well, technically they were. Strangers who’d slept together once, no matter what ensuing hopes had come of that for her.
He passed her a plastic container. “Apple turnovers. Mom made them.”
“Yum.” So, he’d gone to visit his mom. Keri forgave him for leaving without a note. “Did you have breakfast with her?”
“I wasn’t hungry.” He gestured toward his side yard with his head. “You were out for a walk?”
Nothing else to do. She stopped the words from escaping. “I walk a few times a day.”
“Did I interrupt it?”
“No, I’d been out for a half hour. I’m ready to sit for a little while.”
They turned toward the house at the same time.
“You’ve been healthy, then?” he asked, matching his stride to hers.
“Exceptionally. I adore your Doc Saxon.”
His brows raised. “He delivered me. He must be ninety by now.”
She laughed. “Seventy-two, I think. He’s looking for a replacement, but it’s hard to get anyone to come to a community this small. I told him after the baby was born, I’d help him search, maybe even work a couple days a week.”
Jake turned a sharp gaze on her. “I’ll provide for you and the baby.”
Her heart slammed into her sternum. What did that mean? Provide in what way? “I don’t want to lose my nursing skills,” she said as they went into the house. “It’s not about the money.”
“Isn’t it? You don’t own anything.”
“By choice.” She took off her sweatshirt and hung it on a hook by the front door, then went into the kitchen to make some tea. “I couldn’t accumulate anything, since I moved from job to job so often. If I wanted those things, I could have them,” she added, waiting to see if by “provide” he meant he would offer her money to set her up somewhere and guarantee he’d get to see the baby. As if she’d keep the baby from its father. Or maybe he’d meant he intended to be part of their future, although she’d always assumed that would happen. He was a good man, not one to shirk his responsibilities.
“I’ve hardly ever had to spend any money, Jake. I’ve got a ton. Well, that’s an exaggeration, I guess, but I could buy what I need.”
“Yet you stayed with my grandmother.”
“Again, a choice I made. We needed each other. Money wasn’t the issue.” She lit the burner under the teakettle. “Can I fix anything for you? Coffee? Breakfast?”
“Have you eaten?”
She’d had a bowl of cereal, which was enough, but she decided he wouldn’t let her fix him anything if she wasn’t eating, too. He needed to eat. “I thought I’d have some scrambled eggs and toast. Would you like some?”
“Yeah, thanks. If you’ll do the eggs, I’ll do the toast.”
“That’s a deal.” As she washed her hands, she felt him come close. He stopped maybe a foot behind her, but her sense of him was so strong, her pulse leaped. If only she could turn to him, be held for a while. He’d held her in that dark, dank, frightening place all those months ago, when she’d panicked in a big way, thinking they would never get out alive. He’d taken her in his arms and held her tight, soothing her even though he’d been furious at her, too, for getting them into the situation to begin with.
Eventually he’d kissed her as she crumbled in fear, his mouth warm and comforting at first, then hot and needy, stopping her tears, giving her different reasons to shake and quiver.
And after the wild and intense sex, he’d held her as she slept well for the first time since they’d been kidnapped…
“What’s wrong?” he said from behind her, passing her a hand towel.
Her belly brushed his as she turned and leaned against the counter. She dried her hands, meeting his curious gaze, careful not to look at his mouth, his sexy, comforting mouth. “I zone out sometimes. Don’t mind me. It’s hormones.”
He didn’t move out of her way. “Mom said you had false labor?”
“I didn’t go to the hospital or anything, but I’ve had some moments.” She patted her belly. “I think this one’s been waiting for you to get here, so that you could take part in the birth.”
His jaw went slack. She probably shouldn’t have assumed he would want to be in the delivery room.
“Do you faint at the sight of blood?” she teased, needing to lighten the tension.
“Hardly.” He nudged her aside to wash his hands, keeping his back to her.
She came so close to setting her hands on his back and massaging away his tension. Would she feel his ribs, now that he’d lost so much weight?
She passed him the towel then went to the refrigerator for eggs.
“I’ll be there, Keri. When the baby is born.”
She squeezed her eyes shut for a second, relieved. “Okay.” She cracked eggs into a bowl. “At some point today, would you take me to Nana Mae’s so that I can pick up the rest of my things and her car?”
“Her car? Why?”
“She’s been letting me use it until I find what I want to buy.”
“I have a car,” he said in a tone implying it was obvious.
It was the perfect opportunity to get after him for leaving her without transportation earlier, but she didn’t. “Which means I’m at the mercy of your schedule. Nana Mae’s car will do fine.”
“Last I knew, she still had that old Geo.”
“She still does.”
“Even though she hasn’t driven in fifteen years.”
“Even though. She’s sort of a personal rental-car business. Your nieces and nephews have needed it now and then, so she’s loaned it out.” Keri heard the crinkle of bread wrapper as he prepared to fix the toast, making everything seem so homey, when it was far from that. They were polite with each other, treading carefully. “It’s a cute little car, and it runs great.”
“No.”
“No, what?”
“You’re not driving it. It’s too small. Too light.”
“I’ve been driving it since I got here, Jake.”
“Joe should’ve let you use my car.”
“He offered it.”
“Ah.”
She turned toward him. “Ah?”
“Stubborn.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
He met her gaze. They challenged each other with their eyes. “Are you even supposed to be driving at this point?” he asked.
“As long as I can be ten inches away from the air bag.”
He studied her, his gaze traveling down her body and back up. He didn’t need to say anything to get his point across.
Silence crackled between them. She finished cooking the eggs. He set toast on the plates, then carried them to the dining table.
After eating a few bites, she said, “Do you seriously think I would put my child in danger?”
“Humor me.”
Should she? Dixie had told her recently that damsels in distress were Jake’s specialty, so his overprotectiveness was apparently his default mode. She should probably expect him to come from that position on every issue. Certainly it had been the case in Venezuela, before, during and after the kidnapping.
“I measure the distance every week, and today would be the day to recheck,” she said, trying but not totally succeeding in keeping her tone from being snippy.
He looked ready to laugh. She waited, her arms crossed. Then, just when he seemed about to say something, the doorbell rang.
He shoved away from the table and went into the living room. Keri picked up the empty plates. She couldn’t see who was on the other side of the door, but she could hear a woman say, “I didn’t even get to hug you yesterday.”
“I guess Joe called you,” Jake said, opening the door wider, letting Dixie in, giving her a quick hug.
Dixie waved at Keri, then held up a small tote bag. “I brought everything I need, but you’ll need to wet your hair.”
“Sure. I appreciate this, Dix.”
Dixie watched him walk away, then moseyed into the kitchen, her curls bouncing. She was a couple of inches shorter than Keri, and curvier, if one didn’t count the pregnancy. “So. How’s it going?”
Keri slid plates into the dishwasher. “It’s fine.”
“Fine,” Dixie repeated in the same neutral tone, frowning. “That’s a mild word, especially since the tension was as thick as thunderclouds when I walked in the door.”
“Just a normal period of adjustment.” She shut the dishwasher and looked for something else to do. Dixie was her best friend, but Keri had confided little about how she’d met Jake, even though she’d ached to tell someone. She wanted to talk about how she felt, get someone else’s feedback to help her see her situation with more clarity. Help her sort through the push-pull of her emotions.
“Is he okay?” Dixie asked.
“I can’t tell you. It’s up to him.”
“Then we’ll never know. He and Donovan are as closemouthed as they come.”
“Which is one reason why they’re both good at their jobs. Would you like some tea?” Keri asked sweetly, making Dixie laugh.
“No, thanks. I think I’ll take a chair out to the porch. No cleanup, that way.”
“Good. He needs sunshine.”
Dixie took Keri’s hand. “He went through some kind of hell, didn’t he?” Dixie asked quietly.
After a moment, Keri nodded, not knowing the details, but it only took looking at him to see that much.
Jake rounded the corner, his long hair dripping wet, a towel over his shoulders. “You remember how I used to have it cut?” he asked Dixie, ignoring Keri.
“Of course.”
He grabbed a chair and carried it outside, leaving Keri and Dixie to wonder if he’d overheard their conversation, and if so, how much of it. After a few seconds, Dixie shrugged and followed him.
Keri wiped down the countertops, checked to see what she could make for dinner later and then was at a loss. The kitchen was clean. She’d finished her thank-you notes. She didn’t feel like watching television, so she wandered out the door. Jake’s eyes were closed, the sun on his face, as Dixie snipped away, the usually direct and forthright woman as quiet as Jake.
Keri didn’t think she made any noise, but he opened his eyes. She couldn’t read his expression. All she knew for sure was he was exhausted. How much had he slept last night? She’d heard him prowling several times, heard him open the front door and, she assumed, go outdoors a couple of times.
“So, you moved in with Nana Mae,” Jake said to Dixie.
“Really?” Keri said before Dixie answered. “Oh, I’m so relieved. She’s tough, but she really shouldn’t be alone all the time.”
“That’s how I felt. It also means I can quit working for my parents at the hardware store, and fast-track cosmetology school. They’re letting me switch from the part-time program to full-time. I’ll be done four months from now instead of eight.”
“You haven’t graduated?” Jake asked, as if horrified. He ran his fingers through his hair. “Still there. Okay.”
Dixie gave him a little shove. “I’ve been cutting hair since I was fourteen.”
“Isn’t that about the time you and Joe met? Hm. I’m thinking there’s a reason he wears his hair long.”
Keri smiled, happy to see him teasing Dixie.
Dixie seemed satisfied with the haircut, then studied his face. “I can shave that beard, too, if you want. Or at least trim it close enough for you to shave comfortably.”
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