by Elise Faber
Ann was protective in a different way than she and Jake.
She’d be watching closely, cataloging, and be ready to step in the moment Jaime treated her the least bit wrong.
Her family might be annoying and nosy, but they also loved each other.
Plus, their nosiness meant that she got to be nosy right back, especially when it came to the dark circles under her sister’s eyes.
“Did you talk to Dave?” she asked, forcing her gaze away from the living room and focusing on her sister. Who looked absolutely exhausted, and not just the typical post-baby exhaustion, but something more, something deeper.
Her sister sighed. “I tried. I don’t know what’s going on with him. He doesn’t seem to hear me, and then when he does listen, he promises to do better, to help more.”
“Then he doesn’t?”
“No,” Ann said. “He does, but then he disappears into his own head again a-and—” She broke off, blue eyes swimming with tears.
“Come here,” Kate said, wrapping an arm around her sister’s waist and leading her from the room.
“The baby—”
“Mom’s got her.”
And their mom did. She was currently walking baby Lacy around the kitchen, telling her all about the colorful Christmas decorations. There was no way the two-month-old could understand her, let alone even see everything her mom pointed out, but Lacy was enraptured by her mom’s musical voice anyway.
Kate smiled, thinking about all the times her mom had just talked to her, used her gentle, lyrical voice to talk her out of a tantrum, or off the edge of an argument with her best friend during her preteen years, or even helping her through a work problem.
She loved talking to her.
Minus the whole she-needed-to-be-in-a-relationship-or-her-womb-was-going-to-dry-up nonsense that had filled so many of their most recent conversations.
But now she had Jaime and hadn’t heard about the doctor or so-and-so’s cousin or anything about biological clocks.
It was glorious.
A lie.
She bit her lip, pushed the guilt away. So maybe it was a glorious lie, but she also had more to worry about in that moment than herself and the mess she’d made and the longing she felt growing with every minute she spent with Jaime.
For now, she needed to focus on her sister.
Keeping her arm around Ann, she snagged a blanket from the rack her mom kept by the back door and led them out onto the porch.
There were plenty of chairs around for them to sit in, but she didn’t bother with that, instead walking Ann over to the top step, sitting her down, plunking down next to her, and then wrapping the blanket around them both. Picking up the thread of conversation, she said, “You say he disappears into his own head. How so?”
Ann’s gaze was on the horizon, and it stayed that way for a long moment before she spoke. “It’s like I’m talking to him and he’s saying all of the right things, but he’s not really there.” She turned, eyes going to Kate’s. “I feel so alone.”
“Oh, sissy,” Kate murmured, wrapping her other arm around her sister and hugging her tightly. “Have you told him that?”
“Yes.” She paused, sniffed. “No. I mean, maybe not in those exact words?”
Since Dave had always made it clear that he thought Ann had hung the moon, Kate thought there might be more going on here than her sister could comprehend, especially given that Ann had spent the last months of her pregnancy on bed rest, had a difficult recovery after a challenging birth, and a colicky baby.
That was enough to throw anyone for a loop and most definitely enough to knock a couple off track.
“Why don’t I watch Lacy next week, and you two can go out to dinner and really sit and talk it out?” she asked. “You both have been virtual zombies since Little Miss was born, and with him just going back to work, maybe he’s having trouble adjusting?”
“What if she cries?”
Kate snorted. “She’s a baby. She’s going to cry.”
“What if she’s hungry?”
“I know you’ve been pumping and getting her used to a bottle once a day.” She squeezed her sister’s shoulder. “Let’s plan the time around that.”
“What if—?”
“You need to talk to him,” she interrupted, starting to understand the problem. “And you need time and space to not be distracted to do so, and”—another squeeze—“you need to remember that I’ve been babysitting your ass since I was ten and you were three.”
“I remember,” Ann said dryly. “That’s why I’m terrified of leaving my baby with you.”
She made a face. “Hey!”
Ann smiled and the mischievous smirk along with the dry rejoinder made Kate relax. That was her sister—snark and teasing and an irresistible smile that made you beam at her in return. Not the exhausted female she’d been in her parents’ kitchen.
And if Dave didn’t get his shit together at this dinner, then Kate knew she’d take matters into her own hands.
If he thought her mom was pushy . . . well then he’d better watch out.
No one hurt her baby sister.
“Thanks, Katie,” Ann said. “Can you watch her on Tuesday?”
She nodded, rested her head on Ann’s shoulder. “Of course.”
“You know,” Ann murmured after they’d sat in silence for a few more minutes. “I almost understand why you didn’t tell us about Jaime.”
Oh, she did, did she?
But Kate shoved down the blip of guilt and asked, “Yeah?”
“Yes,” Ann said. “I know it comes from a place of love, but Mom is a lot.”
“You’re just recognizing that?” Kate teased. “But you’re right. She’s amazing and has always been there for us, but she’s also a whirlwind, and it can sometimes be tough to hold your ground.” She paused. “Is that what you think is happening?”
“I don’t know.” Ann made a face. “Maybe? Okay”—a sigh—“yes. At least, I don’t think it’s helping. I mean, at first, I was so relieved to have her with me every day. But now . . . I think I need a little space. It’s like between the wedding and then setting up our house and then Lacy . . . maybe part of what’s going on with Dave and me is that we haven’t had the space to settle into our own skin, you know?”
“I could see that,” Kate murmured. “You two did move pretty fast with everything and then decided to throw a baby into the mix.”
“Yeah.” A sigh. “Damn.”
“What?”
“I think I just gave myself two people to talk to, huh?” Her nose wrinkled. “I need to have heart-to-hearts with Mom and with Dave.”
“Mom will take it okay,” Kate said. “You know that. She’s good at accepting boundaries once they’re in place.”
Blue eyes on hers. “And Dave?”
“Well, he’s your husband,” Kate said lightly, “and he loves you. I think you two can figure it out.”
“I hope so.”
Quiet fell between them. “You remember when Mom showed up at my dorm with homemade casseroles for the entire floor?”
Ann froze then burst out laughing. “Are you comparing my marriage to your tricky roommate situation?”
“Seemed apropos.” She shrugged.
“I seem to remember that the boy you liked, who lived down the hall, suddenly asked you out after that.”
“Yes, he did.”
They’d actually gone on quite a few dates. They’d seen each for months, long enough for her to feel comfortable with him, for her to fall in love. First love, freshman-in-college love, stupid love. Because she’d given him her virginity then had overheard him with his friends laughing about how bad she was in bed.
See? Assholes?
Her superpower.
Thankfully, she had been comfortable enough with herself to understand that it had been him—and his inability to last more than three thrusts, not to mention his lack in being able to please his partner—more than something she’d done.
; So, she’d taken one of those casseroles her mom had left and dumped it in his lap.
And then she’d gone out with one of his roommates, who’d been much better in the sack and who’d taught her that she could have an orgasm during sex, so long as she was with someone who actually paid attention and had the patience to learn what she enjoyed.
So, asshole had met learning experience.
Thus, the path of her life had been laid.
Ha.
“Come on,” she said, pushing to her feet and folding the blanket. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.”
She wasn’t really. Not after the pastry and salad Jaime had bought her.
But she needed to do something that wasn’t sitting on the back steps thinking about one of her asshole exes and then wondering if and when Jaime would become one of them.
Because as much as she liked him, felt a draw, enjoyed how sweet he was being, she also knew that at some point, the other shoe would fall.
And she didn’t want to think about that.
Tucking the blanket under one arm, she extended her other toward her sister, giving her a hand up.
“What if it’s because I haven’t lost the baby weight? My body isn’t the same and—”
A blip of fury flew through Kate.
“Then I’m cutting off his balls and feeding them to him,” she growled. “You had a baby two months ago, sissy. If that’s his problem, then I will cheerfully make him a eunuch and—”
“It’s not.”
Kate glanced up, saw that Dave was standing on the porch. She’d missed him opening the back door, missed him stepping out, but what she didn’t miss was the fatigue and dark circles beneath his eyes.
And the concern in the pale brown depths.
Concern that made the fury slip away. Especially when he walked over to Ann and took her into his arms with barely a look at Kate.
As it should be.
“What the hell are you thinking, baby? I love you,” he said, tone fierce. “Just the way you are. You’re the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on.”
“I don’t know what I’m thinking,” Ann said. “I just feel so alone and . . .”
Heart squeezing, but glad that this conversation was taking place, even though it wasn’t exactly how she and Ann had planned it out, Kate slipped through the back door, closed it, and hung up the blanket.
Then she walked down the hall, intending to help her mom with dinner.
Instead, when she strode into the kitchen and saw what was happening inside, every cell went to rigid attention, her breath caught, and her feet slid to a stop.
Because Jaime was in the kitchen.
Holding Lacy.
Swaying side to side as he rocked her gently, his big hand cradled over the back her head, his palm on her back, rubbing circles.
She’d felt those circles, had that palm on her back.
Which was why this time it wasn’t just her ovaries that exploded, but her heart as well.
Nine
Jaime
“You’re good with her,” Kate’s mom said as she bustled around the kitchen.
“I’m the oldest of four,” he told her, patting little Lacy’s back when she began fussing again. “I did my fair share of babysitting.”
Marabelle crossed by him, pulling out a carton of herbs from the fridge and pausing to pat his cheek. “You’re a good boy.”
“I don’t know about that,” he said, “but I do my best.”
She smiled and shook her head but didn’t argue with him.
“Can I do anything to help?”
“Besides hold the baby?” She slanted a look over at him. “No, honey, you just keep working your Lacy magic. I swear, she hasn’t been this content since she was born.”
He lifted Lacy up, smiling at the adorable little munchkin. Chubby cheeks, big eyes, a rosebud mouth, she was a beautiful baby. “Have you been giving your parents the run around?” Her face screwed up, and he wasn’t sure if it was his question or because he’d dared switched positions. Quickly, he put her back against his shoulder, began rubbing circles on her back. Glancing up, he met Marabelle’s amused eyes. “I guess that answers my question.”
She laughed then turned her focus back to the sauce she was stirring.
“Where are your parents now?” she asked as he kept walking and rocking, gaze periodically going to the hall. He’d been able to catch a glimpse of Kate’s bright red hair through the glass door on the back of the house. She and her sister had appeared to be in serious conversation.
So serious, in fact, that Dave, her sister’s husband, had taken one glance at the sisters, wrapped in a blanket with their arms around each other, and had hustled down the hall, with hardly a look at the strange man who held his daughter.
“They’re in Utah,” he answered. “Most of my siblings are there, too. I came out for vet school at Davis, fell in love with the Bay Area, and never went home.” Lacy cooed, drooling against his shoulder, and he smiled down at the tiny infant. Feisty, but also needing lots of love and care.
Kind of like her aunt.
But the good thing was that Jaime had plenty of love and care to give.
“Well, for my Katie’s sake, I’m glad you stayed—oh, hi, honey. Everything okay with your sister?”
Jaime turned, saw that Kate had come back inside.
Her expression was soft, a swathe of pink across her cheeks, but it was her eyes that struck in him right in the heart.
Longing.
He was holding a baby, and she had longing in her eyes.
Their stares locked, held, and suddenly he was in the future.
In the same kitchen, with the same women, but holding a child that belonged to him, to them.
Lacy squawked, breaking the moment, knocking the vision from his mind even as he shifted her. But this time no amount of rocking or circles would calm her.
Kate moved over to a brightly printed diaper bag. “I’ll just see if there’s a bottle in here.”
“It’s in the fridge, honey,” her mom said. “Bottle warmer is on the counter and set to go.”
Kate nodded. “Got it.”
Thirty seconds later, she’d retrieved the bottle, had it in and out of the warmer, and was testing the milk’s temperature. “Gosh,” she murmured, coming toward him. “I haven’t done this since my babysitting days.”
He grinned. “Me neither. None of my siblings have kids yet, much to my mom’s chagrin.” He bounced Lacy gently. “Though, as far as babysitting goes, I guess that’s not entirely true—I spent a few days last spring bottle-feeding a litter of kittens.” A shrug. “I guess that’s a form of babysitting.”
“Please, tell me you’re kidding me,” she said.
“No,” he said. “Is this going to bring about more of your animal obsession?”
“They’re kittens.”
Jake came into the kitchen, headed for the fridge. “That’s a yes, in case you were wondering.”
“Kittens,” Kate repeated, eyes bright. Then she smiled, that big grin that he felt like an actual caress across his skin, the one that made his heart swell and feel more than it had in years, and screwed the cap on the bottle, handing it to him. “Unless, you need a break?” she asked as he accepted it.
“I’m good,” he said. “This involves significantly less of a need for octopus arms.”
She laughed, Marabelle’s chuckle following. “How many kittens were there?”
“Eight.” A beat. “And they all wanted to eat at once.”
“Naturally.” Eyes dancing as she tapped a finger tapped against her bottom lip. “So, a true need for octopus arms.”
He started giving Lacy the bottle, glad when she stopped fussing and began chugging the milk down like a champ. “Yup.” A sly look. “Or an assistant with an obsession with all things furry. Know anyone who might be interested if the opportunity presents itself?”
She kissed his cheek. “No wedding unless you pick me.”
&
nbsp; Jaime turned his head, whispered in her ear. “Sold.”
She blinked, lips parting, but then Jake laughed and punched his sister on the shoulder. “You might need to get a bigger yard, sis. If Jaime is in close proximity to animals at regular intervals, I think you’re going to run out of space in that little garden of yours.”
Kate swallowed, her gaze hot, but when she spoke, her tone was light. “He takes care of a rooster named Barry, who walks on a leash.” As if that was the only evidence she needed to win any argument.
Jake glanced over at him, smirked. “I stand by my statement. You need a bigger yard.”
Jaime smiled. “If Kate wants a rooster, she can have a rooster.”
Marabelle beamed.
Jake sighed. “Dude, you’ve got to set the expectations low. You can’t give them everything they want, or you’ll never have negotiating power.”
“I’m telling Steph you said that.”
A narrowed look. “You wouldn’t.”
Kate danced away. “Why wouldn’t I? It’s my womanly duty to inform her of the underhanded tactics her husband uses.”
“Plus,” Marabelle said, “all she has to do is blink those pretty blue eyes and—”
A female voice intruded. “Are we talking about my pretty blue eyes?”
Jaime turned, saw a petite brunette had strode in, a laptop bag on her shoulder. She wore a black business suit and a tired expression. And for all his talk of negotiating power, Jake immediately crossed over to her and took her bag, cupping the side of her neck.
“Hi, baby,” he murmured, kissing her lightly. “Work go okay?”
She nodded. “Fine. Now what’s this about my eyes?”
“Jake said—”
Jake picked up a dish towel and chucked it at Kate, the floral-patterned cotton landing on her face with a quiet swoosh.
“Hey!” she exclaimed, yanking it off. “You—”
“Dinner time!” Marabelle called, interrupting the argument before it could really get going, in one of those quintessential Mom ways that told him all he needed to know about her parenting style.