Be My Baby: Konigsburg, Texas, Book 3

by Meg Benjamin

  Thanksgiving. Cal and Docia’s. Ten o’clock start time. And the clock said eight-thirty. Given the amount of time it took to get the average baby ready for traveling, they needed to get a move on.

  Which meant no mid-morning rematch. Well, hell.

  Jess told herself it was all in her head. No one had any idea what they’d been up to last night. It wasn’t like she had Wicked Widow tattooed on her forehead. Nonetheless, she found herself checking all the Toleffsons for sideways glances, even though she didn’t immediately see any.

  Cal and Docia lived in a wonderful converted barn with high ceilings and planked pine floors. A sleeping loft extended overhead, while the lower story had an open combination living room-dining room-kitchen layout. Right now the whole place smelled of turkey and cinnamon and butter. Jess had a sudden memory of her mother in the kitchen stirring green beans. Probably the last Thanksgiving before she died. Her throat tightened, and she pulled Jack closer.

  Janie took the bread from Lars while Docia held out her arms for Jack. He took one look at her and dimpled. Jess had the feeling most men probably did the same thing when they saw Docia.

  “Come here, sweetie,” Docia cooed, rubbing her nose against Jack’s forehead. He promptly grabbed a double handful of her bright red curls.

  “Where’s Daisy?” Lars asked.

  “Out in back with the herd.” Docia motioned toward the back door, then led the way herself.

  Outside in the back yard, Cal and Pete stood in the midst of what looked like a pack of dogs. After a moment, the pack resolved itself into a Chihuahua, a greyhound, and one very active blue tick puppy.

  “Daddy,” Daisy shrieked, “come see! It’s Sweetie!”

  Sweetie galloped to Daisy’s side at the sound of her voice, reaching up to swipe her face enthusiastically with his tongue. Daisy threw her arms around his neck as Cal grinned at them.

  Jess stepped out on the back deck with Lars. “Does that mean Sweetie’s well enough to come home with us?”

  Cal nodded. “He seems to be feeling okay, but you’ll need to keep an eye on him. Just to be on the safe side.”

  Sweetie galloped toward the Chihuahua, who backed up in alarm. The greyhound barked sharply.

  Pete sighed. “Settle down everybody. He won’t hurt you.” He raised a questioning eyebrow at Cal. “Will he?”

  Cal shrugged. “Pep can take care of himself. So can Olive. They’ll get the pecking order straightened out among themselves.”

  “Which is which?” Jess asked.

  Lars pointed. “Pep is Cal’s Chihuahua. Olive is Pete’s greyhound. There’s also a cat hanging around somewhere who belongs to Docia, but my guess is we won’t see him until the dogs settle down.”

  In the backyard, Daisy started after Sweetie, only to have her Uncle Cal sweep her into his arms. “Hold on, babe, the dogs have to get things worked out first. We don’t want you to get snapped at.”

  Daisy gave him an affronted look. “Sweetie won’t hurt me. Sweetie loves me.”

  “So do I, babe, which is why I’m taking you to your father.”

  Cal placed Daisy on his shoulders and headed back toward the deck again. “Hey, bro, got a delivery for you.”

  “Daddy,” Daisy trilled, “did you miss me?”

  Jess managed not to look at Lars.

  “Sure,” he said in a hearty voice. “Come here, sweetheart.” He lifted her from Cal’s shoulders and placed her on the deck next to them.

  Cal stepped next to Docia, gazing down at Jack in her arms. “Hey, there.”

  Jack gave him another of his miraculous grins, showing his tiny pearl teeth. Cal glanced up at Docia. For a moment, their gazes met—she gave him a faint smile.

  “Can I?” Cal raised an eyebrow at Jess, extending his hands to Jack.

  “Sure.”

  Cal slid his hands under Jack’s arms, tossing him quickly in the air and catching him. Jack squealed delightedly.

  Docia’s eyes widened. “Cal! Be careful.”

  “I am. Come on, big guy, let’s go meet the pups.” He tucked Jack under his arm and started back down the steps, pursued by Daisy and Lars.

  Docia sighed. “Typical. I guess that means we go back inside and take care of the food.”

  Jess watched the shifting tableau of guys, kids, and dogs, feeling her throat tighten again. Probably best not to stand out here and think about families and what kind of holidays she’d be able to offer Jack in the future. She turned and followed Docia back inside.

  More people showed up a few minutes later. A Rubenesque woman with short dark hair and laughing eyes whom Docia introduced as Allie Maldonado, accompanied by a thin man in horn-rims everyone called Wonder. A middle-aged woman in a fluorescent purple sweatshirt who was Janie’s mother, Mrs. Dupree. A man with a walrus moustache whom everyone called Horace who apparently owned the veterinary hospital with Cal. And Horace’s wife Bethany, whom Janie recognized as the woman she’d met at the clinic the day they’d picked up Sweetie.

  Janie smiled contentedly. “Mob scene, isn’t it? I love big Thanksgivings. It’s the perfect excuse to cook more food than anyone can eat. And then try to eat it anyway.”

  Jess helped place the silverware on the long table Docia had set up in the dining room, then sliced her bread loaves and put them into baskets while Janie stirred gravy and Docia corralled a Toleffson to carve the turkey.

  Lars made a great show of running the carving knife along a sharpening steel.

  Jess turned to Janie. “Not Cal?”

  “Cal’s a vegetarian,” Janie explained. “But he doesn’t mind the rest of us having turkey. Lars must have won the toss with Pete. Both of them like to carve.”

  There was, as promised, more food than everyone could eat spread out on the table in the kitchen for people to serve themselves before they headed to the dining room. Turkey, dressing with and without oysters, mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, corn with chilies, a huge relish tray and several variations on cranberries and Jell-O. Lars set up Jack’s highchair at the table and Docia pulled it between her chair and Jess’s.

  “He’s kind of a messy eater,” Jess cautioned. “You may not want him too close. In fact, you might want to put some newspapers underneath his chair.”

  Docia grinned. “I’m not all that neat myself. We can be slobs together. The floor can take it.”

  Lars sat beside Jess, wedging Daisy in her booster seat on an adjoining chair. “Docia, the two of us could take the kids into the kitchen. That way you wouldn’t have to have them at the table.”

  Jess thought he sounded a little hopeful.

  “Nonsense,” Docia said briskly. “We’re family. Everybody at the big kids table, right, Daisy?”

  Daisy grinned up at her. Black curls bouncing, with a few bits of straw here and there. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Dinner was chaotic and delicious. Jess put bits of green bean on Jack’s tray so that he could practice his small motor skills, and Docia managed to spoon a lot of mashed sweet potatoes and minced turkey into his mouth. Lars cut up Daisy’s meat and buttered her bread, wedging some green beans between the servings of dressing and cranberry sauce and discouraging her from a third helping of the candied yams with marshmallows that Janie’s mom had brought.

  “Allie,” Janie cried midway through the meal. “What’s that on your hand?”

  Jess turned from Jack and his beans to see Allie Maldonado blush to the roots of her dark hair. She held up her left hand to show a smallish diamond ring. “From Steve.”

  Next to her, Wonder turned an even darker shade of pink. The room was absolutely silent.

  Then Docia and Janie were both on their feet, rushing around the table to hug Allie and admire her ring, while Horace thumped Wonder on the back so enthusiastically Jess was afraid he might have a coughing fit.

  Lars raised an eyebrow at Wonder. “Nice going. I assume you finally decided against the skillet.”

  “On the contrary.” Allie turned away fro
m the women admiring her ring to give Lars a smug smile. “He got me a complete set. All-Clad. Stainless steel.”

  Wonder shrugged. “I figure the ring is for her, the skillets are for me. The wedding is for both of us.”

  “You cook?” Jess tried not to sound incredulous.

  “I eat.” Wonder reached for another serving of yams, smiling happily.

  Dessert was courtesy of Allie, and Jess could understand Wonder’s enthusiasm for her cooking. Pumpkin, mincemeat, and blackberry pies. Cranberry nut bars. Homemade toffee.

  “I may need to walk home,” Jess murmured to Lars.

  “Me, too. Maybe Daisy can drive.”

  There was a knock and then the front door swung open. An unmistakable Toleffson male stood framed by the afternoon sunlight—Erik, wearing his khaki uniform with a dark leather jacket. He cleared his throat. “Hi. Are we too late?”

  “Erik! Come on in,” Docia called. “You want some turkey? We just started dessert, so you can work backward.”

  Erik glanced around the table. “That’s okay. We can’t stay long. I’m on duty in an hour. Just wanted to say hello.”

  Another, much smaller figure appeared beside him in the door. Erik slid an arm around her shoulders, pushing her forward gently. “Everybody, this is Dahlia Lawrence. I think she knows a lot of you already from the Dew Drop.”

  Dahlia had black hair that ended in bright blue tips. Silver studs lined the ridges of her ears and she wore a ring through one eyebrow. She looked like she was maybe five feet tall if she stood straight, although at the moment she was cringing at Erik’s side. Daisy stared at her, fascinated. Jess wondered if she was considering future ways to drive her father to drink.

  “Hi, Dahlia.” Janie walked toward her, extending her hand. “I’m Janie. Erik’s other sister-in-law.”

  Dahlia muttered something that sounded a little like “Pleased to meet you”. From her expression, Jess half-expected her to hide behind Erik rather than take Janie’s hand.

  “Come on in.” Janie put her arm around Dahlia’s waist, guiding her gently into the dining room. “You’ve got time for a cookie at least, and we’ve got lots more food than we can eat. Why don’t you fill up a plate?”

  Erik glanced at Jess, the corners of his mouth edging up in a faint smile. “Nice to see you, Ms. Carroll. And Jack too.”

  Jack gazed up at him, grinning, then gave him a quick crow while he pounded on his high chair tray.

  “He recognizes you.” Lars sounded vaguely affronted.

  “He recognizes Toleffsons,” Jess explained. “I think he figures you’re all more or less the same person.”

  For a moment, the four brothers stared at each other, then Pete broke into a slow grin. “Maybe the kid’s onto something.”

  “Erik? You want a cookie?” Dahlia’s voice was almost as tiny as she was.

  Erik turned toward her. “Sure. A cookie would be good. And maybe some coffee.”

  “Sit down.” Docia waved toward the table. “I’ll bring you a plate. You should have some of everything before you go to work.”

  Everyone shifted slightly around the table to make room. Mrs. Dupree headed for the kitchen, muttering something about getting a start on the dishes. Bethany got up to join her.

  Dahlia slid into the seat next to Jack that Docia had just vacated. Jack gave her his usual enthusiastic grin.

  “He’s cute,” Dahlia murmured in her tiny voice. “Is he yours?”

  “Yep.” Jess broke off a corner of her cranberry nut bar and put it on Jack’s tray. “Say hi to Dahlia, Jack.”

  “Hi, Jack.” Dahlia’s voice went up a micropitch. Jack smiled at her beatifically.

  Docia dropped back into a chair on the other side of the table. “Great dinner everybody. In fact, everything would all be absolutely wonderful if it weren’t for Kris Kringle.”

  Jess stared at her. “You have a problem with Santa Claus?”

  “I have a problem with the freakin’ Kris Kringle Market that starts tomorrow at the county fairgrounds. Official beginning of the holiday shopping season. And we’ve got dozens of boutique dog biscuits to sell.”

  “Not as bad as gingerbread men,” Allie called from the kitchen. “At least you won’t have kids trying to lick off the frosting while you aren’t looking.”

  Jess frowned. “Dog biscuits? I thought you had a bookstore.”

  “I do. Don’t ask why we’re doing this. It’s too complicated. The gist of it is, we’re selling dog biscuits.”

  Allie began carrying in cups of coffee from the kitchen. “Who’s going to run the store while you’re at the fairgrounds? I mean, I’ve got nieces to spell me and help out at Sweet Thing while I’m over spreading good will via gingerbread.”

  “We’re taking turns,” Janie explained. “I’m on the booth in the morning, then Docia takes over in the afternoon.”

  Allie frowned. “That makes for a long day. Can’t you draft somebody else to help?”

  Cal held up both hands. “Don’t look at me. We’ve got a spay and neuter clinic all weekend.”

  “I can be there part of the time in the morning,” Pete offered. “I’ve got the day off. I’ll help Janie.”

  “I could help in the afternoon,” Jess said slowly. “If you don’t mind me bringing Jack along.”

  Lars turned to look at her. “What about Daisy?”

  Janie grinned. “Daisy can stay with me. We’ve already got the bookstore all set up, don’t we, sweetie?”

  “Or with me.” Pete shrugged. “I’m off all day, so she can hang out with me in the afternoon.”

  “Great,” Docia said briskly. “Jess can meet me at the fairgrounds tomorrow afternoon and learn all about tourist town commerce. Jack can be our special marketing ploy—check out the cutie and buy your pup a biscuit.”

  Jess had a feeling Jack would be whimpering for a dog biscuit of his own before the afternoon was over, but she’d cross that bridge when they came to it. Maybe she could give him a teething biscuit instead.

  Down the table, Erik wrapped up a cranberry bar to go. “Ready?” He raised an eyebrow at Dahlia.

  “Sure.” She turned quickly to Docia. “Thank you for having me,” she mumbled.

  “Thank you for coming.” Docia got up and walked with them to the doorway where she gave Erik a quick hug.

  He looked almost as surprised as his brothers did, but he managed a smile as he settled his Stetson on his head. “Thanks, Docia. I appreciate it.”

  He shepherded Dahlia out the door a little like a large, shaggy sheep dog with an abandoned lamb.

  By the time they’d finished doing the dishes and playing the traditional Toleffson Thanksgiving poker tournament, Daisy was fast asleep in one of the loft bedrooms.

  “Let her sleep,” Docia urged. “She’s got her stuff here from Janie’s. We’ll get her home sometime tomorrow after Jess and I finish up at the fairgrounds. You can leave Sweetie here too, for now. Looks like he and Pep have bonded.”

  Lars glanced at the dogs curled in the corner, while he fought back the impulse to look at Jess. Keep it casual. No doubt his sisters-in-law would do a complete post mortem anyway, as soon as they left the room.

  He helped her gather Jack’s gear together, while Jack himself dozed in an improvised bed of sofa cushions. Lars wondered if he could possibly suggest that Jack stay too, then felt like kicking himself for being an asshole.

  Jess turned to Docia. “Thanks again for having us. It was a great Thanksgiving.”

  “It was, wasn’t it? We’ll have to do it again soon.”

  Lars heard a few vague alarm bells in his mind. Docia was trying to manage his life again. But for once he didn’t care. At least, not at the moment.

  He glanced back into the living room where his brothers sat watching him. Cal gave him a slow grin. Well, hell, was everybody in the house monitoring his sex life?

  Stupid question. Of course, they were.

  Lars gathered up the bundles of food Janie and Docia had put together
for Jess to take home as Jess gathered up the sleeping Jack, draping him across her shoulder. His eyes opened blearily for a moment, then closed again.

  The ride home was fairly silent, after they’d exchanged the obligatory comments on the food, the poker and the general wonderfulness of his sisters-in-law. Lars wondered if Jess was thinking about the same things he was thinking about, then decided she’d have to be a moron not to be. And Jess was definitely no moron.

  At the house, he did a quick survey of the perimeter. If he were Haggedorn, he might figure Thanksgiving would be the ideal time to make his move. On the other hand, if he actually were Haggedorn, he’d find a better way to spend his time than harassing widows and kidnapping babies.

  Jess gathered up the sleeping Jack, leaving Lars to collect the miscellaneous plastic cartons of food, as well as Jack’s high chair and the other equipment they’d brought for him.

  When he’d finished putting the food away, he walked back to the hall to find Jess standing in the doorway to her room.

  Lars did a quick search through his memory, trying to come up with some kind of line that would work. He had a feeling once she was through that door, he wouldn’t be able to follow.

  “So,” he said, trying for nonchalance, “you’re all done putting him down?”

  “All done.” Her smile was Sphinx-like.

  “And you’re ready to go to bed?”

  She nodded, still smiling.

  “I could offer you some company.” He swallowed hard, trying to read her expression. Was that smile welcoming, or did she think he was being a jerk. “Or not. Your call. Entirely.”

  Jess looked up at him from beneath her lowered lashes, and then she reached up, sliding her hands on either side of his face, and pulled him down to her, running her tongue alone the seam of his lips.

  Lars felt every muscle in his body go rigid.

  “Company sounds very good,” she whispered.

  Chapter Eighteen

  The next afternoon, Jess surveyed the county fairgrounds as she pushed Jack forward in his stroller. It looked like a human feedlot—lots of little, square, pen-like booths, arranged in a twisting series of aisles that led into each other in what seemed to be almost random order. She checked the printed map she’d picked up at the entrance, trying to orient herself in the booth maze before she started toward the stall for Kent’s Hill Country Books.