by Judy Kentrus
“He’s very sad that you left, but he doesn’t hate you. My mother being here helps.”
“Tell Matt I love him and I’ll send him emails. He can call me, too.”
“Where are you?”
“I just checked into a motel just outside of Little Rock, to get some sleep.”
“You never told me where you are headed.”
“A small town in Pennsylvania.”
“Where in Pennsylvania?”
“Laurel Heights.”
For the first time in hours, Grayson’s heart began to lighten. Never in his wildest dreams could fate be so kind. “Remember our deal?
“Yes. Why?”
“Six months from today, I’ll expect an answer from you. Jennie girl, if the mountain won’t come to Muhammad, then Muhammad must go to the mountain. Get some sleep and dream of me. Call when you get up. I love you.”
“I love you, too,” Jennie said, wondering what he meant by that Muhammad comment.
Chapter 12
Time had run out. Jennie stared at the date on her laptop calendar like it was her mortal enemy; tomorrow would be six months to the day she’d left Grayson and Mathew. She’d spoken to him every day and he knew how much she enjoyed her new job, but he was expecting her answer. Did he expect her to just up and leave, go back to Texas? She’d broken his heart once by running off like a coward, and she was about to do it again.
It wasn’t as if she’d fallen out of love; it was just the opposite. The love she felt for Grayson and Mathew had grown every single day they’d been separated. Her heart ached to be with them, but circumstances had changed, and leaving Laurel Heights was no longer an option.
Tomorrow she was meeting with the local realtor. Preston and Cindi had provided a home for her, but it was time to move on and find a place of her own.
Not even the summer sun coming in the big windows of her office could cheer her up. She’d specifically toned down the professional office suite by adding a large poster board to display the crafts and pictures the children had made for her. In the short time she’d been running the nonprofit foundation, she’d raised more money than she’d ever expected.
Her eyes were drawn to the painting of the female wolf and her cubs, the mate to the one she’d gifted Grayson. He was extremely touched by her gift and hung it in his home office. She couldn’t bring herself to tell him about the sister painting. Keeping secrets from him only added to her depression.
The phone on her desk rang. It was Gloria, her very efficient admin.
“Jennie, there’s a woman out here who would like to see you. She’s a personal friend and said you would be happy to see her.”
“Sure, why not.” She needed something to get her out of the doldrums.
Jennie stood up, and a smile instantly filled her face.
“Mathew! Caroline!”
She opened her arms wide, and the happy ten-year-old threw himself against her. She gathered him close and kissed him on the forehead. He’d grown taller, and felt so wonderful.
“What an unexpected surprise!” Immediate panic filled her eyes, and she quickly asked, “Is your father here?”
Matt’s gray eyes brightened with pleasure. “He’s busy at his brewery, so I’m spending the month with my grandmother and grandfather in their new house. Pop is teaching me how to play golf. We can’t tell anyone, but he lets me drive his golf cart.”
The last few months Grayson had been enthused about the big launch of Wolff Head’s Finest, his newest beer, so Jennie was familiar with all the particulars. She’d disappointed him, again, when she refused his invitation to attend the official launch party. She’d used the excuse that this was the first summer the community center was open and she needed to make sure everything was running smoothly.
“What new house?” Jennie asked Caroline. They spoke every week and communicated through emails, and Gray’s mother had never mentioned moving to the area.
“You know how much Simon is addicted to golf, so a couple of months ago we purchased a vacation home close to Latrobe Country Club, Arnold Palmer’s home course. It’s only an hour’s drive from here.”
Excitement bubbled in Caroline’s body. She needed to confirm what she suspected Jennie was trying to disguise with the pretty yellow tunic she wore over her lightweight white pants. She gave Jennie a quick hug, but immediately backed away, feeling the proof of her hunch.
From the all-knowing look on Caroline’s face, Jennie didn’t have to say words other than: “Surprise. Mother Nature pulled the rug right out from under me.”
“Surprise won’t cut it, and you are positively glowing.” Caroline couldn’t stop smiling. “When can we expect our next grandchild?”
“October. You didn’t mention anything in your last email that you were planning to visit.”
“I asked Matt what he wanted to do today and he said he wanted to surprise Jennie, so here we are.” Caroline lowered her gaze to Jennie’s stomach. “To say that I’m shocked would be putting it mildly. Are feeling okay? Any morning sickness?”
“In the beginning, I threw up so much I thought I was going to die.”
Jennie noticed Mathew was looking out the window that overlooked the soccer field. This time of day, the two coaches were putting the kids through their paces. It would be better if the rest of their conversation was spoken in private.
“Matt, would you like to join the kids? You’re wearing shorts and we have extra soccer gear. Gloria, my administrative assistant, will take you to the field and introduce you to the coaches.” A nauseating feeling settled in Jennie’s stomach when she noticed Matt was staring at her. She’d seen that serious look on his face several times.
“Are you really getting a baby, Jennie?” he asked very quietly.
“Yes,” she replied with a forced smile. “Right now I need to talk to your grandmother. Let’s get you outside to have some fun.”
“Keep your phone with you. When we’re done, we can take Jennie to lunch.”
“Okay, Grandma.”
Before he joined the kids, Matt asked to use the boys’ room. He really didn’t feel like playing soccer. Jennie wouldn’t be moving in with them, and they wouldn’t be a family like his dad had promised. He liked to be able to call his dad whenever he wanted, and decided to deliver the bad news.
“Hey, Matt! Are you having a good time learning how to play golf?”
“I guess.”
The unhappiness in his son’s voice was obvious. “What’s wrong?”
“Grandma and I went to visit Jennie as a surprise, but she can’t move in with us. She’s very sick and is going to die, just like my mother and father.”
“What!” Grayson cautioned himself to stay in control, and calmly asked, “Are you sure you heard right?”
“She told Grandma Mother Nature pulled the rug right out from under her.”
Jennie had never said anything about being sick. There had to be some kind of mistake. Where the hell did Mother Nature come into this? Grayson was totally confused.
“Are you saying Jennie fell?”
“No, but her belly is big and she told Grandma it was a surprise.”
“What belly?” Apprehension gripped Grayson’s body as he waited for his son’s answer. In his heart, he already knew.
“You know. The kind a lady gets when she’s having a baby.”
The questions stuck in his throat. “A baby? Are you sure?”
“Yeah. It’s coming in October, and she has a husband, too.”
“Are you sure she said she was married?”
“I didn’t hear that part, but you can’t have a baby without a husband.”
A sense of relief filled his body, but he didn’t know what to think. Jennie claimed she couldn’t have a baby because she was going through her changes. She’d known for six months and hadn’t bothered to tell him! Why? He should be furious with her for keeping this from him, but none of that mattered. Jennie was pregnant with his child! He had a great deal of thinking
to do.
“Matt, this phone call is between us. Promise me you won’t say anything to Jennie. I’ll speak with your grandmother later on. I’ve got a couple of things to finish up here and I’ll be there tomorrow.”
“Does that mean Jennie isn’t going to die?”
“Jennie is not going to die.”
“Can you fix everything?”
“I’m going to damn well try.”
“Dad, you shouldn’t curse. Will Jennie be my new mother so we can be a real family?”
“Have I ever broken a promise to you?”
“No.”
“We will be a real family.” Come hell or high water, he silently added.
Now all he had to do was convince Jennie to marry him, despite him telling her numerous times he didn’t believe in the sanctity of marriage. He didn’t have to be a mind-reader to know she’d declare he was marrying her because of the baby. It was so far from the truth. It killed him to be away from her, but he’d given her the time she’d asked for to make sure their love could survive her imposed separation. He’d decided to marry Jennie the moment she’d hung that old boot on the front door, declaring his house a home filled with love. He also had several aces in the hole.
Jennie returned to her office and sat on the tan leather couch. She had it placed against the wall so she could look out the window at the sports fields. Lately, she’d been using the soft-cushioned couch to take a catnap after lunch.
“Since when does Mathew have a cell phone? He’s ten years old.”
Caroline smoothed the skirt of her summer white dress and sat next to Jennie. She also ignored the clipped tone in Jennie’s voice. “This is Matt’s longest time away from his dad. He knows the adoption is official, but he still needs to be able to reach out to Grayson anytime he wants. Deep down I think he’s still a little unsure of the people in his life.”
“You mean like me?” Jennie put her fingers to her throbbing temples and rotated them slowly. “I’m sorry for being so bitchy. I let them down, and there’s no making up for me walking away.”
“You did what you had to do. My biggest question is, why haven’t you told Grayson he’s going to be a father?”
“He’s told me numerous times he doesn’t want to get married, and I’m not about to use the baby as a trap to get him to marry me. Financially, I’m very comfortable, thanks to my brother overseeing my investments. Single women raise their children all the time. Tomorrow I’m meeting a realtor to look at houses.”
“I understand your reasoning, but you’re wrong not telling him. Jennie, Grayson loves you so much. He’s not a man to walk away from his responsibility.”
“Exactly, his responsibility.” Jennie put a hand to her belly when the baby kicked the side of her stomach. The first time she’d felt the butterfly fluttering, she cried and cried because of the miraculous sensation she never thought to experience.
“Jennie, do you love Grayson?”
“More than life itself, but I’d never trap him into doing something he didn’t want to do.”
“Have you spoken to your parents?”
“Yes, and you’ll be glad to know they agree with you, and so do my brother and sister-in-law.”
Any further argument would be like beating a dead horse, so Caroline gave up, for now. She looked at the time on her watch. “Can we take you to lunch? I heard they have fantastic food at the Spoonful Café in town.”
“The food is incredible, and tell Sallie Mae, the owner, who you are.” Jennie’s stomach felt a little uneasy. “I’d like to, but I have an appointment at one with a group who is viewing the equipment in our gym for the physically handicapped. The company just finished putting in the special lifts in our indoor and outdoor pools. They’ll make a hefty donation if they like what they see.”
“Simon has deep pockets. Hit him up for a donation.” Caroline stood up and gave Jennie a warm hug. “I promise to keep your secret, but please reconsider your decision to tell Grayson about the baby.”
“Give me a couple of days. I need to think about how I’m going to tell him. I’ll walk down to the field with you so that I can say goodbye to Mathew.”
The next morning, Gray used the company jet to fly into a private airport just outside of Laurel Heights. He hadn’t slept all night, making sure everything was in order for his confrontation with Jennie. He’d spent the last six months planning this move. It was to be a surprise. Jennie wasn’t the only one keeping secrets.
Loretta and Boomer needed a bigger place to live with the baby coming, and had decided to rent Grayson’s house. He’d promoted Boomer and Larry to managerial positions at the Roadhouse, and hired a manager and an assistant manager for the brewery.
He exited the plane and smiled at his future brother-in-law—he hoped. He’d never formally met Preston Reynolds, but they’d spoken two or three times a week since Jennie left Fort Mavis, as he was the one to uncover all of the information on Dottie Dimple. Gray’s father was more than grateful for Preston uncovering the employee who’d been helping himself to his daughter’s trust fund. He’d paid for the investigation out of his own pocket.
Gray was aware that Preston had lost a part of his leg in Afghanistan. He was recently married, and one would never know he wore a prosthesis on his right leg.
“Thanks for picking me up,” Gray said, extending his hand before throwing his luggage into the back of Preston’s SUV.
The two men didn’t speak until Preston exited the small airport and headed down a two-lane road toward Laurel Heights.
“I want you to know that everyone has been urging Jennie to tell you about the baby, but she’s damn stubborn.”
“I couldn’t believe it when Mathew called me yesterday.”
Preston took his eyes off the road to issue Grayson a meaningful stare. “You are planning to marry Jennie, right?”
“That’s been my plan all along, but now I’m not so sure. She’ll think I’m asking because of the baby.”
“You don’t know how hard it’s been trying to keep your secrets. Since moving here, she’s never asked why the Roadhouse on the outskirts of Laurel Heights was shut down.”
“I’ve never told her I’m the owner and planned to add a microbrewery. Reconstruction will be starting within the month. It will also have its own unique name.”
“It helped your lawyer is the mayor and she was able to push through all of the paperwork on your new real estate. So what’s your plan?”
“I don’t exactly have one, because I’m still annoyed with your sister for not telling me about the baby herself.”
“Just don’t hurt her,” Preston warned. “The entire community will tar and feather you and railroad you right out of town.”
Jennie sat at her desk and sipped her tea. She loved coffee, but just the smell made her nauseated. The baby had been very active during the night and decided Mommy didn’t need any sleep. She’d canceled her appointment with the realtor because she was just too tired to look at houses. Since this was technically a day off, she’d come in to approve the coach and advisor’s schedules, and then was going home.
She looked up when there was a soft knock on her door, and Gloria walked in.
“I’m sorry to bother you, but there is an irate man outside demanding to see you. He said a couple of bullies ganged up on his son in the locker room off the pool and he demands to know what kind of security we have around here.”
“That’s impossible. This entire building is monitored twenty-four-seven for security and we’ve never had any problems. Send him in.”
Jennie stood up and adjusted the slightly flared maternity top over her stretchy denim Capris. It wasn’t her usual business attire, but technically she wasn’t supposed to be in the office. She was tired, but maybe a good fight was what she needed.
She walked around the front of her desk and waited. The smile on her face died when Grayson walked into her office. She hadn’t seen him in six months, and he’d gotten more handsome. He appeared to b
e an out-of-place cowboy with his black cowhide boots, jeans, and western-cut shirt.
She should be running across the room and throwing herself into his arms, but used the back of the desk to support her shaking body. She avoided looking directly into his eyes, afraid to see the anger and hurt he had to be feeling. The baby must have sensed her anxiety, and gave her a few soothing taps.
Grayson had planned to storm into the office, demanding to know why she hadn’t told him about the baby, but his plans changed the moment he set eyes on the miraculous changes in her body. He couldn’t take another step, and his eyes fell to her rounded belly that nurtured his child. His child. Then his eyes lifted to her beautiful face. Tears were running down her cheeks and she gripped the edge of her desk. Was she afraid he’d be angry and not want their baby?
He closed the distance between them and took her wet cheeks in his hands. Warm tears slid through his fingers, matching the warmth in his voice. “I never envisioned you would be crying the first time I saw you in six months. I love you, Jennie, more than you will ever know.” He smiled softly. “There have been a few changes. When were you going to tell me?”
“I was thinking about it.” She read the truth in his eyes.
“Did you think I wouldn’t want the baby?”
She nodded quickly.
Grayson knelt in front of her and lifted the edge of her tunic. “Hold this up.”
Jennie told herself not to be nervous, and took hold of the edge of the material. “What are you going to do?”
Gray gently lowered the front of her denims and panties to expose her rounded stomach. His breath hitched at the sight of her maternal beauty. His hands shook slightly when he touched the mound to explore her silky-smooth skin and communicate with their child. He leaned forward and dotted her stomach with little kisses. “Hello, my baby,” he whispered against her pink flesh.
The warmth in his lips when they caressed her skin felt so wonderful, so loving, and made her tears come harder. She’d missed touching his beautiful hair, and ran a hand over the top of his head. She’d been so wrong not telling him.