Those were his babies in her belly—he had to help her see the urgency of the matter. There was a lot that needed to be settled between them. The whole parachuting thing had thrown him. Frankly, he and Cricket needed to start developing a relationship where he would have some say in her life. If they weren’t married, Cricket might begrudgingly label him a friend and nothing more.
“You’re very quiet over there, Mr. Morgan,” the doctor said, and Jack swallowed. Cricket looked at him with big brown eyes.
He needed to say something appropriate to the moment. But he was so lost.
“I’m gonna be a dad,” he said slowly, wondering if he’d be any better at it than his father.
Could he be?
* * *
“Cricket, I need to meet your parents. And your brother. Soon, like today.”
“Don’t you think you should go home and see your father? He’s recuperating from major surgery.”
“Pop’s got an army of people taking care of him. He’ll appreciate my desire to introduce myself to your family.”
“They’re still digesting the fact of my pregnancy,” she said. “I was slow to confess my situation.” Truthfully she hadn’t confessed it at all—yet. In fact, she was still deciding how to best tell them. She didn’t have a lot of time before the Fort Wylie grapevine got to them, but still, Cricket didn’t want Jack to know she was reluctant to disappoint her parents.
“I’d really like to meet them,” he said, and Cricket sighed.
“I should warn you that they may not welcome you with open arms.”
“I suppose that’s fair,” he said. “They looked forward to better for their daughter?” He wanted to know what he was in for, felt some determination to make things right in his life, at least do a better job with her family than he’d done with his own. “Did they feel that you’d been swept off your feet by a man who had no potential and no intention of settling down?”
“Well, I wouldn’t—”
“Then they were right.” Jack took her keys, opened the passenger-side door for her. “No more driving for you, Deacon. It’s rest from now on. I don’t want you lifting your littlest finger. I will take care of everything, just like Dr. Suzanne said.”
“Jack!” Cricket hung back, refusing to sit down. “The doctor didn’t say I was on bed rest yet.”
“I say you’re on bed rest. I intend to carry you and my babies around on a pillow.”
“No,” Cricket said stubbornly. “I don’t want that. I’m used to being independent.”
“Me, too,” Jack said, “but I’m changing.”
“No, you’re not. You’re exactly the same person who jumped into my car in January. You’re avoiding your own family by focusing on me and mine.”
“You need me more than they do,” he pointed out. “Call your parents and ask them if they feel like meeting your Prince Charming.”
Cricket shook her head. “Prince Charmings aren’t supposed to be so bossy. And can you let the clutch out gently? This is a vintage Bug and I intend to keep it forever.”
He looked at the floorboard and then the long stick shift. “Cricket,” he said, “I hate this car.”
She smiled and shrugged. “You don’t like a lot about me, cowboy.”
“No, I’m serious. This isn’t a car, it’s a tin can. I feel like I’m in the Flintstonemobile.”
She looked at him, one eyebrow raised knowingly. “Can’t drive a stick?”
No man liked to be caught looking inadequate, especially when he was applying for the role of chief protector in his lady’s life. “Only in an emergency, and only if the vehicle isn’t ancient. Where did you get this ‘vintage’ car?”
“My father won it years ago in a raffle.” She gave him an airy glance. “My brother, Thad, keeps my car running for me. I can teach you how to drive it.”
He wasn’t sure he wanted to be taught anything by a woman who was pregnant with his triplets. Shouldn’t he be taking care of her? “I’m going to buy you a minivan. That will solve everything. Where’s the nearest dealership?”
He meant it. Today he was going to buy her the safest, biggest minivan on the market, complete with OnStar in case she got lost between here and Union Junction.
Cricket’s lips pinched. Her pretty, brown eyes narrowed. With some trepidation, Jack recognized a storm brewing. “Is there a problem, little mama?”
“Yes,” she said. “You. Get out of my car, you stubborn ape.”
* * *
Cricket left Jack standing on the pavement in front of the doctor’s office. The man could just find his own way home. He had plenty to deal with in his own house—he could just quit worrying about her. “My children, my car, my family,” she muttered, motoring away from the cowboy. “My hobbies, my business, my pregnancy.”
That was the problem. He wanted to worry about everything about her—he wanted to take over her life.
She liked her life just the way it was, thank you.
He said she was stubborn.
What she was was a shade dishonest.
She hadn’t told her parents about the babies, and she hadn’t mentioned she’d quit her job. In short, she couldn’t take Jack home to her parents. Ultimately, she was worse about dealing with family matters than he was.
All the time she’d been trying to get him to tend to Josiah, she’d really been avoiding him getting to know her own family. “Where’s an unmarried and pregnant gal’s fairy godmother when she needs one?” she asked, and decided it was time to face life without one.
* * *
Cricket pressed in the numbers on the electronic keypad, and drove through when the massive wrought-iron gates parted. She rang the doorbell, her heartbeat suddenly racing. This visit was long past due.
“Cricket,” her mother said, “how nice to see you.”
“Hello, Mother.”
She stepped into the highly polished marble foyer, waiting for her father to appear.
“Reed, Cricket’s come to pay us a visit.”
“Excellent, Eileen,” her father said. “Cricket, dear, we’ve been expecting you.”
Of course they were. By now they’d probably had fifty phone calls updating them on her downfall. Cricket sighed. “I’ve been trying to work things out on my own.”
“I suspected as much,” her mother said. “We wish you didn’t have such an independent streak, dear. Your father and I hate standing on the sidelines when we wish we could help you.”
Cricket followed her parents into the palatial living room, taking a seat near the huge bay window. “Everyone wants to help me,” she said. “I feel a great need to stand on my own two feet.”
Eileen blinked. “We know. That’s why we didn’t call.”
Cricket glanced around. “Where’s Thad?”
“Your brother is playing polo at the club. He told us you resigned from the church.” Eileen looked sorry about that. “Cricket, dear, we know that working in the church was your dream.”
“I’ve had a lot of dreams that haven’t worked out,” Cricket said. “I seem to be a bit unfocused these days.”
“Well,” Reed said, “entrepreneurs don’t always hit the right note the first time out.”
“That’s the problem,” Cricket said. “I’m not an entrepreneur. I was a deacon. But then, I fell for an inappropriate man, a man I knew wasn’t right for me, who is the furthest thing from stable that he could ever be. The only thing I ever did that was stable was the Lord’s work,” Cricket said. “And now I’m pregnant and unmarried. How’s that for not exactly practicing what I preach?”
“Oh, dear,” Eileen said. “Reed, did Cricket just say we’re going to be grandparents?” She fanned herself, looking faint.
Reed patted his wife’s hand. “We hadn’t heard that piece of news, Cricket.” He looked as if he didn’t know what to say.
“Now, listen,” her mother said, sitting up and accepting a glass of whiskey from her husband, “babies are not messy.”
“No, but the parents are. At least these babies’ parents are.”
“Babies?” Eileen repeated, her voice very faint.
Cricket nodded. “I’m having triplets.”
Eileen and Reed stared at their only daughter, their faces frozen.
“My goodness,” Eileen said after a moment, “your cowboy must be in shock.”
“I’ll say,” Reed said. “Three children and a wife will certainly cut into his winnings.”
Cricket’s mind was made up for her with that comment. “I’m not about to be a burden.”
“What do you mean?” Eileen asked.
“I’m going to raise these children on my own.” Cricket nodded, feeling all the pressure fall away from her. “Single motherhood, the most independent thing a woman can do.”
“I’ll say,” her father said. “Ever changed a diaper?”
“Some,” Cricket said, but now that she’d made her decision, she knew she was right. With the power of prayer and maybe a dozen child-rearing books, she could give being a mother her very best effort.
Independence was the only reason she hadn’t accepted Jack’s offer of marriage. Otherwise she’d always wonder if that footloose cowboy had proposed because he’d had to; she’d always wonder if she’d said yes because she was too afraid of standing on her own two feet when faced with three pairs of tiny eyes trusting her to do everything right.
Chapter 13
Jack wanted to stay in Fort Wylie and wait for Cricket to return—he was hanging out in his truck parked at her house/tea shop—but the call he got from Pete changed his mind.
“Laura’s gone into labor,” Pete said.
“I’ll be right there.”
It didn’t feel right leaving Cricket, even though she’d been annoyed with him when she’d driven off. Petty annoyances passed, didn’t they? Hopefully she wasn’t the kind of girl who stayed mad. The only way he knew to work the kink out of an angry female was by making love to her, whispering soft apologies. Cricket didn’t strike him as the kind of woman who’d settle for that.
But he could hope.
He scribbled a note and left it on her door so she’d know Laura and Gabe’s baby was on the way.
By the time he got to Union Junction and the hospital, the baby had been born. “Go on in and see her,” Dane told him with a grin. “Gabe’s got him a cute little girl.”
“A girl?” A girl to go with Penny and Perrin.
“Perrin’ll be caught between two girls,” Gabe said.
“That could be a good thing or a bad thing,” Jack replied.
Gabe laughed. “Only time will tell.”
Jack had grabbed some flowers and a pink giraffe in the hospital’s gift shop. He walked into Laura’s room holding the flowers aloft like an awkward prize. “How’s the new mother?” he asked, handing the flowers to Laura as he gave her a kiss on the cheek and Gabe a slap on the back.
“Fine.” Laura looked tired but happy. “This is Gabriella Michele. Gabriella, meet your uncle Jack.”
Jack glanced at the baby with some fear, not daring to touch her. She seemed so tiny and peaceful snuggling in the crook of her mother’s arm. “She’s beautiful.”
Laura smiled. “Gabe and I are hoping you’ll be her godfather.”
Jack glanced up, stunned. “Godfather?” His only recollection of a godfather was from the movies. What was expected of a real-life godfather?
Gabe laughed. “Yes. Laura and I decided it was time to tie you into the family.”
Jack glanced again at the small, pink-wrapped bundle. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. Godfather Jack,” Laura said, teasing. “You’ll be the best. And it will give you practice.”
He looked up at his brother and his wife. “I’ll need lots of it.”
Gabe laughed. “You’ll get up to speed on babies very quickly.”
Jack shook his head. “Life’s moving very quickly on me, almost conspiracy-like.”
“Have you told Pop about the triplets?” Gabe asked.
“I haven’t even seen him. I came right here.”
Laura smiled. “I think he wants to talk to you.”
Jack felt guilty he hadn’t hung around to see his father come out of surgery. “How’s he doing?”
“Really, really well,” Laura said. “But he’s been asking for you. Bellowing for you, actually.”
“Guess I’ll step around to see him.” Jack didn’t feel particularly excited at the thought, but he also knew he couldn’t put it off any longer.
“Are you going to do it?” Gabe asked curiously.
Jack knew exactly what his brother was asking. “What, move to the ranch?”
Gabe shrugged. “Just a warning, Pop’s sure he’s been warned by spirits that you have no intention of moving to the ranch because Mom’s there.”
Well, that was certainly odd. But Gabe could have no idea how correct Pop’s “spirits” were. The old man was eerily prescient. “Hey, let me just celebrate being Godfather Jack for now, okay?”
“And Papa Jack,” Laura said.
“That, too. Later on I’ll worry about being Good Son Jack.”
“And Millionaire Jack,” Gabe reminded him. “The only way to the grail is through Mom this time.”
“Yeah, well, who needs money, anyway?” Jack asked, and Gabe and Laura laughed.
“A man who’s having triplets,” Gabe called after him. “College educations and weddings are expensive.”
Jack headed down the hall. “Hey, Pop,” he said, entering his father’s room.
Suzy and Dane were keeping Josiah company, but they got up and quietly exited when Jack walked in. “He’s been asking for you,” Dane said as he walked by.
Pop’s eyes opened. “Jack?”
“Yeah, Pop. It’s me. How are you feeling?”
“Probably the best I can feel after Dr. Moneybags has poked around inside me.” He glanced up. “Where the hell did you go?”
Jack sat down next to his father. “I had to go see Cricket.”
“Why isn’t she here?” Josiah demanded.
“She had some things to do back in Fort Wylie.” Jack patted his father’s arm. “She’s going to be busy now that’s she’s having triplets.”
“Triplets?” Josiah’s eyebrows raised. “Whoa,” he said, “you knocked that ball out of the park, son!”
Jack shook his head. “When do you get out of here?”
“I don’t know.” Pop glanced around him weakly. “But when I do, I’m marrying Sara.”
“Good for you.” Jack was genuinely glad for his father.
“Let’s make it a double,” Pop suggested.
“My lady won’t have me. Yet.” Jack leaned back in the chair. “She’s got a lot on her mind.”
“Hmm.” Josiah grinned. “Triplets. They’ll sure keep you busy. Better get Cricket convinced to marry you before they’re born, because she’ll think of a hundred excuses afterward not to do it. She’s still got pregnancy weight and won’t look good in a wedding gown, that’s one excuse. Or she’ll say that she can’t leave the children to go on a honeymoon. Or if you wait just a few years, the kids can be in the wedding.” Pop looked at him. “Believe me, if the babies come before the ring, you’re in for what is known as a prolonged engagement.”
Jack’s throat went dry. Pop’s words seemed like good advice. “It does sound like something Cricket would do,” he said slowly, realizing that if she was reluctant now, she wasn’t going to become any more eager. “She’s not the most conven
tional woman.”
Josiah chuckled. “You wouldn’t have wanted a conventional woman.”
“I suppose not,” Jack said, uncertain. He would have at least liked the woman he chose to be more excited about being his wife. “Hey, congratulations, Pop, on finding a good woman.”
“I found two good women,” Josiah said, “and I don’t intend to make the same mistakes with the second one that I made with the first. Fortunately for me, the first one has forgiven me. Which reminds me, when are you going to do some forgiving of your own?”
Jack winced. “I’ve forgiven you, Pop.”
“I don’t need your forgiveness!” Josiah stated. “I meant your mother!”
Jack shrugged. “I’m not sure what to forgive.”
“Well, you better figure it out,” Pop said, “because as far as I can tell, you’ve got three babies on the way and a woman who doesn’t want to marry you—two strikes against you—and you don’t seem to have moved your things to the ranch.” Josiah sniffed. “If I were a betting man—and I am—I’d bet your million dollars is going to stay safely in my wallet.”
Jack wondered how much more a man had to be willing to give of himself besides a kidney to get a little peace. But with Josiah Morgan, Jack knew peace was a long way off.
* * *
Jack had a weighty decision to make. He was a godfather now, and that gave him a new look into the life of a man responsible for a child. He wanted to be a good godfather and a good parent, and the one thing that was staring him in the face was his lifestyle and lack of a secure income.
As his brothers were quick to point out, babies were expensive.
He knew Cricket well enough to know that she was going to try to raise three children and run the tea shop to pay her bills. Maybe she’d meant to purchase the tea shop and have someone else run it as an investment, but he doubted that. Cricket was an independent woman; she’d want to be involved in everything. She said she’d quit her job because of her unwed-and-pregnant status, but the ladies in the waiting room of Dr. Suzanne’s office hadn’t seemed cool to her at all. In fact, they’d seemed quite warm and friendly. He wondered if Cricket had made a decision she’d regret by resigning from her deacon’s position, then decided it was none of his business for the moment.
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