LITMIR.BIZ

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pillows. She also needed to put out a centerpiece she’d purchased for the coffee table in the sitting area. It was the perfect finishing touch for the bedroom.

      “But first I’ll have to tuck you in, sweetie, so I’ll have both arms,” Elizabeth cooed to Jenny. She leaned down and kissed her baby’s cheek. Brady was a terrific son, and her baby girl was extra-sweet. These were the two best presents anyone had ever given her.

      Jack came in the door, with Brady. “We’ll get the cake and then we’re ready. Why don’t you get the baby in the truck?”

      She did as Jack suggested. Moments later her son ran to the truck ahead of him.

      “Mommy, Grandpa’s going to come home!”

      “I know, sweetheart.”

      “Will he come back again?” Brady asked.

      “Of course he will.”

      “Daddy never did.”

      “Sweetheart, your daddy never planned on coming home. He had other things going on.”

      Jack stepped beside the boy. “We’re not like your daddy, Brady. We believe in coming home every night. Your grandpa will be home as soon as he and Carol see Paris.”

      “Really?”

      “I guarantee it.”

      The ride back to the ranch was peppered with more of Brady’s questions and observations about the wedding. When the truck pulled up to the house, Brady attempted to jump out over his mother.

      “Wait a minute, Brady. I’ll help you,” Jack called. “Don’t mess up your clothes.”

      As he was talking to Brady, he reached in to help Elizabeth out. “Go tuck in little Jenny and I’ll meet you in the bedroom.”

      She immediately said, “You mean Tom’s bedroom.”

      “Of course, I meant Tom’s bedroom.”

      She gave a nod and walked upstairs, cuddling the baby.

      Once Jenny was tucked in, Elizabeth went downstairs to make up Tom and Carol’s new bed. As she worked, she couldn’t help thinking how much she’d hoped it would work out for her here. That Tom could keep the ranch prosperous and the children could stay with their grandparents. But now she doubted that outcome. Without Jack, how could Tom keep the ranch?

      She put on the shams just as Jack came in.

      “Just in time. That looks beautiful, Elizabeth.”

      “I don’t need any help,” she snapped when she saw it was Jack.

      “Now don’t be grumpy. I want to help.”

      “Well, I don’t want your help.”

      “Elizabeth, what’s going on? Are you mad at me?”

      His question brought her to her senses. She couldn’t blame Jack for his dreams. “No, I just—I had hoped—Oh, never mind. When Tom proposed to Carol, I’d hoped we’d have a family here, but that’s not happening. I don’t know if they’ll survive or whether we’ll actually be able to stay. Tom can’t run the ranch.”

      “I think you, Brady and Jenny have a great future here.”

      “Doing what? Raising cows? What do I know about that?”

      He smiled at her. “I have a plan, so quit worrying.”

      “What are you talking about?” she asked skeptically.

      “Don’t you have any faith in me, Elizabeth?”

      She turned away from him. “I don’t see why I should.” After a moment she began walking to the kitchen. Jack followed her as she spoke. “Why don’t you and Brady come have some cake? It will take his mind off what’s happening.”

      “I don’t think anything tragic is happening.”

      “Just eat some cake.”

      “Brady,” Jack called.

      “Yes, Jack?” the little boy said as he came running.

      “Let’s have some cake. Your mom’s afraid we’re going to be hungry.”

      The boy grinned. “I like cake.”

      “Okay,” Jack said as he sliced them each a piece. “Have a seat at the table.”

      Before he put two slices on the table he turned to Elizabeth.

      “Just one more thing.”

      “Yes?” she asked.

      Jack leaned over and kissed her.

      “You kissed my mommy!”

      Jack had been staring into space reliving the kiss when Brady interrupted him a while later. “Yeah, I did. Don’t you kiss your mommy?”

      “Not on her mouth.”

      “Well, you’re not supposed to kiss her on the mouth, but I am.”

      “Why?”

      “Because your mommy and I, uh, like each other.” Jack wasn’t sure Elizabeth would accept that explanation, but he did. He’d been thinking about tasting those lips for a while now.

      He wondered what Elizabeth thought. At first she’d simply stood there, staring at him with her big blue eyes. Then she skedaddled upstairs, claiming she needed to check on the baby.

      “Does Mommy like it?” Brady asked.

      “I don’t know, Brady. I hope so.” Just as he opened his mouth to add to the explanation, he heard a car in the driveway.

      “Hey, I think Tom and Carol are here. Go up and get your mom and tell her they’re here.” He hoped Elizabeth’s sensibilities would be soothed with Tom and Carol’s arrival.

      Brady jumped up to go get his mother. Climbing the stairs, he shouted to his mom like all kids do. “Mommy! They’re here! They’re here!”

      Jack moved to the door to open it wide for the newlyweds.

      Elizabeth didn’t want to go downstairs, but she couldn’t let Tom and Carol know there was a problem. She gathered Jenny in her arms, hoping she’d provide a defense against Jack.

      Not that she necessarily wanted a defense.

      She had to admit that Jack’s kiss packed a wallop. Just a light touching of his lips to hers had the electric current of a power plant. What would a real kiss be like?

      She refused to think of it.

      At Brady’s urging, she came to the edge of the stairs. Taking that first step was the hardest, but she wanted to do this right.

      She reached the bottom of the stairs with her children around providing protection from Jack. They greeted Tom and Carol. Maintaining her distance from Jack, she opened the door to their bedroom. “We hope you like it,” she said.

      They admired the furniture, the television, the fire in the fireplace, but most of all, they loved the new bed.

      “It’s so big,” Carol said.

      Tom agreed. “It looks wonderful.”

      “We’re glad you like it,” Jack said.

      “Jenny and Brady gave you the linens,” Elizabeth pointed out.

      “They’re lovely.” Carol bent down to hug the little boy.

      He stood proudly. “I helped Mommy.”

      “Yes, you did, and you and Jenny are special children,” Carol responded.

      “Of course they are,” Tom added. “They’re our grandchildren.”

      Carol’s eyes glistened with tears. “Oh, Tom, that’s so

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