LITMIR.BIZ

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can’t wait to meet Cassidy, our newest granddaughter.”

      He imagined her bragging to her friends about the newest addition to the family. If only it could have been under happier circumstances.

      “Would you like us to come to Boise to help you?” his mom asked. “We could be there tomorrow. Tonight if you need us.”

      Yes. Please. He’d like nothing better than to dump this mess in his mother’s experienced lap. But Jared swallowed the words before they were barely formed. He was in this on his own. Or rather, he was in this with Kate.

      Once his family swarmed in on them, they would lose any chance of seeing if they could make this parenting thing work. He would lose any chance of showing Kate what she’d given up on. What they were both missing. What they could still have if only she wasn’t so damn stubborn.

      Okay, maybe that was nothing more than a pipe dream, but he wasn’t ready to accept the failure of his marriage completely. Lawyers and divorce settlement aside.

      Kate had never been comfortable accepting his parents’ well-intentioned advice and assistance. She reminded him of a stray cat they’d found living in their garage when he was a kid. The cat wanted to be petted, but would hiss and arch if it received too much attention.

      Jared knew his parents acted out of love, but the Reeds were like the cavalry when they rode into town with a cloud of dust in their wake. It was better to stand back and get out of the way to keep from being trampled. Kate would feel pushed out more than she already did if his family were here. For once Jared was willing to concede that point.

      Cassidy was his and Kate’s responsibility.

      “Thanks, Mom, but let’s see how we do on our own first.”

      “We? As in you and Kate?”

      “The two of us were named guardians.”

      “But the divorce—”

      “Isn’t final yet,” he interrupted. “And Cassidy needs both of us.”

      “Do you think…?” His mother’s words trailed off.

      “What?”

      “It’s none of my business.”

      That had never stopped her before. “What do you want to know, Mom?”

      “Do you think that now with Cassidy in the picture, Kate will change her mind about the divorce?”

      “I hope so,” Jared admitted. “That would be the best thing for Cassidy.”

      “Would it be the best thing for you?” Margery pressed.

      “Yes.” Jared didn’t hesitate with his answer. He wanted to avoid divorce at all costs.

      “You know we love Kate, but be careful,” his mother said. “We don’t want to see you hurt again.”

      The red truck pulled forward. “I’ve got to go, Mom. I’ll call you later.”

      “We’ll be here. Love you.”

      Jared disconnected the call. He had no doubt his entire family would offer their advice and help. That was what the Reeds did.

      You have your family to support you.

      He remembered Brady’s letter. Jared did have his family’s support. And he might need it more than he ever had.

      Time to stop wanting to get Kate back and do something about it. Jared would be taking a chance by putting their marriage—himself—on the line. Hell, she could say no and he would be worse off, but she could say yes and that was worth the risks. Because if she agreed…

      Jared smiled. He would not only get his wife back. He would have the family he’d always dreamed about.

      

      The smell of grease wafted in the sterile air of Cassidy’s hospital room. Kate’s stomach growled, and her mouth watered.

      This wasn’t good. Tired, hungry and hallucinating about food. Maybe she could ask one of the nurses for some crackers.

      “How is Cassidy?”

      The sound of Jared’s softly spoken question brought a smile to Kate’s face. She turned, and tingles shot through her at the sight of him. Okay, maybe seeing the bag of takeout and the drink holder with two large cups in his hands caused the tingling.

      Whatever his other faults, Jared made sure she ate.

      “She’s doing well,” Kate said. “She was awake for a little bit.”

      “Shouldn’t we whisper so we don’t wake her up?” he asked.

      “The nurse said noise wouldn’t bother her. If we’re too quiet the baby will need total silence to sleep. The nurse recommended keeping music on in the house once we get home.”

      Wherever home might be. Portland, Kate hoped, until the divorce was final.

      “That makes sense.” Jared placed the bag on a table. “I brought double cheeseburgers, mustard and pickles only on yours, fries and onion rings.”

      Her empty stomach cheered. “My favorites.”

      A beat passed. “I remember.”

      And so did Kate. Grabbing lunch at a local burger joint and heading to the park for an impromptu picnic lunch on the rare occasion when they both happened to be in town on the same day, and it wasn’t raining. She remembered eating and lounging on a blanket until the ringing of their cell phones told them it was time to return to work.

      “Thanks.” She offered him a smile. “I needed this.”

      But mere words didn’t seem enough. Kate might not need Jared to be here, but she was happy he was here. She would have to do something nice for him.

      “Thank you for staying with Cassidy,” Jared said.

      He handed her food and a drink. Kate wanted to gobble her dinner down, but she wasn’t about to let hunger replace good manners. She would wait until Jared was ready.

      He stood by the crib. “Go ahead and eat.”

      “I can wait.” Kate sipped her soda instead. The jolt from the sugar and caffeine was exactly what she needed.

      Jared’s watchful gaze, however, made her uncomfortable.

      “What?” she asked.

      He glanced back to the crib. “Let’s eat before the baby wakes up.”

      She wasn’t going to disagree.

      Jared pulled his dinner from the bag, unwrapped his cheeseburger and took a bite. He wiped his mouth with a napkin. “I don’t know about you, but I was starving.”

      Kate picked up a fry. “This hits the spot. I owe you.”

      “It’s on me.”

      She hadn’t meant owing him financially, but she understood his response. They had kept their own bank accounts after they married. Every month they would each deposit an equal amount into a joint household account to cover the mortgage payment and utility bills. The method worked well and made splitting the assets for the divorce settlement easy. “Thank you.”

      “You’re welcome.”

      They finished eating in comfortable silence, a difference from the negative undercurrents they usually encountered when they were together.

      Kate finished her soda and wiped her hands. “The nurse said the doctor might release Cassidy in two days, three at the most. Did you and Don finish going through the paperwork?”

      “Completed and filed.” Jared said to her relief. “Don hopes the court will appoint me personal guardian tomorrow so we can start the guardianship proceedings.”

      “And then the real fun begins.”

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