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“Of course he will,” Elizabeth said with sorrow as she thought about how much Tom would miss having Jack around.
And so would she.
Elizabeth and Jack walked into a happy family scene. Tom and Brady were playing cards and Carol was cuddling Jenny. A fire was burning in the fireplace and there was a heavenly scent coming from the kitchen.
“Carol, you fixed dinner! It smells great,” Elizabeth exclaimed.
“Shopping always makes me tired and I thought it might have the same effect on you,” Carol said.
“Yes, it does,” Elizabeth said as she shot Jack a dirty look.
Carol looked at Elizabeth then back at Jack. “Did you two have an argument?”
Elizabeth straightened and wiped all emotion from her face. “No, of course not. We just…disagreed.”
Jack sighed before saying, “We’ll talk about it later, Elizabeth.”
“Maybe if we eat, everyone will feel better,” Tom suggested.
“I feel fine,” Brady pronounced.
“Yeah, but I think you’ll want some of that banana pudding Carol made.”
“Yeah!”
Smiling, Elizabeth ruffled her son’s hair. “How’s Jenny?”
“Oh, she’s just the sweetest thing,” Carol cooed as she talked to the baby. “She has the biggest blue eyes for such a little thing.”
“Just like her mother,” Jack pointed out.
Carol didn’t notice any disagreement then. “Yes, just like her mother,” she agreed.
Tom began stacking the cards, saying, “We’d better get these cards put away, Brady, so Grandma can serve us dinner.”
Brady looked up at Carol. “‘Grandma’? Are you going to be my grandma?”
Carol beamed at the little boy. “Yes, if you don’t mind, I’d like to be your grandma.”
“Okay.”
“Come on, Brady,” Jack said. “I’ll help you clean up. Maybe we can wash our hands together.”
“I’ll come, too,” Tom said following them.
Elizabeth stared at them wondering why all three of the “men” were going into the downstairs bathroom.
“What’s wrong with Elizabeth?”
Before Jack answered Tom he shot a look at Brady. He wasn’t sure they should be talking in front of the boy. “Um, we got into a discussion about the, uh, wedding.”
“Does Mommy not want to go?” Brady asked, reminding Jack that he was right to worry. He came up with some story to satisfy the child.
“Sure she does. But she wanted pink roses on the cake and I wanted red roses.”
“So who won?” Brady was certainly amused by the contest.
“I guess she did because we’re having pink roses,” Jack answered.
“Do they taste good?” Brady asked.
“I think so. Go ask your mom, if your hands are clean.”
After Brady scurried out, Tom asked, “What is Elizabeth really upset about?”
“What you and I discussed the other night.”
Tom frowned and shook his head. “I wish I could change my mind, Jack, but I want the ranch for Brady.”
“It’s okay, Tom. I understand. I just thought when you get back from your honeymoon I should start looking for a new ranch.”
Tom gripped Jack’s shoulder in a large rugged hand. “It seems a poor way to pay you for your loyalty.”
“You’ve paid me a good salary, Tom, and I’ve been happy here. But change is good for all of us.”
“I won’t argue that, because I wouldn’t want the kids or Elizabeth to go. I’m feeling better now and I want to help out around the ranch, but I don’t think I can run it.”
“We’ll find someone for you before I leave. Just enjoy your honeymoon.”
“Thanks, Jack.” Tom started to leave and then turned and looked Jack in the eye. “You know, you could just marry Elizabeth.”
Chapter Nine
JACK thought a lot about what Tom had said. He’d realized Elizabeth had only been widowed a short while, but according to Elizabeth, Reggie had seen little of her since Jenny had been conceived.
That thought occupied his mind through the rest of the week and throughout the wedding ceremony. As he listened to Tom’s vows to Carol, he imagined taking the same step with Elizabeth. She looked beautiful in her blue gown, just as little Jenny did. Elizabeth carried Jenny in her arms, with the baby scarcely aware of what was going on around her.
At the reception, held at a venue in town, Elizabeth was still a little shy around the women she’d met this week. It seemed natural to put an arm around her for reassurance. At least, that’s what Jack told himself. Then he picked Brady up in his arms, and Jack really began to feel like this was his little family.
“They aren’t coming back to the house, are they?” Elizabeth asked. “I didn’t get the bed made.”
“I think they’re heading straight for the airport. Do you want me to go ask them?”
She shook her head. “I guess it doesn’t matter. You already hung the television over the fireplace. Maybe I should take the kids and run home and fix up the linens.”
“Let me go talk to Tom. Then we can make a decision.”
“We?”
“I just meant we should figure out if they’re going back to the house. If not, we need to stay here and wish them well.”
“I guess you’re right. But Brady and I, with Jenny, could go on—”
“And drive my truck?”
“I thought maybe you could get a ride with someone,” she said.
“I don’t think I want to stand out on the street corner with my thumb in the air.”
She hadn’t meant to offend him. “You’re right. I shouldn’t have mentioned it.”
“I’m only kidding. You can have the truck if that’s what you want.”
“Maybe I can use Carol’s car.”
“Let me go ask Tom what their plan is. I’ll be right back. Don’t move.” Jack hurried across the floor to grab Tom’s arm to ask him their plans.
Tom looked surprised. “We’re going to go grab our bags. We left them both at the house.”
“Okay. Elizabeth and I are going to run ahead, then, to get something ready and then we’ll see you there.”
“Wait! What do you need to get ready?”
“Your presents from us. We want you to see them before you go.”
“You got us presents?”
“Tom, everyone gets presents when they get married.”
“Elizabeth got us a present, too?”
“Yes, and so did Brady and Jenny.”
“But we—”
Jack held up a hand to stop him. “Tom, we have to congratulate you. Not everyone gets a second chance.” He grinned at his friend. “You old dog.”
Tom hesitated before saying, “I hope Elizabeth gets one.”
“You just make sure Carol has a good time. We’ll talk when you get back.”
Jack went back to Elizabeth and explained.
She gathered their coats. “I think we need to take the cake. Carol said we needed to take home whatever was left of it. Oh, and the gifts, too.”
“Okay. Brady, you come help me.”
“Me?” Brady asked, surprised.
“You bet, son. We men are the lifters.”
Brady beamed up at his mother. “We men are the lifters, Mommy.”
His mother answered with a touch of sarcasm in her voice. “Yes, I heard that, too.”
Brady grabbed Jack’s hand, ready to go.
“We’ll be back in a few minutes,” Jack said as they headed off for their manly duty.
Elizabeth stared after Jack, wondering what he was up to. It seemed to her that he had other things going on than just a wedding. She wanted Brady to have a good role model, and his grandfather might be too old, but she couldn’t count on Jack to be around. She wished she could talk him into staying, but he seemed determined to move on.
She pulled her mind together to focus on what she would need to do when she reached the house. The freshly laundered sheets needed to be put on the bed, with the coverlet and 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.
