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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 sweet of you to say that.”
“I think we lost them,” Jack said jokingly as Tom and Carol gazed into each other’s eyes.
“Don’t tease them,” Elizabeth said sharply.
“I think they’d better get to the airport quickly if they’re going to have a honeymoon in Paris.”
“I think you’re right,” Tom said. “Where are our bags?”
“They’re both sitting over here. I’ll carry them out to the car for you,” Jack said.
Jack took the bags out to the car, while Elizabeth and the children shrugged on coats and followed out to the porch. After last goodbye hugs, the newlyweds were on their way, waving as their car went down the drive.
Behind her Elizabeth felt Jack step close and put a hand on her shoulder. “What are you doing?” she gasped.
“Presenting a picture of our family.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Showing Tom what he wants to see.”
“I still don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Tom thinks of us as his family, that’s all.”
“I don’t see how he can think that since you’re leaving.”
“Go on inside where it’s warm and I’ll tell you,” Jack ordered.
Elizabeth went inside, but she wasn’t sure Jack was going to tell her what she wanted to hear. It was time for Jenny’s bottle, so she prepared it.
Brady had come in with her and sat down at his partially eaten cake. She wasn’t surprised when Jack joined them. She thought about suggesting that he eat separately from them, but she didn’t think he’d agree to that.
“You see, Elizabeth, Tom expects us to maintain his home while he’s gone. My particular job is to make sure that you and Brady and Jenny are taken care of.”
“I can take care of us,” Elizabeth insisted.
“Is that so? I’ll be the one taking care of you and the kids. It’s my job.”
“Somehow, I think I’ll be taking care of you unless you want to starve to death and wear dirty clothes.”
“Okay, so we’ll take care of each other. Tom likes the idea of having a family again and I’m going to make sure he comes home to a family. Brady, will you be glad when Grandpa comes back?”
“Are you sure he’s coming back?” Brady asked.
“I told you he was, son.”
“Don’t call him that,” Elizabeth exclaimed.
Jack looked up at her, confused. “What?”
“Never mind. Brady, go hang your coat up.”
As Brady did as he was told, Jack leaned in real close to her. “You’ve got to relax, Elizabeth. Things are different now.”
Elizabeth prepared a simple meal that night, knowing Brady and Jack had filled up at the wedding reception. When she called them to the table, Jack and Brady came downstairs together.
“Brady, did you put away your toys?” Elizabeth asked.
“Sure, Mommy. Jack helped me.”
“I hope you told him thank you.”
“I did,” Brady said agreeably.
“He was great, Elizabeth,” Jack said. “He thanked me and showed me the right place to put things. He keeps his room neat, too. He’s a great kid.”
Elizabeth turned her back on Jack. She didn’t want him to praise her children.
Jack opened the silverware drawer and took out what they needed for the meal.
Elizabeth stopped him. “I’ll do that.”
“No need. I can help.”
She put out the cold-cut platter and said, “Brady, I found the little oranges you like.”
Brady climbed up to the table, anxious to see his mother’s surprise. “Thanks, Mom!”
“We bought those when I was trying to tempt Tom to eat something different,” Jack said. “Thank goodness we found Carol instead. She’ll do a better job.”
“Yes, I imagine she will. Tom is a lucky man.”
“Yeah, I kind of think you’re right. She’ll keep Tom in line.”
“She will and he’ll be able to take care of her. That’s the way a marriage should work.”
“I’m glad you mentioned that,” Jack replied.
Elizabeth’s mouth instantly dried up. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t think I should tell you yet.”
“Tell me what?”
