the hard way.
Debra ended the musical cacophony with the magic words “How about a snack?”
Her boys abandoned their instruments and bolted for the kitchen. Carly picked up Charlotte and nestled her on her hip. Debra doled out Christmas cookies and juice boxes. Charlotte bounced, reaching for the other children.
“I think she wants her share.” Carly put her down. The baby toddled toward the child-size table and elbowed her way into the fray like a champ.
“How is she doing?” Carly asked.
“Okay. As long as she’s busy, she’s fine. When it gets quiet, she gets sad. Missing her mama, no doubt.” Debra wiped a tear from under her eye.
“Poor thing.” Carly touched Debra’s arm. “Thanks so much for helping with her.”
“You don’t have to thank me. I’m glad to do it. The kids keep me occupied. With the boys, I can’t be much help looking for Bruce.” Debra poured coffee into two mugs. “How does Seth feel about her being here?”
“He’s supportive, but he thinks we have enough on our plate. Even though he won’t say it, I know he’s afraid I’ll get attached.” Carly reached for a cookie. “Deep down I know he’s right, but Mom wanted me to bring her here. You know how she is. She needs to be helpful. I didn’t have the heart to say no.” But if Carly was honest with herself, she’d wanted to bring that baby home just as much as her mother did.
The Taylor farm had taken in strays since before Carly could remember. The barn out back was full of neglected and abandoned creatures her mother had nursed back to health, and more than a few kids who needed help had shown up on their front porch over the years. The farm was a place to heal.
Carly let out a long breath. “And holding her made me realize how much I want another baby.” Being back with Seth had reawakened her biological clock. “But it’s totally unfair to Seth.”
Seth had done everything she’d asked. They’d gone to counseling sessions, and he was making a Herculean effort to understand why her work was so important to her. Meanwhile Carly had committed to making their marriage a priority over her job. Their marriage problems hadn’t been all Seth’s doing. She had to take her share of the responsibility for their separation—and for their reconciliation.
“James and I have been having that same discussion lately,” Debra said. “There’s nothing like the smell of baby shampoo to make you want another one.”
“So true,” Carly agreed. “Where’s my mom?”
“Getting ready to go out and look for Bruce.” Debra pointed at Carly with a headless butter cookie snowman. “Don’t try to talk her out of it. She’s determined. If one of my boys were missing, you couldn’t keep me from searching.”
“You’re right.” Carly drank coffee and brushed crumbs from her hands. “I’d better go change into my foul-weather gear. You’re going to stay with the kids?”
“I’ve got it covered. I’m going to take all four kids back to my place for the afternoon. We have more toys and equipment, and my house is totally babyproofed.” Debra waded back into the pint-size crowd to clean hands and faces. “I know Brianna will be a big help with the baby.”
Brianna beamed at her aunt.
“Thanks,” Carly said.
With Debra in charge, Carly traipsed back to the cabin to change into warmer clothes. She tossed her long underwear onto the bed and stripped down. Of course Seth came into their bedroom while she was changing. In two seconds he had his clothes off and his hard body pressed up against hers.
“How do you always know when I’m naked?” She leaned into his warmth.
“It’s my superpower.” He wrapped his arms around her. “I know there’s no time, but just give me one minute.”
She turned and pressed her face into his broad chest. If she’d learned anything over the past year, it was that they needed to take time to reconnect, even if they had only a minute. They were stronger together than
Debra ended the musical cacophony with the magic words “How about a snack?”
Her boys abandoned their instruments and bolted for the kitchen. Carly picked up Charlotte and nestled her on her hip. Debra doled out Christmas cookies and juice boxes. Charlotte bounced, reaching for the other children.
“I think she wants her share.” Carly put her down. The baby toddled toward the child-size table and elbowed her way into the fray like a champ.
“How is she doing?” Carly asked.
“Okay. As long as she’s busy, she’s fine. When it gets quiet, she gets sad. Missing her mama, no doubt.” Debra wiped a tear from under her eye.
“Poor thing.” Carly touched Debra’s arm. “Thanks so much for helping with her.”
“You don’t have to thank me. I’m glad to do it. The kids keep me occupied. With the boys, I can’t be much help looking for Bruce.” Debra poured coffee into two mugs. “How does Seth feel about her being here?”
“He’s supportive, but he thinks we have enough on our plate. Even though he won’t say it, I know he’s afraid I’ll get attached.” Carly reached for a cookie. “Deep down I know he’s right, but Mom wanted me to bring her here. You know how she is. She needs to be helpful. I didn’t have the heart to say no.” But if Carly was honest with herself, she’d wanted to bring that baby home just as much as her mother did.
The Taylor farm had taken in strays since before Carly could remember. The barn out back was full of neglected and abandoned creatures her mother had nursed back to health, and more than a few kids who needed help had shown up on their front porch over the years. The farm was a place to heal.
Carly let out a long breath. “And holding her made me realize how much I want another baby.” Being back with Seth had reawakened her biological clock. “But it’s totally unfair to Seth.”
Seth had done everything she’d asked. They’d gone to counseling sessions, and he was making a Herculean effort to understand why her work was so important to her. Meanwhile Carly had committed to making their marriage a priority over her job. Their marriage problems hadn’t been all Seth’s doing. She had to take her share of the responsibility for their separation—and for their reconciliation.
“James and I have been having that same discussion lately,” Debra said. “There’s nothing like the smell of baby shampoo to make you want another one.”
“So true,” Carly agreed. “Where’s my mom?”
“Getting ready to go out and look for Bruce.” Debra pointed at Carly with a headless butter cookie snowman. “Don’t try to talk her out of it. She’s determined. If one of my boys were missing, you couldn’t keep me from searching.”
“You’re right.” Carly drank coffee and brushed crumbs from her hands. “I’d better go change into my foul-weather gear. You’re going to stay with the kids?”
“I’ve got it covered. I’m going to take all four kids back to my place for the afternoon. We have more toys and equipment, and my house is totally babyproofed.” Debra waded back into the pint-size crowd to clean hands and faces. “I know Brianna will be a big help with the baby.”
Brianna beamed at her aunt.
“Thanks,” Carly said.
With Debra in charge, Carly traipsed back to the cabin to change into warmer clothes. She tossed her long underwear onto the bed and stripped down. Of course Seth came into their bedroom while she was changing. In two seconds he had his clothes off and his hard body pressed up against hers.
“How do you always know when I’m naked?” She leaned into his warmth.
“It’s my superpower.” He wrapped his arms around her. “I know there’s no time, but just give me one minute.”
She turned and pressed her face into his broad chest. If she’d learned anything over the past year, it was that they needed to take time to reconnect, even if they had only a minute. They were stronger together than
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