Chapter Thirteen

“I’m ’lergic,” six-year-old Allie protested, shoving away the bowl of green beans. “More pizza, please.”

“It’s a-llergic,” her mother corrected. “And, no, you’re not.”

Jessie frowned. What are they talking about? She glanced from her young niece to Jocelyn, who frowned back. “Is that a real thing? I don’t think I’ve ever heard of anyone being allergic to green beans.”

“And she’s not. She just doesn’t like them.” Her sister exhaled an exasperated sigh. “Eat one spoonful, kiddo. That’s enough for now. Then you may have more pizza.”

Jessie stuck a fork into the vegetables and took a bite. Maybe, by example, she could make a difference in the standoff? “Mmm… Warm and buttery.”

Harrington barked loudly, drawing Jessie’s gaze in his direction.

“See? Even the dog wants to try them.” She stabbed a few more and munched away. Okay, maybe a bit too much enthusiasm over a side dish? Still, she was just trying to help.

Allie’s nose crinkled up in obvious distaste, but she raised a forkful to her lips and shoved them in, chewing vigorously until they were gone. “But ooey-gooey stuff tastes sooo much better,” the child proclaimed and grabbed a piece of pepperoni pizza with sauce and stringy cheese oozing down the sides.

No argument there.

Jessie abandoned her fork and reached for another spicy slice. She’d no more than taken a bite when the grandmother began to share a few thoughts.

“Well, Jocelyn, maybe if you’d serve vegetables first to the children, before you bring out the junk food, they’d obey better.”

Jessie cringed, pizza in midair. Granny’s sharp statement nearly took her breath away. Patience was not a virtue her sister possessed in abundance—never had been—and a good verbal lashing toward anyone came easily to her. But to a mother-in-law? An older woman? She glanced at her sibling; Jocelyn’s narrowing eyes could be the calm before a colossal storm.

The chill in the room grew even colder as, to Jessie’s horror, Granny’s unsolicited suggestions continued. “The pizza crust could be a smidge crispier, the ham far less salty, and the iced tea a tad sweeter, if you’d just listen to my advice, now and then, dear.”

Her sister visibly fumed at every syllable as Jessie fidgeted in her seat. Much more of this and there’d be steam blowing out of her sibling’s ears. She ought to do something. But what? The adults at the table proved far more problematic than three nephews, one niece, and the canine licking at her ankle.

Am I going to have to play referee? In front of the children? She took a quick drink of soda, hoping for a truce. But none seemed on the horizon as her sister haphazardly gathered up empty pop cans and crumpled napkins in stone-cold silence. The stillness was preferable to the flurry of words likely lurking behind Jocelyn’s tightly pressed lips.

Jessie wiped little Drew’s messy face. The kids, thankfully, seemed oblivious to the conflict as they munched away. Or were they so used to it they just didn’t notice anymore? She shuddered at the thought.

I sure want to do better than that for Peanut.

When Jocelyn leveled a lethal look in the older woman’s direction, the flood gates opened. “Any way I can make those beans just a pinch greener to suit your color preference, Mother?”

“Sooo…I understand your husband is in the nursing home,” Jessie interrupted, scrambling for some kind of diversion. “How’s his rehab coming along?”

“Oh, my dear, it’s such slow progress.” The woman’s hand flew to her forehead in obvious frustration. “Honestly, it’s taking so much longer than we anticipated.”

A lengthy monologue about the husband’s deteriorating health followed, the brunt of which Jessie gladly absorbed, as Jocelyn finished clearing the table. Disaster averted. However, those dirty plates would have banged together quite noisily, had they not been made of paper.

Not the best time to be visiting my sister.

If I could only get out of here and back home to Chase and the girls.

She chuckled quietly to herself and brushed crumbs from her jeans. Who would have thought the idea of hurrying home to one-year-old twins as being more peaceful than visiting a sibling? She’d come here hoping for someone to confide in about her pregnancy. A sister seemed a logical choice, but instead, she’d found Jocelyn awash in problems of her own.

No need to add to that burden.

Maybe she’d missed the obvious choice all along. Maybe the person she needed to talk to was back at the ranch, someone else making life work with the unexpected arrival of babies.

Chase.

As Granny’s chatter waned, Jessie grabbed a clean washcloth and wiped off the table. “There’s pizza sauce everywhere. What did you guys do? Sneak bites to the dog under the table? You need to wash up.” Then she turned to her niece. “Allie, honey, are you messy, too?”

“No, I’m fine. See?” The child raised both hands for inspection. “I’m going to the play room now. Come with me, Granny.”

A car door slammed shut, and Jocelyn peeked out the window. “Thank goodness, it’s Andrew. It’s about time.” She opened the back door and waved him in.

“Hey, everyone! How ya doing?” He stepped inside wearing a dirty blue mechanic’s uniform with his name stitched in red letters on the pocket.

“Daddy! Daddy!”

Andrew was soon lost in the midst of flinging arms and saucy kisses. “Pizza, eh? Any left or did my kids scarf it all down?” Then his gaze landed on Jessie. “My favorite sister-in-law! I didn’t know you were coming over.”

“Hi, Andrew. How are you? How’s work?”

“Ah, you know, things could be better. But we’re hanging in there. I’m so glad you’re here. My angel of a wife needs someone to talk to. She’s taken Mom in for a while, and it has not been easy.”

“I’m fine,” Jocelyn assured him. “Just a little good-natured sparring with my mother-in-law. Nothing new there.”

Jessie bit her lower lip. If that was good-natured, she sure didn’t want to see an angry exchange. She turned to the children. “C’mon, guys, let’s wipe your hands.”

“My bouncing baby boy!” Andrew reached for little Drew and pulled him easily from the high chair. “I know it’s getting crowded around here lately, dear.” Leaning toward his wife, he gave her a quick kiss. “Missed you today.”

She patted his cheek. “Missed you, too, babe. Every single second.”

“Okay, boys, all clean.” Jessie gave the two adults a moment as she rinsed the washcloth and left it by the sink. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Brandon and Connor disappear toward the playroom.

“C’mon, son.” Andrew kissed his youngest on top of the head. “You and me, pal. Let’s see what kind of trouble we can get into. Just let me grab a slice. Got any cold soda?”

Jocelyn handed him a can and a napkin.

“Hey, Jess,” he added, “Did you know Jonas is in jail again?”

She groaned. “Jail?” Why can’t you stay out of trouble, big brother? “I guess that explains why he hasn’t returned my calls.”

“Yeah, well, you know Jonas. Always in one jam or another. This one cost him thirty days.”

“Thirty days? Seriously?” Jessie clapped a hand to her cheek. She’d had no idea. “I should go talk to him.”

“He’ll be out before long. No need for a lawyer now,” Andrew explained. “Anyway, you’ll embarrass the guy to death if you visit him in lockup. I’ve been down there, and it’s pretty damn unpleasant. Let Jonas bide his time. It’ll teach him a lesson. You can catch up with him when he gets out.” He took a swig of soda and juggled his son on his hip. “Let’s go watch the news, baby boy.”

“Don’t worry about Jonas.” Jocelyn groaned and waved a hand through the air in a dismissive gesture. “Whatever happens, he’s got it coming. If he’s not guilty of this crime, he’s guilty of something.” She tossed a couple of tiny cars into a wooden toy bench in the corner of the kitchen. “Hey, are you going to set up a law practice here?” She chuckled. “Or is babysitting your new calling?”

“I’m just helping Chase temporarily. I’m an attorney, not a nanny.” Jessie put away a couple of small trucks and a headless doll. “In fact, I looked at a house in town earlier today. Great office space with a separate entrance. It’s rather pricey though, and I don’t think the owner will budge on the amount.”

“How did you get a day off from your round-the-clock job?” Jocelyn pulled open the refrigerator door and put a few leftover sodas inside. “And what’s it like working for Chase?”

“It’s going well. The twins are nearly a year old and both walking a bit, so they keep me busy.”

“Practicing for the day when you’ll have one of your own? If that day ever comes?”

She smiled. Sooner than you think. Suddenly, Jessie could almost swear she felt a flutter. A quivery movement. Oh, my goodness! Peanut? It’s way too soon, isn’t it?

“You’re telling me Chase can handle two babies for an entire day? By himself?”

“I hope so,” she replied hesitantly. This was a big undertaking for him to have them all day, but he’d been doing so much better with them. Jessie brushed stray bangs from her eyes and rearranged toys in the box so she could get the lid closed. “He’s good with the girls. More confident. More capable. And Birdie, his housekeeper, is there in case he runs into any snags.”

“How’s the living with him part going?” Jocelyn offered a sly grin and returned to the sink. “Any romance in the air? You kinda had a thing for that cowboy years ago, as I recall.”

Jessie blinked in surprise. Why did she have to remember that? “Well, I…”

“And Jade really had it bad for him years ago,” Jocelyn said casually over her shoulder as she started the water.

“Jade?” She halted, shocked by the news. “Our sister?” Could that possibly be true?

“Yeah, you were long gone to Seattle by then. She tried her best to get his attention, but it just didn’t work out. She finally gave up.”

“I didn’t know.” Jessie hesitated. “I could hardly believe her first marriage didn’t last. They seemed like a good match.”

“We were all shocked when it fell apart. All of a sudden she was a single mom with two kids and no job. Tough times.” Jocelyn rinsed a soapy pizza pan and placed it in the dishrack.

“I remember how upset Mom was about it. She called me in tears several times.” Jessie lowered her gaze. Guilt throbbed through her veins like a pulse. She’d been self-absorbed in her own career for so long, she hadn’t been around for many of the woes of the McKinnons over the years. She sat down on the toy chest, suddenly feeling about ten years older.

“Have you met the new husband yet?” Jocelyn dried her hands and gave a quick thumbs down. “Not Jade’s best decision. And he has custody of his three rowdy kids.”

“I spoke to her on the phone, but I haven’t seen her. She’s been so busy with her new job and family.” Jessie patted the empty seat next to her.

Jocelyn plopped onto it and leaned back against the wall. “Yeah, I haven’t seen her for a while, but we’re supposed to meet at the diner for coffee tomorrow morning before she goes to the office. Granny is going to babysit, if you can believe it.”

Is she serious? “You’re leaving her alone with the kids?”

“Hey, for an hour of freedom? They’ll survive. Believe it or not, Granny is the one I’m worried about.” Her warm hand touched Jessie’s arm. “Come with me?”

That sounds good. But she shook her head emphatically. “Sorry, I need to look after the twins.”

“Well, let me just say, you’ve missed a lot of interesting stuff around here over the years. If you had stayed in better contact, even on social media, instead of pretty much shutting down after you moved away, you wouldn’t have been so out of the loop on the local gossip.”

“I know, I know. But I spent long days on the computer for school and work. I didn’t want to use up what little free time I had at home, too, doing the same thing. And whenever you had something important to talk about, you always called.”

“True. You deserved a break from family stuff, anyway.”

“That’s exactly how I felt about it,” Jessie admitted and then instantly wished she hadn’t been so candid. No reason to bring up old hurts. Maybe a change of subject was in order. “But I wish I’d known about Jade’s crush.”

“Pfft. She was no different from plenty of other women. Chase Tanner is one of the few unattached men around here worth taking a second look at. Then and now.”

Jessie raised a hand to her throat. This discussion could lead down a path she didn’t want to travel, not with this sibling who loved knowing all of the specifics.

“Jade did her best to catch his eye, but no luck. Hey, what happened between you two when you were young? He kind of pursued you, and you told him to get lost or something? Did Jonas have anything to do with it? I can’t remember exactly.”

My, oh, my. You remember enough. She had forgotten how gossipy Jocelyn could be. “It was nothing. Hi, kids,” she said at first glimpse of her niece and a nephew in the doorway, thankful she could steer the conversation a different direction—any direction—away from Chase.

“What happened to you guys?” Jocelyn stood, pulled a gold clip from a pocket, and pinned up her long hair. Then she squinted and leaned in close. “What have you been eating, Brandon? Your face is dirty.” Licking her thumb, she wiped at the corner of his mouth.

“Granny’s candy. We found a bag in the playroom. If you fling it, it goes really far, Mommy. Sometimes, it even sticks on the wall!”

“Ooh, that’s just great.” Jocelyn placed both hands on her hips and shook her head.

“Pretty funny stuff for a four-year-old, I guess,” Jessie commented.

“I think it’s funny, too, and I’m six,” Allie exclaimed, holding up candy-coated fingers.

She gave a playful tug on her niece’s golden braid, relieved to have dodged further questions about Chase.

Jocelyn’s patience apparently ran thin. “I hope you picked up whatever you’ve been flinging. Do you need to go back into the playroom and clean anything, Brandon? Where are you, Connor?” she called out. “Connor? Were you in on this?”

“Aw, I always get blamed,” he protested as he came straggling in, looking as messy as his siblings. “Allie’s the princess. She never does anything wrong ’cause she’s a girl,” he added. “It ain’t fair.”

“It isn’t fair,” his mother corrected.

“That’s what I said. It just ain’t fair!” Connor protested but turned toward the playroom and the damage done. “Damn.”

Jessie looked away, trying to hide a chuckle at the surprising cuss from her nephew.

“Don’t talk like your father. Go put a quarter in the swear jar. Right now, young man.” Jocelyn stepped into the kitchen to find a damp washcloth and handed it to her daughter. “Here. Princesses need to work, too. Wipe your hands first, then help your brothers clean up the mess. Including the wall. And the dog. And Granny, too.” She shook her head and muttered, “Another day of perfection.”

“You love it.” Jessie shoved up the sleeves of her black turtleneck sweater and stood, gathering the few remaining toys strewn about the floor.

“Except the older generation part. I didn’t expect that to happen so soon. The overlap is killing me. But honestly, I wouldn’t mind having another kid.” She flashed an ornery grin. “And I’m late again.”

Jessie’s mouth dropped open. “You’re pregnant?”

“Shhh.” Her sister raised a finger to her lips. “I haven’t told Andrew yet, but I could be. Hey, if I can handle four, what’s one more? We grew up in a large family, and we turned out all right. Well, if you don’t count Jonas.” She opened up the toy box again and added a couple of stuffed animals. “Don’t worry about Allie. I won’t do to my daughter what Mom did to you.”

Jessie stared blankly at her sibling. Someone understood. And it mattered. She hadn’t comprehended how deeply, until that moment. A comforting hand squeezed her shoulder.

“You deserved a decent childhood, too, and you didn’t get one because you were always mothering the rest of us. That’s probably what interfered with you grabbing that cowboy the first time around. Well, that and our bonehead brother sticking his nose into everyone’s business. Thanks for being there for us. As for Allie, I’ll find a better way.”

“Thank you, Jocelyn.” She slid an arm around her sibling and leaned in for a quick hug as a jumble of emotions tugged at her. If I could just get out of here, be alone for a while. She glanced at her watch. “I didn’t know it was so late. I really need to get back home.”

“Home? So, that’s what you call his place now?” Her sister’s brows shot up. “I mean, you don’t even have a real—”

“Good night, Jocelyn. Say goodbye to everyone for me. And thanks for dinner.” She grabbed her coat and headed to the doorway. “I’ll call you.”

If wishes could come true, she’d be sinking into a tub full of bubbles, enjoying this peaceful feeling. But home? Jocelyn was right. She had no real home—just a place of refuge at the ranch. She smiled. Chase. The twins. Birdie. They feel like home now. Too soon for those feelings? Probably, but they’d settled in anyway and warmed her weary heart with sweet happiness.

And Peanut? Her secret would not be a secret much longer. Then what would happen? What would be Chase’s reaction?

So many decisions to make; so much to figure out before then. But she needed to start.

Tomorrow, she’d call to follow-up on the Taylor property. Ask questions. Negotiate. Pursue progress. Take steps toward a future for herself and Peanut. She caught her lower lip between her teeth and hoped against hope.

Will Chase want to be part of that future?