“Right.” Forrest’s lips pressed flat.
“You’re welcome to come back to the house with us? I’ll make some coffee.” Brooke glanced back and forth between the two of them.
Forrest had turned the full force of his laser-focused stare upon Audy. “That’d be real nice, Brooke. I’ll finish up here and meet you over there.” He turned. “That okay?”
That was the first time Brooke saw Beau Briscoe standing at the end of the aisle.
Oh, no. She blinked. She suspected things had the potential to get super awkward between Audy and Forrest. She could be wrong but it didn’t appear that Audy had filled Forrest in on the fact that he was Joy’s co-guardian and that the Briscoe family home would be receiving some big-time babyproofing within the next week. Definitely awkward. Add to that her sister’s reaction to Beau Briscoe walking in their front door? It’s going to be a long evening.
“Sure.” But Beau didn’t look too happy about it.
“Ten minutes?” Brooke suggested.
Forrest and Beau didn’t linger but it took a good five minutes to extricate Joy, and their cart, from the doting women. After that, she grabbed a few more things, then steered the cart to the register.
“What’s the pie for?” Audy asked, eyeing the delicious-smelling pastry she’d picked up.
“Company is coming,” she explained, putting the rest of the items on the counter.
“Company, as in Forrest and Beau?” He frowned. “They’re just my brothers.”
“I was raised by a Southern woman, Audy Briscoe. You keep an orderly house, a tidy yard, look out for your neighbors and always have something to feed company when they stop by—even unannounced.” Her mother had lived by those words, and Brooke’s grandmother before that. Brooke had never stopped long enough to consider doing things differently—mostly because she didn’t have time. Time was always in short supply, any normal day scheduled down to the minute. It was just the way things were—and had been since she’d turned eighteen. It worked for her so there was no point in changing it now. Kind of like having something on hand for company. It was just the way things were. “If you don’t want pie, I’ll split your piece between your brothers.”
“I didn’t say that.” He shrugged. “It’s just...it’s a treat, is all.” He started bagging up their items. “Mighty generous.”
Brooke waited. “And?” Any minute, he’d drop the punch line.
Those crystal-blue eyes locked on her face. “No. I mean it. Thank you.”
“Oh.” Something about the way he was looking at her was unnerving. “You... You’re welcome.”
“Besides, if Forrest’s mouth is full of apple pie, he’ll have a hard time yelling at me for not telling him we’re co-guardians of Joy.” The corner of Audy’s mouth kicked up, but there was no sign of his usual bravura. If anything, he seemed to be looking to her for reassurance.
But how could she reassure him when she was still convinced he was going to throw up his hands and walk away, leaving her and Joy on their own.
* * *
AUDY GLANCED AT the clock on the wall again. When Brooke had initially invited his brothers over, he’d been irritated. But the more time that passed, the more it went from irritated to angry. He didn’t like being handled and he’d been handled a whole lot the last couple of days. The accident. Joy. Staying at Kent and Dara’s. Being prodded into going to the grocery store... If she’d let him stay behind to fix the step as he’d suggested, none of this would be happening. He’d tell Forrest on his own terms, someplace where he didn’t feel out of sorts, without an audience—without Brooke and those judgy hazel eyes of hers.
“The dessert plates are in there, Audy.” Brooke nodded at the far cupboard, holding Joy in her lap for a bottle. “There should be enough for all of us.”
“All of who?” Tess asked, coming into the kitchen. Her hair was pulled up into a messy twist with a pencil through it. “Hey, Joy. Did you have fun at the store?”
“Half of the Ladies Guild was there.” Brooke peered down at Joy. “She had them all eating out of the palm of her hand.”
“Because she is the prettiest, sweetest and happiest little angel-baby ever.” Tess’s enthusiasm had Joy pushing her bottle away and reaching for Tess. “You want me?” she asked.
“Go ahead.” Brooke stood, let Tess take her spot and placed Joy in Tess’s arms.
Watching them with Joy made it look easy. Almost like Joy wasn’t breakable and droppable and capable of doing that lip-flip thing that triggered his flight mode.
“Are they coming over?” Tess asked, eyeing the pie. “They took one look at you and they can’t stay away.” She wrinkled her nose at Joy, then made a silly face. “Isn’t that right?”
Joy let go of the bottle long enough to smile up at Tess.
Audy was pretty sure any faces he made at Joy would make her start caterwauling. He was pretty sure she could sense his fear.
“No.” Brooke opened a drawer. “Forrest and Beau are stopping by.”
The change in the room was instantaneous. Brooke was counting forks out of the drawer at snail-speed while Tess looked like an animal caught in a trap—fully prepared to gnaw off her leg if need be. But he had no idea why Brooke was avoiding her little sister’s gaze or what had Tess in a full-blown panic—none whatsoever.
“What?” Tess whispered. “Here? Here here?” The last “here” was more squeak than anything. “Brooke.” She shifted Joy to one arm and reached up to run a hand over her hair, squeaking again when her fingers encountered the pencil. “But...I... I mean...” She sort of sputtered to a stop, her eyes as round as the dessert plates he was carrying to the table.
Audy wasn’t sure what to do, only that he felt the need to do something. “Is...is there a problem? Something I can do?” He looked back and forth between the sisters.
“No!” The word erupted from Tess, startling everyone in the room—including Joy. “Sorry,” she murmured, bouncing Joy and saying in singsong, “I’ll just...stay in my room.” Tess swallowed. “I have so...so much studying to do.” Her cheeks were growing pinker by the minute but she kept on singing her words for Joy’s sake. “Like, way more than...than I thought, I mean.” She cleared her throat.
“I doubt they’ll be here all that long,” he offered, puzzled over her reaction. “They’re only coming so I can share the news about Joy. Chances are, that’ll put a bee in Forrest’s hat and he and Beau will skedaddle before you know it.”
“Oh, well... That’s family...stuff.” Tess’s gaze darted to the front door. “Let’s finish your bottle, Joy... I can even skip pie—”
The knock on the door had Tess sitting bolt upright. “They’re here?” she whispered.
“I’d imagine so.” Audy’s answer was cautious, his gaze bouncing to Brooke for clarification.
But it seemed Brooke was avoiding his gaze, too. For some reason, those forks she was collecting were downright riveting. “Audy, do you mind getting the door?”
He did mind. He also minded that she’d invited his brothers over. Yes, he needed to give Forrest the lowdown on what was happening. But he wasn’t thrilled about doing it here or having her present—judging him. Because she’s always judging. And it got to him far more than he wanted to admit. Maybe that was why he pulled the door open with a little more force than necessary.
Forrest’s and Beau’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.
“Did we come at a bad time?” Forrest asked.
Beau didn’t say anything but his discomfort was clear.
“No.” Audy waved them in. “Come on in. Brooke has pie.”
“Pie?” Beau asked.
“What are we celebrating?” Forrest asked, closing the front door and bringing up the rear.
“Company?” Audy shrugged.
“You three act like you’ve never had pie just to have pie.” Brooke stood,
regarding the three of them closely.
“Uncle Felix isn’t the pie-just-to-have-pie sort of fella.” Forrest’s gaze wandered, taking in the high chair in the corner and the baby supplies stacked up on the counter before coming to a stop. “So... You’re sure this isn’t a bad time?”
Audy followed his gaze...to Tess. Tess was beet red and frozen.
“I’m...” Tess took a deep breath, held Joy close, kept her gaze glued to the floor and said, “I’ll take Joy so you-all can talk.” She kept going, her voice returning to normal. “I’ve got to study for my test tomorrow.”
“Pre-cal?” Beau cleared his throat and added, “Mr. Hillard?”
Tess looked up, momentarily speechless. “Um...yeah.”
It was Beau’s turn to get a little red in the cheeks. “I’ve got him second period.”
Audy was having a hard time not smiling. Now that he saw the two of them together, he knew exactly why Tess was acting so skittish. Brooke’s little sister was sweet on his little brother. A good thing, too, since Tess was pretty much the only girl Beau had ever mentioned. And, as awkward and bumbling as the two of them were, there was something sweet about the way they were sizing each other up, turning various shades of pink and red, and generally making fools of themselves.
“You have a test, too?” Forrest asked, irritated.
“Yeah.” Beau shrugged. “But I’m good—”
“You two can study together?” Audy suggested. “Same class, same test—why not?”
That got Brooke’s attention. “In the front room.”
Beau wouldn’t have cared where they got to study. From where Audy stood, his little brother had yet to take his eyes off Tess.
“Okay.” Tess shifted from one foot to the other.
“Here.” If Audy had been thinking straight, he never would have offered to take Joy. Not in a hundred years. For one thing, he was standing up and he could drop her. For another thing, he could take her and she could cry and then he’d have to deal with that lip-flip. And lastly, he could feel Brooke’s eyes boring into him. Judging.
“Okay.” Tess eased Joy into his arms, bottle and all. “Thanks.” She smoothed her hands over her oversize black T-shirt that in large white letters read, “I’m not short, I’m fun-sized.” “I’ll go get my notes and textbook.” She spun on her rainbow-striped feet and hurried from the kitchen.
Audy started swaying, like he’d seen Tess and Brooke do, but refused to look at the baby in his arms. One thing at a time. He felt like a fool, but so far, Joy hadn’t started crying. Don’t panic. Especially not with his brother and Brooke watching.
“Beau?” Forrest’s sigh was all put-upon irritation but Beau didn’t answer.
Audy caught sight of Beau, openly staring in the direction Tess had gone, and almost chuckled. Little brother has got it something fierce for Tess Young.
When Beau didn’t move, Forrest frowned. “Beau?” he repeated, louder this time, missing the meaning behind their younger brother’s flushed face and statue-like stance. “Your backpack is in the truck, isn’t it?”
“Yes, sir?” Beau snapped to.
“Go on and get your backpack.” Forrest waved him to the door, all the while shaking his head. “I never know what’s going on in that boy’s head.”
For a minute, Audy thought his big brother was teasing. But no, one look at Forrest said otherwise. I’d say it was written all over Beau’s face. Not that Forrest had ever been the sort to be “in touch” with his feelings. He was too uptight for that.
Somehow, Audy’s and Brooke’s gazes collided. She looked exactly the way he felt—incredulous. Was his big brother really that clueless? He shrugged, she shrugged and they both smiled. For all of about one minute.
Brooke’s smile slipped away. “You like whipped cream on your apple pie?” she asked, already cutting slices.
“I’ll take it however you’re serving it.” Forrest sat at the kitchen table. “Now, catch me up on things. Joy is here, so I’m thinking something’s changed?”
Brooke slid two plates with pie onto the table. “Let me.” She scooped up Joy before Audy could answer.
Audy studied the cinnamon-sugar-crusted pie and picked up his fork. “No, nothing’s really changed.” He used the tines to flake away at the crust. “I still have my doubts about their choice of guardians. One of them, anyway.” He didn’t look at Brooke. “That one would be me.”
Forrest set his fork down, leaned back in his chair and swallowed hard. “What, now?”
“You heard me. Kent and Dara picked Brooke...and me.” He ran a hand over his face.
Forrest stared at him for a long time, not moving. Long enough for Tess to carry her books through the kitchen to the front room. Then the front door opened and closed upon Beau’s return. The soft mumble of the teens’ conversation carried on a solid five minutes before Forrest spoke. “So, all that talk about Kent making a joke and having second thoughts was about you?” He leaned forward and scooped up a big bite of pie.
Audy had made a lot of mistakes in his life but calling his big brother that day was at the top of his list. His big brother didn’t let things go, not ever, and if Audy didn’t set the record straight, his words would be thrown back at him for years to come.
Forrest swallowed his pie. “And the bit about how some people aren’t supposed to be parents?” His gaze met Audy’s. “What were you looking for, Audy? Were you hoping I’d say what you needed to hear to walk away, guilt-free?” He laid the fork on the plate. “Don’t you think knowing that we were talking about you would have made a difference on what I was going to say?”
Audy frowned, doing his best not to bark. “Yes. Definitely. And since I know what you think of me, I was pretty sure I knew what you’d say. In five seconds flat, you’d have agreed Kent made a mistake. It might be hard to believe but, after the day I’d had, I wasn’t quite up for another one of your long-winded lectures about all my failings.”
Forrest’s face turned a deep red.
“I shouldn’t have called at all. Only excuse? My head was a mess. Part of me was looking for a way out, the other was looking for...direction.” He met his brother’s gaze. “The thing is, my path seems pretty clear now. Kent always believed in me, even when I didn’t give him reason to—to let him down now is just about the worst thing I could do. I’ll find a way to make it work, you’ll see. No matter what you or Brooke might think of me, I won’t dishonor Kent, his wishes, his memory or his faith in me.”
Once again, Forrest took his time before he said, “No offense, Audy, but it takes more to raise a baby than good intentions. Right now, you’re raw and hurting and not thinking all that rationally. But when things settle and you’re done changing diapers instead of riding bulls, I hope you two have a contingency plan in place.” He stood, carrying his plate to the sink. “Did you at least talk to the lawyer? See what would happen if you decided—”
“I have decided.” Audy saw red. “I didn’t ask you here to get your approval or your permission. I don’t want or need either. If you’re done eating the pie and telling me how I’m going to change my mind, you might as well leave.”
“You’re too pigheaded for your own good, Audy.” Forrest’s eyes narrowed a bit. “For her own good.” He glanced at baby Joy. “What happens when RJ calls, wanting you to run off for a rodeo in Amarillo? What then?”
“Forrest, Audy isn’t in this alone.” Brooke’s voice caught them both off guard. From the look on her face, she was a little surprised, too. “It’ll take patience and time and planning but we will work it out.”
The last thing Audy had expected was backup from Brooke.
Forrest’s gaze darted from Brooke to Audy then back again.
“Audy is right, we will work this out. It would be nice, for both of us, to know that we can count on your support.” Brooke shifted Joy to her hip.
�
��We’re family. Like it or not, we look out for one another.” Forrest moved next to Brooke, smiling at Joy. “Guess that makes this little thing family, too.”
But Joy’s reaction was hardly welcoming. Her whole little body stiffened and she turned away, burying her face against Brooke’s chest, before a building cry emerged.
I get it, Joy. It was more than a little satisfying that Joy was bawling over Forrest but, when he’d held her—not a tear in sight. That was something. It was a good place to start.
CHAPTER SEVEN
“ARE YOU SURE?” Brooke hadn’t finished her first cup of morning coffee—it was too early for this. It wasn’t like she’d expected it to be smooth sailing from the get-go, she was a realist. This was a huge change and it’d take time to sort things out. But sorting things, to her, had been balancing her work with Audy’s, a feeding schedule, a sleep schedule and generally getting to know baby Joy. She’d never once thought it would mean sending her little sister off to school with Beau Briscoe the first morning back.
“It’s not like he’s not already headed that way,” Audy offered, looking far too amused.
“I’m a good driver, Miss Young. No tickets.” Beau glanced at Tess. “And seat belts. I mean, I... Anyone who rides with me has to wear their seat belt.” By the time he’d finished his halting little speech, his cheeks were a splotchy red.
“I’m sure you’re a very good driver.” There wasn’t a single concrete reason for Tess not to ride to school with Beau. It was a feeling... A feeling that got stronger when her little sister and Beau Briscoe made eye contact. The doe-eyed look and uneven breathing and flushed cheeks. That. That is the reason Tess should walk to school. “I just don’t think it’s a good idea.”
The Rebel Cowboy's Baby--A Clean Romance Page 9
