“Daniel?”
“I heard someone talking at the coffee shop last week.”
Jade blinked. “And you didn’t tell me?”
“It’s just a rumor. I don’t care what anyone thinks.”
“You’re a politician, Daniel, you’d better start caring. If your parents are right, this could ruin everything.”
“Even it were true, it’s not a crime. People conceive out of wedlock every day.”
“Well you didn’t! This isn’t DC. This is Indiana. People care about things like family values and integrity.”
“Then they shouldn’t be spreading false rumors.”
She turned to the window. “You’re impossible.”
Maybe so, but he was right. “Just put it out of your mind.” He knew that was going to be easier said than done.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
“HI, JADE,” CODY SAID. “THANKS FOR MEETING ME.”
“No problem.” Jade sat.
Cody had scored a relatively quiet booth in the back corner of Cappy’s Pizzeria. The after-church crowd was mellow, and the TVs were muted. Cody was tapping out a text on his phone.
“Sorry I’m late,” Jade said. “Church ran a little over.” She scooted across the bench, glad to hide her pregnant belly under the table, away from curious eyes.
He smiled, his brown eyes kind and calm. “I just got here myself. We had a missionary this morning, so our service ran a little over too.”
She asked about his job, and they made small talk until after the server took their order. He’d texted her last night and asked to meet for lunch, giving no indication of his agenda. But he’d been short and to the point, leaving her no doubt he had one.
When his phone buzzed, he picked it up and read. His thumbs went to work, then he set it back down a moment later.
She might as well get this started. She squeezed her hands tight in her lap. “I owe you an apology, Cody.”
He held his palm up. “Jade—”
“No, I do. I—I should’ve been honest about the pregnancy. I wanted to, but I hadn’t told my family yet and—”
“Jade. You don’t owe me anything. We went out on a couple dates. I had a great time. But I’m glad you brought that up. It’s why I asked to meet you. I heard something about you and Daniel . . .”
She shook her head.
“You’re not dating Daniel?”
“No. We’re not—”
His phone buzzed. He tapped out a text and set it down.
“We’re not like that. The babies aren’t his.”
He shook his head as if to clear it. “Babies?”
Great. This was going great. Her heart sank. “You didn’t hear that part. Yes, twins.”
He blinked. Fingered his beard. “Wow. I mean I heard about the pregnancy, but not that.”
She wondered again why he’d asked to meet her. He’d wanted clarification on Daniel’s role in her life. Had he been interested in dating her again despite the pregnancy?
If so, the script had changed now. He had plenty of reasons to walk away. He didn’t even need the Daniel thing. Obviously the whole twins thing wigged him out. Could she blame him? She set her hand on her stomach as one of the babies kicked. She was starting to feel like the last one picked in gym class.
She set her elbows on the table, unearthing a smile. “Look. I’m glad I had the chance to apologize and clear the record. I hope we can still be friends.”
He looked away. To the silent TV, to the empty salad bar, then back to her. He had nice eyes. Brown and warm. She could sit across the breakfast table from that every morning. Too bad he didn’t feel the same.
“So you’re not dating Daniel.”
She frowned. “No. He’s like family.” She remembered the stray thoughts she’d been having lately. The way she noticed his lips. The way she kept rehashing their accidental kiss. She shook the thoughts away. Hormones.
Cody was staring at her like she had pizza sauce on her face. But they didn’t even have their pizza yet.
“What about—the father . . .”
She shrugged, looking down at her chipped nail polish. “He’s not in the picture. He’ll never be in the picture. I came home for a fresh start, to be near my family.”
The server set down their drinks and left the table. Jade unwrapped her straw and stuck it in the water. When Cody’s phone buzzed again, she took a deep drink, waiting until he responded.
She wished they’d had this conversation over the phone. Then she could say good-bye instead of waiting for a pizza and flailing around in the awkward silence.
When he finished the text, he unwrapped his straw. “I heard there’s a blues concert in Louisville this weekend.”
Small talk. This she could handle. “Robben Ford. One of my favorite contemporary bands. He rarely makes it to the Midwest.” Too bad Jade couldn’t afford tickets.
“Would you like to go?”
“Of course I’d—” She met his serious gaze. He was asking her out. “Oh.”
“I know things are complicated right now. But I like you, Jade. I have fun with you. I’d like to keep seeing you.”
“You’re not—” She cleared the squeak from her throat. “You’re not totally freaked out by the whole twin thing?”
He gave a little laugh. “Not totally . . .”
Who was she kidding? She was freaked out. She smiled, gazing into his kind brown eyes and said the only thing left to say. “I’d like that a lot.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
DANIEL PUT UP A SHOT. IT SAILED THROUGH THE AIR, HIT the rim, and bounced off. Shoot.
Beneath the net, PJ caught the ball. “That’s an E for you, sonny boy.”
“You’re done, dude.” Ryan slapped him on the back.
“First one out too,” PJ said. “So sorry.”
Daniel darted toward her, picked her up, and threw her over his shoulder. “Oh, yeah, Peewee? How sorry?”
She squealed, thumping his back. “Sore loser! Mom, he’s being a bully.”
“Fight your own battles, children.” Mama Jo didn’t even glance up from the newspaper.
“It’s a little hard from this angle.” She smacked Daniel on the backside. “Get your big shoulder out of my gut. I can’t breathe.”
“Aren’t you going to help her?” Cody asked Jade. “Sisters and all that?”
Jade shrugged. “I’m six months pregnant—she’s on her own.”
“Thanks a lot, Sis.”
Daniel set her down and darted away, but not fast enough.
PJ walloped him on the back of the head.
“Ow.”
“Bully.”
Daniel settled on the picnic table across from Mama Jo. On the corner of the court near the azalea bushes, Jade and Cody were having a private conversation. Daniel felt the smile slide from his face. Cody held the ball under his arm and leaned close, an annoying grin curling his lips.
They’d been going out the last two weeks. Daniel wondered if the rumor about Jade and himself had dissipated, but couldn’t bring himself to care. He didn’t like the thought of Cody making her smile, or worse, holding her in his arms. It was hard enough just knowing she was with him. Tonight was the first time he’d seen them together. He wasn’t a fan.
“We gonna play or what?” Ryan asked the couple.
“Your turn, Jade.” PJ tapped the ball loose.
Daniel tore his eyes from them.
Mama Jo opened the Chapel Springs Gazette to the Living section. Madison and Beckett had begged off tonight to practice for the regatta one last time, and Thomas had taken Grandpa out to look at one of the tractors after supper.
Mama Jo was looking better in recent weeks. Now that she was working again, her color was back, and she seemed her happy self. She’d never taken kindly to lying around the house. He knew her recovery had been hard on her.
“Nice shot, Jay-Jay.” Cody gave Jade a high five.
Jay-Jay? Really? Wasn’t it a little early for pet names? Tu
rning to look, he noticed Jade didn’t seem to mind.
Cody tossed the ball to Ryan and draped his arm across Jade’s shoulder. Daniel fought the urge to go knock it off. She smiled up at Cody. The look she gave him cut right through Daniel.
He took in Cody’s scruffy goatee, his office attire, his slight build. Was that the kind of man who appealed to Jade? Daniel could take him down with a breath. Plus the guy always had his flipping cell phone in his hand. And he reeked of eau de hospital: disinfectant and rubbing alcohol.
Daniel clenched his jaw, looking away. But it wasn’t a contest, was it?
What was wrong with him anyway? He wanted Jade to be happy, didn’t he? She’d been through a lot. She deserved that much. If she wanted Cody, Daniel needed to suck it up. Cody wasn’t a bad guy. He just wasn’t Daniel.
“Lucky shot, bro!” PJ caught the ball as it swished through the net and tossed it to Cody. “Let’s see what you got, fancy pants.”
“Oh, I got plenty, Peej. I got plenty.” Did the man have a nickname for everyone?
“How’s it working out with Jade at the office?”
Daniel’s eyes swung to Mama Jo. “What?”
“You and Jade getting along okay at work?” Her blue eyes perused his face, seeing too much.
“Sure. You know Jade. She can do anything once she puts her mind to it.”
Mama Jo nodded. “That’s my girl, all right.” She flipped the page and scanned the articles, her bifocals low on her nose. “I guess you heard the rumor.”
So the family had gotten wind of it. He’d wondered. “I did. Guess some folks struggle with basic arithmetic.”
She gave the barest of smiles. “People are going to talk.”
His eyes drifted to the court where Cody helped Jade with a shot. He was behind her, arms around her, holding the ball. Please. Jade had been shooting hoops since she was old enough to toddle.
But she wasn’t protesting. She was smiling over her shoulder as though he held the golden keys to the basketball kingdom.
Daniel was losing her again. It never got easier. He’d lost her to Aaron for four heartbreaking years. He’d felt guilty when Aaron had died. As if his own jealousy had somehow caused the tragedy. Watching Jade suffer had been unbearable. He’d wished a thousand times he could bring Aaron back. Watching helplessly while she grieved was a hundred times worse than seeing them together.
He needed to remember that. Remember all Jade had been through. Remember that her happiness was all that mattered.
“When are you going to do something about those feelings of yours?”
His eyes darted to Mama Jo. Her blue eyes studied him over the ridge of her bifocals.
Heat rose on his neck. “What do you mean?”
She pinned him with a look. “I think you know what I mean.”
There was something in her eyes that made the blood rush to his face.
Cacophony erupted on the court as PJ sank another shot, the others groaning. Daniel watched them blindly, his heart in his throat. First Madison, now Mama Jo. His secret wasn’t a secret anymore.
His heart raced. “How long have you known?”
“Since about five seconds after your feelings changed.”
He scratched his neck, wishing twilight would fall faster.
“I understood why you held back at first.” Mama Jo flipped another page. “She was so young. She was with Aaron, and they were so—”
She stopped before saying the hurtful words. He’d stayed away a lot during those four years. It was too hard seeing Jade so in love with someone who wasn’t him.
“The secret admirer notes.” She looked at him over her glasses. “They were from you?”
His lips parted as his eyes shot to her. This was getting out of hand. “Please don’t tell her.”
She removed her glasses, folded them, and set them on the paper, looking down. “At first, when she came home, I thought maybe the time was finally right. That you’d finally tell her how you felt.” She waved her hand. “I know I’m butting in here.” She looked toward Jade and Cody, then back to him. “But I see things moving forward, and I worry you’re missing your open window. Maybe the last one you’ll get.”
He knew it was true, that this was the way it had to be. But that didn’t stop the cold terror of his lonely, Jade-less future from shooting straight up his spine.
He reminded himself of all the reasons. His political aspirations that would take him from Chapel Springs. From any family he’d one day have. He’d rather be a permanent bachelor than subject his wife and kids to the life his parents had offered. He’d been so low on the priority list, and from what he’d seen, that wasn’t uncommon in politics. Your country was your wife. Your constituents your children. There was room for little else.
Jade—and her babies—deserved so much more.
He didn’t say all that, though. He went for the easy answer. “Jade thinks of me as a brother.”
Mama Jo’s brow arched. “Does she?”
He remembered the accidental kiss. The movement of her lips on his, for just the briefest moment. Had he imagined it? He’d relived it a hundred times. Maybe it was only wishful thinking. It probably was. He’d gotten pretty good at lying to himself.
His eyes swung to the court where PJ was trying for a three-pointer. Jade’s hand rested on her stomach. Cody reached out, and she placed his hand on her belly, looking up at him expectantly.
The moment sliced him in two. Daniel had yet to feel the babies move. She hadn’t offered, and he hadn’t asked. Gravity pulled the corners of his mouth.
Mama Jo set her hand on his. “Don’t wait too long, honey. Open windows have a nasty way of closing.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
JADE COULDN’T SLEEP. SHE WANTED TO BLAME IT ON HER growing belly or her swollen ankles. It wasn’t her body that fought the darkness, though—it was her mind.
She’d gotten caught up in a TV movie, not realizing until too late that the main character was going to be attacked. She’d grabbed the remote and shut it off. It wasn’t so easy to shut off the memories.
She turned to her side, wishing she could lie on her stomach. The clock’s red numbers glared back at her: 11:52. She had work in the morning. Had to get some shut-eye.
One of the elephants crossed over her head, making the ceiling groan. Someone else couldn’t sleep either. She gave up a few minutes later and grabbed her phone off the nightstand. She’d planned to text Cody, but when Daniel’s name appeared below his on the screen, she clicked on it instead.
YOU UP? she tapped out, then hit Send. He was probably fast asleep like she should be. She should’ve texted Cody. Things were going well with him. He was fun, engaging, a good listener. He didn’t pry or ask too much of her. The idea of twins hadn’t scared him away, and he’d even asked to feel the babies move last week. She hadn’t expected that. He was a little too attached to his cell phone, but everyone had his faults.
A text came in. CAN’T SLEEP? Jade propped up on her pillows.
I MISS SLEEPING ON MY STOMACH. BIG BELLY, SWOLLEN FEET . . . ARGH!
NEED A BEDTIME STORY? ONCE UPON A TIME . . .
HA. TELL ME ONE ABOUT POLITICS. WILL PUT ME RIGHT OUT.
I THINK YOU JUST CALLED ME BORING.
WHO ME?
GOOD TIME TO REMIND YOU I’M YOUR BOSS. AHEM!
DON’T LET IT GO TO YOUR HEAD. I HAVE ALL KINDS OF DIRT ON YOU, AND I’M NOT AFRAID TO USE IT.
PLEASE.
YOU CHEATED ON MARCIE LEWIS.
I WAS IN 7TH GRADE! AND IT WAS ONLY A KISS ON THE CHEEK.
YOU HOLD BARBIE DOLLS HOSTAGE AND CHARGE LITTLE GIRLS A CANDY RANSOM.
LET IT GO, JADE.
YOU DROVE ILLEGALLY.
WHAT? WHEN?
YOUR FRESHMAN YEAR. MY DAD’S TRUCK.
FROM YOUR HOUSE TO THE BARN? THAT’S NOT ILLEGAL.
SAYS YOU. IT’S ALL COMING OUT, I TELL YOU.
THAT’S NOTHING. I GOT A FRIEND PREGNANT WITH TWINS TWO MONTHS BEF
ORE WE WERE EVEN TOGETHER . . . UH SORRY—DIDN’T SOUND RIGHT . . .
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, ROUND TWO. :)
I THINK THAT RUMOR’S FADING, BTW.
LET’S HOPE.
MOM MADE A BIGGER DEAL THAN IT WAS. JUST A HANDFUL OF BUSYBODIES WITH TOO MUCH TIME ON THEIR HANDS.
STILL . . . I’M SORRY . . .
STOP THAT.
IT DOES SEEM TO HAVE DIED DOWN. HELPS THAT I’M OUT WITH CODY A LOT THESE DAYS.
THAT’S NOT WHY YOU’RE DATING HIM . . .
WHAT? NO. I LIKE HIM. HE’S GREAT. SNUFFING THE RUMOR IS JUST A CONVENIENT SIDE EFFECT.
YOU TWO GETTING SERIOUS?
IT’S ONLY BEEN 3 WEEKS . . . WELL, PLUS THE FEW WEEKS BEFORE.
LOOKED PRETTY COZY AT THE REGATTA. ;-)
GREAT JOB ON THE SPEECH BTW. I DON’T KNOW HOW YOU DO IT, OFF THE CUFF, FIND JUST THE RIGHT THINGS TO SAY.
IT REALLY DOES HELP TO PICTURE THE AUDIENCE NAKED.
ACK! I WAS IN THE FRONT ROW.
I SAW NOTHING. PROMISE.
WHEW. TOO BAD MADISON AND BECKETT DIDN’T WIN.
SHARE THE LOVE. THIRD PLACE ISN’T BAD.
Jade stifled a yawn. Finally her body was ready to give up the fight. She sent Daniel a couple more texts and lay back down, content. Daniel had a way of chasing away the dark thoughts.
His question about Cody lingered in her mind. Were they getting serious? He’d kissed her a couple times. Nothing too deep or heavy. His kisses were pleasant and comforting. The relationship was easy. Enough, but not too much. She liked him. She could learn to love him, she thought. Not be in love with him, but love him. If he felt the same, she could see the potential for a long and lasting relationship.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
“COULD YOU BELIEVE THAT GUY?” CODY TURNED INTO Jade’s apartment complex.
Jade smiled at the indignation on his face. He’d taken her to a French restaurant in Louisville. Afterward they’d meandered through Waterfront Park, watching the boats on the river, holding hands. Despite the poor service, it had been a good night.
Dancing with Fireflies Page 14
