by C. J. Miller
When he woke next, he was seated on a plush chair in Mac’s living room. He moved his shoulder; it was stiff and tight and still ached. His phone buzzed with Jade’s number.
“Good news?” he asked.
“Great news. Maggie and Thorne have a healthy baby boy. Five pounds, ten ounces. They’re naming him Joseph.” After Thorne’s father, Mac.
“Maggie is resting, but she said it’s fine for everyone to meet baby Joseph.”
Declan’s announcement to the Colton clan was met with cheers. They clicked their coffee mugs together to Joseph Colton and his happiness.
* * *
A dozen different times during Maggie’s labor, Jade swore she would never have a baby. The sweating and screaming and crying. It looked painful and scary, and though the midwife and Thorne seemed calm and in control, Maggie had seemed scared and angry during the delivery.
The family had stopped by, staying only for thirty minutes before heading home to rest.
The pediatrician had made a house call to check the baby. Though underweight, Joseph was healthy. Upon hearing that, Thorne and Maggie went to sleep. Jade had been able to take a few power naps over the course of the last twenty-seven hours and now she was holding Joseph.
Jade wrapped Joseph in the pale blue swaddling blanket and held him against her chest. He was small and seemed to fall asleep as soon as she put him against her. Following the instructions the midwife and Maggie had given, Jade fixed Joseph a bottle, taking care to measure the powder and check the temperature of the water. Feeding the nipple into his little mouth, he instinctively sucked, draining the fluid quickly. Jade burped him and then changed his diaper. Then another swaddle around his small frame. The labor had been horrible, but this was amazing.
A quiet knock at the door and Declan entered. He had hung back while the rest of the family had visited and had gone to get the new family of three a meal.
Maggie had wanted a burger with extra fries from Big Jim’s. The smells of beef and fries filled the room. Declan set the bag on the kitchen table. “Everything Maggie and Thorne asked for and some extra. And this package was on the front porch.”
A generic brown box with no return address. “Someone must have dropped off a gift.”
The lack of addresses made Jade nervous, but she held Joseph close, confident she would keep him safe no matter what.
“This is the man of the hour?” Declan asked, taking a look at Joseph. “I’ll wash my hands, and then can I hold him?”
The question surprised her. Declan didn’t seem like the baby type. “Sure. He’s practically weightless. Won’t bother your shoulder.”
Declan cleaned his hands and then Jade handed him the baby. Her heart melted into a puddle on the floor. Businessman Declan was strong and powerful...and sexy. Lover Declan was sweet and fun...and sexy. Declan with a baby was overwhelming. Like fall-head-over-heels-in-love-with-him overwhelming, her heart was lost in the moment to him completely. If she hadn’t been half in love with him before, she would have fallen at that moment. He was gentle and warm, talking to Joseph in a soft voice.
“Where did you learn to do that?” Jade asked.
“Do what?” Declan asked. He was so attractive with his shirtsleeves rolled to the elbows and the baby tucked in the crook of his arms, he knocked the breath out of her.
“Hold a baby.”
Declan frowned. “I guess foster care. I helped with some of the kids sometimes.”
“That’s amazing.”
“I think it’s biological,” Declan said, returning his attention to Joseph.
Thorne came into the kitchen looking tired, but proud. “How is my son?”
“He’s great,” Declan said, extending the baby to Thorne.
Thorne snuggled the baby against his chest with one arm and reached for the bag of food with the other. “Thanks for picking up food. I really appreciate it.”
“Someone dropped off a package,” Jade said.
“Probably one of the guys,” Thorne said. The ranchers and cattlemen who worked for him knew Maggie had been in labor. Thorne had asked them to work away from the house and not bother him while Maggie was giving birth. “Could you open the box and take the gift into Maggie?”
“Sure,” Jade said. She should have looked at the item before mentioning it to Thorne, but her paranoia about Livia’s presence in their lives shouldn’t ruin everything, especially happy moments like this one.
Taking a pair of scissors from the knife block, Jade slit the packing tape and opened the flaps of the box. Inside was a green baby outfit with dark green pants and a light green onesie. Across the front of the onesie were the words I Love Grandmom.
Jade stared at it. “Have Maggie’s parents been by?” Her voice cracked and she cleared her throat.
“No, they’re on their way,” Thorne said.
Jade shoved the outfit into the box, feeling anger and fear rising inside her.
“What’s wrong?” Thorne asked.
“Nothing,” Jade said, but the word came out on a choked whisper.
“Jade?” Declan asked.
“The clothes are from Livia. I’m calling the sheriff and I’m calling Knox.” The second time she had spoken to the sheriff this week. He had driven to her farm after the incident with the mustached man. He had not seemed particularly interested in helping her or looking further into it. Maybe a second incident would convince him the Coltons were in danger, but she doubted it would convince him to care.
Thorne took the box and lifted the outfit from it. “No one says anything to Maggie. I’ll tell her eventually, but not today. Please put this on the back porch for the sheriff.”
Jade took the box and walked to the back door. Declan followed her. “Let’s keep a buddy policy, okay?”
Jade was so shaken she had forgotten that Livia could still be lurking around the house. Fear wrapped around her and doubled when she thought of little Joseph. They couldn’t know what Livia was thinking or if she was thinking about kidnapping him.
The family would need to protect the baby with their lives.
* * *
Jade’s mother was queen of ruining everything. Most recently, her fireworks at Edith and River’s wedding and the outfit at Joseph’s birth. Why was Livia staying in Shadow Creek? If she was smart, she would go far away where the authorities would be less likely to find her. Except Livia Colton was no one’s fool and if she was in Shadow Creek, it was for a reason. Like settling a score with her youngest daughter.
Jade didn’t know much about her siblings and their parentages, because many of Livia’s claims were lies or attempts to manipulate the situation to her benefit. Claudia wasn’t even her sister by blood. That craziness, the constant flow of men into their lives, had made Jade never want a family of her own. Now that her mother wasn’t in her life, she wanted to rebuild her family. She wanted stability, like Knox and Allison had, like Leonor and Josh, like Thorne and Maggie, like Claudia and Hawk, and like River and Edith. She could have that with someone. With the right man who was willing to accept her past and who liked her business and who wanted the same things. A home and the horse farm and a baby. Or several babies.
Jade didn’t want her children to have the broken family she had. Her mother never kept one man around for long and her romantic relationships were volatile. Though Jade had been told that her father had loved her mother, she didn’t see how he could have tolerated her cruelty. Unless he was utterly clueless, he had to know that Livia was breaking the law, using her house and her status in the town to smuggle illegal goods in and out of Texas.
Declan had asked her to come to La Bonne Vie, if she was up for it, to take a look at a box of items Rafferty Construction had unearthed. Jade almost told him to throw it all away, but then thought better of it. Maybe there was something that could give her insight i
nto her mother. Memories she may have locked away. Anything that would explain how a person like Livia could fool so many people for so long. People must have seen something good in Livia once, aside from her charitable giving. Small comfort now, but at least she could then believe that she had inherited something good from her mother.
When La Bonne Vie came into view, Jade wasn’t afraid. The roof had been torn off, giving the house an exposed, fragile look. The windows were gone and the right side was broken and crumbling. Jade parked next to Declan’s car and walked around to the back of the house.
Declan was waiting for her. He strode to her and greeted her with a kiss on her cheek. A kiss that lingered. When he pulled away, his eyes were filled with concern.
“Let me show you what the team found. If there’s anything you don’t want, I’ll pass it to your siblings to look at.”
“What kinds of things?” Jade asked, wanting to steel herself against an emotional punch.
“Some pictures, costume jewelry, pottery and Christmas ornaments,” Declan said.
Jade walked to the cardboard box. The outside was covered in dust from the construction site. Peering inside, she saw the items stacked neatly.
Declan grabbed a blue tarp that appeared reasonably clean and spread it across the ground. Jade sat and took the first item from the box.
A Christmas ornament that someone had made of beads and pipe cleaners. Didn’t ring a bell. Jade set it on the tarp.
The next item was a family photo album. Flipping through the pictures, Jade was disgusted. Every one was of the Colton family posing with their mother. Livia had her arms around her children as if she was the most warm and loving mother. Not a single picture was of them doing anything together. No picnics or goofy pictures of laughter. Every photo was of them posing. Looking closely at her siblings, they all seemed tense and nervous, their smiles fake. The only genuine-looking smile was Livia’s, the consummate liar, who was used to pretending. Pretending to love people, pretending to want her children, pretending she was a devoted wife and mother and a pillar in the community. A wealthy philanthropist who shared her good fortune with the town. No one had thought to question Livia about where her wealth had come from.
Jade set the album down, feeling anger rumbling through her.
A few vases that Jade remembered holding flowers on the kitchen island brought no good memories. Her father had asked her mother about the flowers and her mother had claimed she’d bought them herself. But Jade knew they were from one of Livia’s lovers. Just like she knew that her mother didn’t love her father. The way she knew that her mother hadn’t loved her. Her father had tried to control her mother, tried to soften her and make her be kind. But Livia would not allow anyone to influence her, even for the better. That pervasive feeling that nothing about their family was whole and good persisted in Jade’s life. Family was a charade and they’d all played their parts.
“I wasn’t sure if I should even show you these things,” Declan said. He had been kneeling quietly next to her.
It took Jade a couple moments to compose her thoughts. “Nothing about my childhood with my mother has meaning to me. I’ll take these to Knox, Thorne, Leonor, Claudia and River. If they want them, they can have them.”
She set the items back in the box and stood, dusting off her jeans.
“I can take them if you’d prefer,” Declan said.
Jade set her hand on Declan’s elbow. “No, it’s okay. You’re sweet to offer.”
“I’ll be home late tonight,” Declan said. “I have some things to wrap up here and then I have a conference call.”
“No problem. Don’t forget we have Cody’s party tomorrow,” Jade said. Cody’s tenth birthday was the following day. She had dropped Tots at Mac’s earlier in the day, and Allison and Knox were presenting the horse to him at the party. It would be a great day if Livia didn’t show up to ruin it.
Chapter 10
Mac had taken over decorating the barn for Cody’s birthday. He had been helping around Thorne’s house as much as possible since baby Joseph slept all day and stayed awake through the night. Thorne and Maggie were exhausted, but they hadn’t wanted to cancel the party for Cody.
Blue and green streamers, balloons and tablecloths set the tone. The entire family was thrilled for Cody to be getting his first horse. Jade had bought Cody a book on caring for rehabbed horses. River and Edith were providing a month’s worth of feed. Leonor and Josh were giving him a saddle. Claudia and Hawk were supplying grooming tools.
“What did you get Cody?” Jade asked Declan, nodding to the small box in his hands. “Looks like jewelry.”
Declan shot her an are-you-kidding-me? look. “I would not buy your elementary school–aged nephew jewelry. It’s a gift certificate to the local vet. I figure the horse will eventually need something and this way, Cody can deal with it himself.”
Jade threw her arms around Declan’s neck. “That is a really sweet present.”
“Just trying to go along with the family.”
“Yes, but it’s my family. You could have just signed the card on my present.”
“Nah, this is a big day for Cody. A boy’s first horse is the start of a great love and many exciting adventures. I’m happy for Cody.”
“What about your first horse?” Jade asked, hearing the whimsy in his voice and wondering.
“I’ve never owned a horse,” Declan said.
“Then when we get home, you’ll have to take ownership of one of mine.”
Declan’s hand tightened and Jade checked her words. The casual use of the word home, the implication that they were living together? Or that she was giving him a horse, which was no small matter? She retracted the words. “I’m only half-serious. I couldn’t expect you to take care of a horse.”
“I travel,” he said. His posture was tight.
This was about more than his traveling for his work. He didn’t want ties to Shadow Creek. Knox had warned her that whatever had happened between Livia and his father could still be painful. Could be the reason he was tearing down La Bonne Vie instead of living there. Except he never wanted to talk about the specifics and Jade wasn’t sure how to bring it up.
Mac called to them, beckoning them over. Jade let the conversation with Declan drop. He didn’t want to discuss that part of his past and she wouldn’t push. When he was ready, he would tell her.
Allison and Knox had gone all out for the party. Though it was being hosted at Thorne’s, Cody’s parents had done the planning. Trays of chicken nuggets, a dozen pizzas, containers of fresh fruit, juice and water bottles, popcorn, chips and pretzels were among the buffet of food for Cody’s family and friends gathered to celebrate his birthday.
Cody was having a great time. He and his friends were kicking around a soccer ball and running around the farm. When it was time, he opened his gift from his parents and he seemed confused.
“A picture of Tots?” Cody looked at Jade. “Are you selling him?” The little boy’s face filled with concern.
Jade pointed to the barn where Mac was leading the horse toward Cody.
“The horse is for you, Cody,” Knox said.
Cody threw his arms around his father and hugged him tight. Allison joined in and the three wrapped their arms around each other. Seeing the joy on their faces, Jade felt a hollow sensation of loneliness. Between Maggie holding baby Joseph in a wrap against her as she bounced slightly to keep him soothed, Cody’s affection for his parents, and Mac’s look of pride and pleasure, Jade knew something was missing from her life.
She glanced at Declan and he was watching her, his expression thoughtful.
This might not be the time to have a serious conversation, but the sense of urgency pushed her to her feet and she strode to where he stood against the split rail fence.
“Cody is happy. I’m sad
to see Tots go, but I know he’ll be with a loving family in a great home.”
“Special day for you all.”
Jade set her hand over his. “For all of us.”
Their eyes met for a charged moment and then Declan looked away. “Jade, I don’t really belong here. I’m not a Colton.”
Jade hadn’t expected him to say that. He had been staying with her to keep her safe from Livia. He had attended this big family function. Not feeling like part of the group didn’t make sense. “You’re not a Colton, but you’re important to me. That means you belong. I was thinking about the stuff you salvaged from La Bonne Vie. Livia’s crap was a farce, but you know what was real? How I feel for my siblings. We looked out for each other when we were young and even though we drifted apart, we’re coming back together. I like that we’re almost building a new family minus Livia.”
“That’s great for you.” Declan glanced at Edith, who was standing close to River, her head on his shoulder, and Jade read hurt on Declan’s face.
“You won’t lose Edith. She’s part of this family, but she’ll always have a special bond with you.”
Declan met her gaze. “Edith is all I have. I don’t have other family. Not a single person.”
“That’s not true. You have me.” And River. But Jade didn’t think saying that would be helpful. There was still an unfinished conversation between them about their parents, but now wasn’t the right time to broach that.
Declan wouldn’t look at her and she would give a million dollars to know what he was thinking. “It’s complicated, Jade.”
Life always was. “You can tell me.”
“I’ve told you everything I can. I’ve done everything I can. You can’t ask more of me,” Declan said.
“I’m just asking for you to let me in,” Jade said. She hated the desperation in her voice. They’d grown closer and she wanted to have that connection with him, that same closeness she saw in her siblings and their significant others. She felt it when she and Declan were alone, when she woke in the morning in his arms, but now, in the light of day, surrounded by her family, she felt distant from him.
