“Looks like we have a welcoming committee.” Jonathan shook his head, looking none too pleased. “The van belongs to my sister, Cecelia. As oldest in the family, she thinks she has to take care of me.”
An older sister? As an only child, Beth couldn’t imagine what she might be stepping into. The fact there would be extended family to deal with hadn’t crossed her mind. Especially not first thing before she’d even seen her baby. The flutters returned to her stomach as she followed Jonathan’s lead and climbed from the vehicle.
Stevie was ready to leave the confines of her car seat, but Beth didn’t feel ready to face what lay beyond the walls of Jon’s gray stone two-story house. She pulled Stevie from the backseat and sat on the front seat with the door open and Stevie on her lap.
“Let’s get your hair straightened out. We don’t want to go meet a bunch of new people with messy hair, do we?”
Stevie arched her back, trying to get down. Beth hauled her into place and, with a tight hold to keep her there, smoothed and tightened the pigtails that had looked much better that morning. Thankfully, Stevie’s protests were token at best. She’d been known to throw much better tantrums.
“She looks fine.” Jonathan stood to the side with the bags in one hand, his other resting on the open door.
Beth looked up to find a faint smile softening his face as if he understood how she felt. If anyone could, surely it would be him.
She sighed. “I suppose she’ll have to do.”
“Don’t worry. It’s just my sister and Mrs. Garrett. We know Lexie will love you, don’t we?”
Beth swung to look at him, but could read nothing in his expression to explain the remark. “Why did you say that?”
Pain flickered in the depths of his dark eyes, and he shrugged. “You’re her mother, aren’t you? It won’t take long for Lexie to realize that.”
“Just as you’re Stevie’s father. You think that’s why she went to you so quickly this morning?”
Again he shrugged. “Maybe.”
Beth stood and walked beside him to the house. She carried Stevie, and childish as it was, she kept her to the side away from Jonathan.
A woman who Beth judged to be in her late fifties opened the door for them before they were halfway across the front porch.
Jonathan grinned. “You must have been watching out the window.”
The woman smoothed the apron over her ample middle and laughed. “Only for the last hour. Cecelia’s here. We’ve been anxious to meet our new addition to the family.”
“Mrs. Garrett, this is Mrs. Carter.” Jonathan motioned toward Beth.
“Beth, please.” Beth expected to shake hands and was surprised to receive a quick hug instead.
“Then, I’m Mary. You can’t imagine how excited we all are.” Mary’s smile covered her entire face. “I’m so glad you’re here, Beth. And I’m anxious to meet this baby.”
Stevie ducked her head into Beth’s shoulder at the sudden attention, and the adults laughed.
Mary patted her on the back. “Don’t you worry. We’ll be the best of friends. Just like your sister and I are.”
Sister? The word was like a glass of cold water thrown into Beth’s face. Yet Stevie and Lexie were sisters of a sort. She’d been so busy thinking of her relationship with both babies, she hadn’t thought of how the girls would feel. They might hate each other. Jealousy between the girls, especially as they grew older, could be a very real problem.
“I’ll bet you’re anxious to meet your daughter.” Mary’s voice penetrated Beth’s concerns. “She’s in the kitchen with her aunt. I’ll let you go ahead while I finish with lunch.”
Beth moved down the hall and through a formal dining room to the kitchen door with the others. At the door, Jonathan stepped back. “I’ll take your bags upstairs to your room. You go ahead and get acquainted with Lexie.”
Beth nodded and watched him walk away. She didn’t know whether to feel abandoned or thankful for his consideration in letting her meet her daughter for the first time without having to compete with him for her attention. As the stepped into the kitchen, she decided to be thankful.
Beth sought her daughter. She scarcely noticed Mary go around the long curved breakfast bar into the kitchen. A woman sat at the table facing a highchair. Lexie, blond hair and blue eyes, stared at the newcomers. Beth’s breath caught in her throat. This was Steven’s child. Large blue eyes, so like her own, looked with a solemn appraisal at her. But the features were Steven’s, altered and softened in her baby face. Beth felt sure she would have known her anywhere.
“You must be Mrs. Carter.” The woman spoke as she stood to remove the tray from the high chair. “I’m Jon’s sister, Cecelia.”
“Hello. I’m pleased to meet you, but please call me Beth.” Beth tried to smile at the woman, but couldn’t take her eyes from her daughter.
“This must be Stevie.” Cecelia lifted Lexie from the high chair and crossed the room where Beth stood with a tight grip on Stevie. “I couldn’t wait to meet my new niece, so here I am. I hope you don’t mind. We’ve all been on pins and needles ever since Jon found out about her. Why don’t we see if Lexie will go to you?”
Beth seldom had trouble coaxing a child from their mother, but this was different. If Lexie turned away from her or cried it would break her heart. She forced a trembling smile and held out her hand.
“Hi, Lexie.” More than anything she wanted to touch her baby. To count her fingers and toes. To turn back the clock and do all those things new mothers have done for generations when they were first introduced to their offspring. All the things that had been denied her and Lexie.
Stevie patted Beth’s face and pointed to Lexie. “Mama, baby.”
“Yes, I see, sweetheart. Another baby just your age. This is Lexie.” Beth reached a tentative hand toward Lexie and stroked her arm. The hint of a smile brightened Lexie’s serious face. Beth took that as encouragement and her smile grew stronger.
She wiggled her fingers for Lexie to come. “Can I hold you, Lexie? Will you come and see me?”
When Lexie’s little arms reached toward her, Beth could scarcely contain the joy surging through her heart. She took her as Cecelia sat her on her arm. Beth brought both her daughters close for a heartfelt embrace. She closed her eyes reveling in the feel of their tiny bodies in her arms. Never before had she experienced such a wondrous thing.
“May I hold Stevie?” Cecelia’s voice brought her back to the realization that she was not the only one who had some catching up to do.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Of course you may.” Beth nodded toward Cecelia. “Stevie, this is your aunt.”
Cecelia reached for Stevie and after a short hesitation, Stevie leaned into her embrace. Cecelia gave her a quick kiss. “Why don’t we sit down here at the table and get better acquainted?”
While Cecelia talked to Stevie, telling her all about the rest of the family, Beth made friends with Lexie. As she talked to the baby and let her play with her necklace, Beth’s emotions took a roller coaster ride. Overwhelming love for the baby in her arms surprised her—even as fear that her love would be rejected tried to gain a foothold. Then a rush of anger that this beautiful child had been taken from her almost jerked her from her chair.
Beth held Lexie’s tiny hand in her fingers and ran her thumb over each perfectly formed nail. Stevie’s chatter as she talked to her aunt brought a smile. Lexie had not uttered one word in all the time she held her. Whether she was shy or she couldn’t talk as well as Stevie, Beth didn’t know. What she did know was that she loved Lexie even more than she’d expected to.
“How are we getting along?” Jonathan came through the open doorway.
Beth looked up with a smile and met his gaze. “Even better than I expected.”
Something flickered in his eyes as he looked at her and Lexie. A faint smile touched his lips as he squatted in front of her. “Glad to hear it.”
“Dada.” Lexie launched herself toward her father, leaving Beth’s
arms empty.
~*~
After lunch, Cecelia excused herself and left, saying she had an appointment. Jonathan walked out with her as Mary brought two damp washcloths to the table and handed one to Beth with a smile. “Which of these dirty faces would you like to wash?”
Beth looked from one baby to the other. Mashed potatoes radiated from the mouths outward on both little faces. Stevie had some clinging to her hair.
“Do you mind if I clean them both? You already have so much to do.”
“That I do.” Mary shook her head. “Mr. Jon told us what his plans are. For you to stay on as nanny, I mean. I love Lexie, but now I’ve met you, I hope you take the job. I don’t mind the extra work, but there’s more to consider. Mr. Jon needs something to bring him out of the shell he’s built around himself ever since his wife died. I think you may be just the one to do it. You and your baby.”
Beth didn’t know what to say. She hadn’t considered taking the job to help Jonathan McDuff. Her only reason had been to selfishly keep both girls for herself any way she could.
Stevie, as usual, put up a fuss when the wet cloth came near her face. When she had her clean, Beth turned to Lexie, unsure of what to expect. Lexie sat quietly and allowed Beth to wash her face and hands without a murmur. Jonathan came in as she finished.
~*~
Jon watched his daughter sitting on Beth’s lap while she ran a wash cloth over one of the baby’s hands taking care between each finger as if she didn’t want to let go. Lexie looked so completely at home with Beth, a stranger might think she belonged there. A knot formed in the middle of his chest and he stepped forward.
“I think it’s about time for Mrs. Garrett to put the girls down for a nap.”
Beth looked up at him. A frown touched her face. “I expected to do that myself.”
“There’s no need.” Jon reached for Lexie. The knot in his chest loosened some when she came right to him. “You’re our guest this weekend. You may as well take it easy.”
“Take it easy?” Beth picked up Stevie. She faced him, each of them holding a baby. “I expected you to understand. Of all people, you should know I want to spend as much time with Lexie as I can. I’ve missed a year and a half of her life already. Later on, I may welcome a break now and then. But not today.”
Jon’s gaze shifted to Stevie. He did know how she felt. That was the problem. He felt the same thing only more. Because he also felt like he was losing Lexie. He shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
“Thank you.” She started to reach for Lexie, but he pulled back.
“It’s okay. I’ll walk you up to the nursery.”
“Oh, yes. I guess I haven’t seen all of the house, have I?”
He smiled at her confusion. “No, but it isn’t that big. I’m sure you could have found your way. After all, how many rooms can there be with two baby beds in them?”
“Two?” Beth looked none too pleased.
“Yes, two. I set the second one up last night. You did say later on you might like a break. I assume that means you’ve decided to stay. Doesn’t it?”
“I haven’t decided.” Beth didn’t say more, but Jon could tell by the frown marring her attractive face that her thoughts were running rampant. Did she still have it in her head that he planned to steal Stevie away from her?
Jon stepped back at the door of the nursery to allow Beth to enter. He crossed the room to lower Lexie into her bed. He gave her a kiss on the top of her head. “Sweet dreams, Lexie girl.”
Then he turned to Beth who stood watching them with Stevie clutched close in her arms. “May I hold her just a moment?”
“I suppose.” Beth allowed him to take the baby.
“Dada.”
He heard Lexie’s call and turned to see her standing in her bed, reaching one hand toward him. Her left thumb had disappeared into her mouth. He glanced at Beth. A smirk sat on her lips. She appeared to be watching to see what he would do.
He strode across the room and scooped Lexie up so he held both babies. He turned. Beth had moved to lean against the wall, but was still watching. He’d show her.
Three long strides and Jon stood in front of Stevie’s bed. He drew her close for a kiss, then lowered her over the side into her bed. “Go to sleep sweetheart, and we’ll play when you wake up.”
Nary a sound broke the quiet peace of the nursery as he carried Lexie back to her bed. “Night, night, baby. We’ll play when you wake up.” He didn’t want her to feel left out.
The words were no sooner out of his mouth than a wail sounded from across the room. Garbled words that sounded like, “No nap” came from Stevie’s bed. He turned to see her clutching the top railing of her bed with one hand and reaching toward him with the other. Tears streamed down her tiny face.
Beth stood across the room half hidden from Stevie behind a built-in bookcase with her hand over her mouth. He couldn’t be sure, but he thought he heard a snicker from that direction.
“Dada.” Lexie wasn’t about to let him go to the other baby. From behind she grabbed his shirt and hung on.
Jon threw both hands out to the side. He knew when he’d been out maneuvered and when it was time to let a superior negotiator take over. To the tune of Stevie’s wail and Lexie’s “Dada” repeated over and over with a tug on his shirt each time, he appealed to Beth.
“Can you do something here?”
She broke out in laughter. At first he saw nothing funny about the situation, until he looked at it from her point of view. Then a smile pushed his lips up at the corners, and he chuckled.
“Please?” Maybe a bit of bargaining wouldn’t hurt. “I’ll even help with one of them if you’d like.”
Beth shook her head. “If I can’t handle two little girls at nap time, I don’t need the job taking care of them. Please, just shake yourself free from Lexie and leave us alone for a few minutes.”
Jon did as she requested, although he didn’t see how she could handle the situation any better than he had. He’d check back in a few minutes, after she had time to realize they weren’t going to sleep. Then, he’d lend a hand.
Fifteen minutes later, Jon tiptoed down the carpeted hall toward the nursery. Just outside the door, he heard the sweet sound of a woman singing a lullaby. No yelling, no crying, no Dada’s—or Mama’s, just the lilting soprano of Beth’s voice. He peeked around the corner of the open door.
Beth sat near Stevie’s bed in the swivel rocker with Lexie. He could see Lexie’s left thumb was planted in her mouth just as always when she slept. Her eyes were closed, her head snuggled close in the crook of Beth’s left arm. Beth’s right arm disappeared through the upright spindles of Stevie’s bed. He shifted a few inches for a better view. Stevie lay on her tummy with her eyes closed. Beth gently patted her back while she rocked Lexie.
The familiar melody Beth sang caught his attention. “Bye, Baby Bunting, Daddy’s gone a-hunting. . .”
Was he the daddy in her song? Or did she think of her deceased husband when she sang? Something akin to jealousy stung his heart as he stood listening. She didn’t need his help. Had he made a mistake in bringing Beth to his home? Would she steal Lexie from him?
Chapter Seven
“She was about a year old then, wasn’t she, Mom?”
Beth listened to Jonathan’s father relate another Lexie tale as his wife nodded her agreement.
“Yes, sir, Robbie and Lexie are quite a pair when you get them together. He got the jelly out and she made short work of it. Her face and hands were purple globs of grape jelly. Well, here, I think there’s a picture of her in here somewhere.”
Beth laughed at the picture of a younger Lexie caught in the act. Sitting on the kitchen floor beside her young cousin, Robbie, with her hand stuck inside a very messy jelly jar, she looked up at the camera with the innocence of a baby. Ray McDuff was right. She’d covered her face and arms to the elbows in globs of jelly. Robbie appeared to be only slightly cleaner.
Beth had been laughing nonstop, it seemed,
since the McDuffs’ arrival with picture albums full of their grandson and Lexie, too. But then, Lexie was their granddaughter, wasn’t she? Less than one day, and Beth already thought of Lexie as her daughter which of course, she was. If she thought too much about the situation, she could very easily become confused and frustrated.
She turned to find Jon’s gaze on her. Something in the depths of his dark brown eyes unsettled her. Why did just being in the same room with him set her on edge while every other member of his family seemed so delightful?
Cecelia and her husband, Robert, along with their son, Robbie, had been the first to arrive. Then Jon’s younger brother, Bradley, and his wife, Donna McDuff, came followed closely by the elder McDuffs. Everyone had welcomed Beth, making her feel like a member of the family. And they made over Stevie until the child became hyper. Beth had never seen her quite so animated. It was almost as if she sensed the importance of the evening and the people surrounding her.
One thing Beth knew. Lexie had the love of every person there, and the discovery that she was not their own flesh and blood had done nothing to discourage their love. If anything, they loved her even more because now they had Stevie to add to their family circle.
“Ma-maw.”
Beth turned at the sound of Stevie’s new word. She had taken an instant liking to Jon’s mother. Now she stood in front of the older woman, a children’s book in her hand, patting her grandmother on the knee.
“Wead.” She grinned and her dimple flashed.
“Read you a book?” Her grandmother picked Stevie up and settled her on her lap. “Let’s see what you’ve got here. Little Red Riding Hood. Maybe Robbie and Lexie might like to hear this story, too.” She smiled at Robbie when he dropped the toy cars he’d been playing with and came to her. She slipped her arm around him, drawing him to her side, then glanced across the room where Lexie sat curled up on Jon’s lap.
“Come on, Lexie.” Marion McDuff leaned forward and held an inviting hand out toward Lexie.
Jon turned from his conversation with his brother and nudged his daughter forward. “Grandma wants to read you a story, Lexie.”
This Child Is Mine Page 6
