She glanced up at Ash. “One of us needs to—”
“Yeah, I’ll check on them in a few. You get their pajamas?”
“Deal.” Closing the bathroom door, Jordan called to Penny, who was in a heap on the floor at the base of the stairs. “I’m putting pajamas on your bed and setting the timer in your room. Teeth brushed and in the bed with a book by the time it goes off.”
“I’m not ready to go to bed.” Penny grumbled but grabbed her sleeping bag and stood up. Jordan caught her in a hug and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll be up in a minute to tuck you in.”
Screams came from the bathroom. Her eyes met Ash’s over Levi’s head. He passed Levi to her with a grin. “If I’m not out in five minutes, send help.”
She was still chuckling as she climbed the stairs and changed Levi for bed. She would seriously have been in trouble had Ash not come to the rescue.
Tucking Levi under the Spiderman blanket, she leaned over to kiss his forehead. “I love you, Levi. I’ll be back to check on you in a few minutes.”
His eyes were already drooping when she stepped over the baby gate and into the hall and looked around to take stock. Penny was in the second-floor bathroom brushing her teeth.
With Ash right at their heels, the twins were tromping up the stairs, their towels around their waists. He pointed to their bedroom. “Get your jammies on and brush your teeth, please.”
John—or Jamie—whipped his towel off his waist and snapped it at his brother, who ran squealing up the rest of the steps.
Ash came up the stairs after the twins, grabbed her and whispered in her ear. “There are way more of them than there are of us. First rule of parenting—don’t let them see your fear.”
Chapter Thirteen
Ash did his best to put on a serious face for the twins, but really, they were him and Joe at that age, to a T. “It’s quiet time on the second floor. Remember, the little ones are going to sleep. No loud voices.”
“I’ll take them now if you want to tuck Penny in.” Jordan followed the brothers to the door of their room, just down the hall.
“I’ve got Penny.” He tucked the six-year-old into bed with her stuffed unicorn. “Night, sweet girl.”
“Uncle Ash, will you pray with me?”
He hesitated, but knelt down by the little bed. “What do you want to pray about, my shiny Penny?”
Penny beamed at him and squeezed her big brown eyes closed tight. “Thank You for Mama Claire and Dad and Uncle Ash and Aunt J and my brothers and sisters and the dogs and the goats and the donkey and the horses. ’Specially Hagrid. Amen.”
“Okay, sweetie—”
“I forgot the cats, Uncle Ash.” Her little nose wrinkled up. “We can’t forget the cats.”
Ash took in a deep breath and said a small prayer of his own, for patience. “And thank You, God, for the cats. Amen. Now, sleep tight, little bug.”
He peeked into the twins’ room. “Lights out, guys.”
His breath was nearly knocked out of him as the twins rushed him, throwing their arms around his waist. They smelled like shaving cream and bubble gum. “Love you guys. Now sleep.”
Jamie and John gave Jordan the same twin hug treatment, got rewarded with a kiss on the head, and scrambled into their beds, pulling the covers up. Ash recognized that it would be a small wonder if they stayed that way, but for now, they were all tucked in.
A quick peek into Amelia’s room was his last stop. He tapped softly on the door, which was cracked. He could barely see Amelia’s head sticking out of the covers, but he put a hand on his niece’s forehead. Warm but not burning up. Jordan was waiting for him in the hall. “I think she’s okay. Sleep is the best thing for now. The antibiotic will kick in tomorrow.”
In the kitchen, Kiera handed Sweetness to Ash, who patted the littlest foster child on the back and made a raspberry at her when she grabbed his cheeks with her pudgy little hands. “She got tired of the high chair,” Kiera said. “I changed her diaper, too.”
“How’s the studying going?” Jordan filled a bottle with water and measured the powder formula into it.
Collecting her computer and notecards into her backpack, Kiera rolled her eyes. “This teacher is so hard. There are like four hundred vocabulary words. I’m going to put the baby to bed and study some more. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Jordan shook the bottle and handed it to Ash. “You okay with feeding Sweetness?”
“Sure.” Ash sat on the sofa and slid the bottle into the baby’s mouth, while Jordan collapsed on the sofa beside him.
“There are so many of them.”
Ash laughed softly. “And they go in all directions, so you’re always thinking you’ve lost one. You’ve got a little shaving cream...right there, on your cheek.”
She rubbed it off and smirked. “You’ve got some, too, sport. Just there, above your right eyebrow.”
Ash shook his head. “I don’t even want to know.”
He put Sweetness on his shoulder and patted her back.
“I’m gonna owe you big for this, aren’t I?” Jordan asked.
“Yeah, I have something in mind. Hang on and let me put her in the crib and I’ll be right back.” He took Sweetness into Joe and Claire’s bedroom, where the crib was pushed into a nook by the window.
Laying Sweetness gently on her back, he grabbed one of the half a dozen pacifiers in the crib and stuck it in her mouth before she could wake up.
Jordan had her feet on the coffee table and her eyes closed. When he came back into the living area, she cracked one blue-green eye. “I’ve only been here three hours. How can I be this tired in three hours?”
“I don’t know. I feel it, though.” He changed direction and went to the counter, where the single cup coffeemaker sat. He brewed two cups and brought the steaming mug to her on the couch. “It’s a long time until they get home.”
“Smart thinking.”
Before he took a drink, he pulled out his personal diabetes manager and an alcohol pad. He swiped, pricked, watched the countdown, programmed the number into his PDM and put it away. He had a glucose monitor but still had to check his numbers the old-fashioned way a few times a day.
“So, the favor.” Her eyes were all the way open now and on him, the mug cupped in her two hands.
“You remember I have a patient who’s getting treated for cancer?”
“Rainbow fingernails.”
He smiled. “Right. Rainbow fingernails. She’s done with treatment, for now.”
“She’s, what do they call it, NED, no evidence of disease?”
“We won’t know for sure until she has scans in another couple of weeks. This kid—Natalie—she loves horses. She knows all the different kinds and she’s got pictures all over her room. I wondered if her mom could bring her out one day to meet the horses, maybe take a ride if she’s up to it.”
“That’s not even a favor. I tell you what... My assistant and I have been working on an idea for children’s parties. Why don’t we try it out with her next weekend? She can bring her mom and dad and siblings, if she has ’em.”
“The dad works offshore but we can ask. Jordan, I don’t know how to thank you. This will be awesome.”
“Tell her to wear a princess dress.”
Natalie was a little princess and more than just a patient to him. He couldn’t wait to see her face when they pulled up at the farm next week.
Upstairs, something crashed. His eyes locked with Jordan’s. “I got this one.”
* * *
“Get that banner up on the barn. We are T-minus ten minutes. No time for lollygagging around.” Jordan’s assistant, Allison, was on the job and they were counting down until Princess Natalie arrived for her party. Tablet in hand, Allison checked the banner off her ever-present digital lis
t.
Jordan looked around, checking her own mental list. The picnic tables by the pond were decorated with sparkly gold crowns and yards and yards of pink tulle. Joe and Ash’s sister Jules had done the food. Pale pink cupcakes with gold sprinkles, fruit kabob magic wands and perfectly frosted sugar cookies with tiny edible pearls at the tips. It was perfect.
The sky was crystal blue, one of those late-spring days when the humidity was low and there was a slight breeze, just enough to stir the leaves in the trees. It was almost enough to make up for the insanely hot weather to come. Almost.
A horn sounded on the highway and her pulse jumped. “They’re here!”
Allison disappeared into the barn. Joe, the banner hanger, ran for his house and the cold six-pack of craft root beer she’d bribed him with.
Jordan straightened the burgundy velvet livery that Allison had unearthed from who-knew-where and gave Leo a rub on the neck. “Almost time, big man.”
Her handsome horse, along with Bartlet and Hagrid, had been decked out with bows in their manes and tails and fancy velvet saddle blankets. The horses could sense the excitement, dancing a little as she and the volunteers held them.
She laughed out loud when the hot-pink Hummer limo turned into the driveway. Ash had obviously pulled out all the stops for their princess of the day. The huge, gaudy car cruised to a stop and the door opened.
Ash stepped out first, tucked his crown under his arm and winked at her. The man had actually dressed like Prince Charming, in a white ceremonial uniform with miles of gold braid over red pants. If she’d thought she had a crush on him before, it was nothing compared to the rush of feelings she got when he held out his white-gloved hand and a tiny—also gloved—hand reached for his.
Their honorary princess was wearing a pink tulle dress with lots of bling and a crown on her sweet bald head. Jordan smiled. “Princess Natalie, welcome to Red Hill Castle.
“Your gallant steed is ready to take you to the royal picnic.” Jordan turned to Leo and pressed the clicker in the palm of her hand while touching his shoulder. “Sir Leo, please honor our guest.”
Leo stretched back and touched his nose to his lower leg in a deep bow, which had a huge smile stretching across the little girl’s face.
“He’s so pretty.” Natalie had deep brown eyes that reminded her of Levi’s, and they were glued to Leo. “Can I pet him?”
“Would you like to ride him?” Jordan kept a firm hand on Leo’s lead rein and one hand on his neck. Fortunately, her oldest equine companion wasn’t fazed by children dancing around him, and the volunteers who were working with her today were seasoned horse handlers.
Natalie’s eyes searched for her mom, a petite woman with a shiny black ponytail and tawny brown skin, who nodded at her daughter. “It’s okay. You can ride him.”
“You ready, Princess?” Ash stepped forward with a flourish of the hand.
“Ready, Doc—I mean, Prince Charming.” Natalie giggled, and Ash’s blue eyes met Jordan’s. That carefree giggle from a five-year-old who hadn’t that many reasons to laugh lately was worth all the work to set this day up.
Ash lifted Natalie onto Leo’s back and handed her the reins.
“Look, Mommy, I’m so high! I’m a princess!”
“I see that, mija. You’re a beautiful princess.” Natalie’s mom, with tears brimming in her eyes, walked a three hundred and sixty degree circle around her daughter, taking pictures.
“We’re gonna take a slow turn around the ‘castle courtyard’ and then have the picnic by the pond.” Jordan clucked to Leo and he started off at a very sedate pace, followed by the other horses carrying Natalie’s siblings, who were also dressed for the occasion as a princess and a knight.
The whole party only lasted about half an hour, from beginning to end, including pony rides for Natalie and her siblings. The princess just didn’t have the stamina for it. After the picnic, Ash carried her to the pink limo and tucked her into her booster seat.
Natalie’s mom, circles under her own eyes, turned to Jordan, squeezing her in a hug. “I can’t thank you enough for putting this together for Natalie. She’s been through a lot—” she took a deep breath, settled “—and she really deserves a special day. Maybe a million of them.”
“It was our pleasure. When she’s feeling better, bring her back to the farm. It would be a way for her to regain strength that she would enjoy.”
Carla nodded, dark eyes brightening. “She would love it.” She stepped closer, glanced back toward the car. “So, it’s none of my business, but I can see the way Doc looks at you. Don’t let him get away. He’s a keeper. We wouldn’t have made it through this without him.”
Jordan didn’t respond and Carla didn’t seem to care. At the limo, she grabbed Ash and whispered something in his ear, as well. Jordan could only guess.
He walked back to Jordan and held her hand as the limo drove down the driveway and out of sight. Together they turned and walked back to the picnic site. “Thank you for putting this together. It was amazing.”
Jordan shook her head. “I really didn’t have a lot to do with it. I just take orders well.”
“Can I help you with the cleanup?”
“Actually, I’m leaving Allison in charge because Levi’s caseworker is coming for her monthly visit and I need to go make sure all the plugs are covered and cabinet latches are where they’re supposed to be. Later I’m taking my little man on an outing, though. Want to come?”
He looked down at his clothes. “Yeah, I should probably change first.”
“Yeah, wear something casual. We’re going to see Mr. Haney’s new piglets.”
“Aww, we’re going to see my favorite food.”
She threw her hat at him. “Go.”
* * *
Jordan put Levi on the floor with some superlarge LEGO blocks. She was finding that he didn’t stay put anymore; awesome for him, but a nightmare for her because he was into everything.
He wasn’t pulling up yet but, little by little, he was getting stronger, thanks to his therapy—both traditional and equine therapy. She prayed every single day as Levi got stronger that he would be able to overcome the injury to his spine.
“Mama, wook!”
“Your tower looks great!” She would never tire of hearing that little voice. He’d been silenced for so long by abuse and neglect. He made her so proud, that he was working so hard to overcome all that he had been through. It was a tough kid that could come out the other side of that and still have the sweetest heart.
“Hey, buddy, what color is this one?”
Levi studied the big block she held. “Gween!”
“Good job. You’re so smart!” She put a pot of coffee on. Reesa worked long hours, even sometimes on Saturday.
A quiet knock on the door and Reesa stuck her head in. “Hey, it’s me.”
“Come on in.” She slid a plate of the practice cookies Jules had baked before the princess party onto the table.
“Are those cookies? I want one,” Reesa said. “But first...”
The caseworker picked Levi up and swung him into the air, getting a belly laugh in return. “Little dude, you make my day.”
She settled Levi on her hip and tickled his tummy when he grabbed one of her springy lavender curls. “Can he have a cookie?”
“Yes, if he wants one. He’s still not a super-adventurous eater, but sometimes he surprises me.” Levi took a piece of cookie from Reesa. “Like now.”
Reesa put Levi back on the quilt on the floor and accepted the mug of coffee that Jordan poured. “Speaking of surprises, you should probably sit down for this one. I had a visit with Levi’s mom a few days ago.”
“You went to see her in jail?”
“Yes. She called and left a message that she wanted to talk, so I arranged a visit. She told me th
at she’s thought about it and she would like to relinquish her parental rights.”
Jordan’s chest felt like it had a vise around it. She forced in a breath. “You mean, like, for good?”
“Yes, that’s what that means. I’m not sure of her motivation. She’s going to be in prison for a good stretch, so that may be it. Maybe she’s pregnant again and doesn’t want a termination to affect her rights to future kids. I just don’t know.”
“When would this happen?”
“It won’t be overnight. The paperwork has to be done and then we’ll have to get a court date. And I don’t know about the father. I’m going to talk to him, too, and see if we can get permanency for this little guy. He deserves that.”
“Yes, he does.” Jordan looked over to the floor, where Levi was playing with some magazines he’d pulled down from the coffee table. He grinned at her.
How many tears had she shed over his situation since he got here? More than she could count, she knew. She’d never been face-first on the floor praying so hard for anything as she had prayed for Levi—for his health and for his happiness, for stability in whatever form it came.
Reesa’s voice was gentle as it broke through her thoughts. “No promises, Jordan, but you’re his foster mom, so our preference would be that he stay with you since there are no relatives willing to step in. Will you think about adoption and let me know if that’s something you would be willing to do?”
She nodded, the knot of feelings in her throat too big to speak around.
Reesa patted her hand and stood up, folding the cover over her notepad. “Okay, good. Now, I need to go before I eat another cookie. Man, those are good.”
Jordan walked her to the door. “Thank you, Reesa. I know one thing. Levi is lucky to have you on his team.”
Reesa laughed. “No doubt.”
The caseworker hitched her big leather bag over her shoulder and started around the pond, tiptoeing so her high-heeled shoes didn’t sink into the grass.
Jordan shut the door, her mind reeling. She’d thought about adoption, had said as much to Ash. She hadn’t let her mind really go there, though. Maybe it was some form of self-preservation, telling herself that if he had to go she would be okay with it.
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