Candice gave Logan a pointed look. One that said they’d talk about this later.
Logan nodded, turning his attention to Kenny. “She’s almost ready, huh? Well then let’s get this going.” With his hand on Kenny’s back, Logan guided him toward the deck, and stopped short when he heard a loud buzz vibrating the counter. He glanced down, saw that his phone was ringing, and felt his heart jolt into a frantic pace. His gaze shot to Candice.
“Is it from Colorado?” she asked, rushing toward him as she flicked off the oven mitts. His gaze shifted back to the phone as she picked it up. He’d seen just enough to know it had been from Colorado.
Candice brought it to her ear with tight fingers. “Hello?”
She gulped in the short pause.
“Yes, hi. This is Candice.”
The heart jolts grew stronger, more severe with each shallow breath. He leaned forward, catching the words good news. He leaned in even still, barely breathing as he tried to listen further. Suddenly Candice dropped to the floor with a gasp. She cupped a hand over her mouth, covering it completely as she stared.
“What is it, Love?” Logan asked.
“Hello?” A female voice came through the line. “Are you there?”
“Yes,” Candice said. “I am. I’m just… I can’t believe it, I can’t. I don’t know what to say. Here, talk to Logan.” She straightened her arm, thrusting the phone into his hand.
“This is Logan,” he said, hunching down to get closer to Candice. He looked into her deep green eyes – wet with moisture – and listened.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Emerson. I was just telling your wife that Celeste, the birth mother you two spoke with this morning, has made a decision. She’d like you and Candice to raise her baby.”
Excitement at the news took sprout, mingled with an underlying fear of where this could lead. “That’s terrific news,” he said. “Can you tell us a little more about her situation? When is the baby due?”
“They’ve already scheduled an induction date. He’ll be born two weeks from today.”
“Two weeks,” he repeated so Candice could hear as well.
“You’re kidding,” Candice cried. “That soon?”
“We’ll email you with the rest of the details. For now, mark your calendars. The delivery is scheduled for first thing in the morning. You’ll want to arrive the night before, and stay somewhere close to the hospital.”
“Okay. Thank you.” Logan said goodbye in a daze and pulled Candice into his arms. Praying all would go well this time around. What if they lost the baby again? What if – by keeping them on the adoption list – he’d invited another round of heartache into their lives?
“You guys are getting the baby?” Kenny asked.
“Sounds that way.” Logan smiled as Kenny performed some sort of happy dance around the room. Logan tapped Candice on the shoulder, pointed to Kenny, and enjoyed the smile that lit her pretty face. Her lips tightened then, her chin quivering as she looked back at Logan.
“Here we go,” she said, caught between laughter and tears. She inhaled a deep, shaky breath, blew it out through pursed lips, and gripped onto his wrists. “I can’t believe we’re really doing this again. I’m scared.”
Logan nodded. “I am too.”
“And excited,” she added.
He gave her another nod. “Yeah. Me too.”
A tiny tear gathered in the corner of her eye, catching a white reflection of light from the window. She smiled, and it trickled slowly over her rounded cheek. Logan rushed in to kiss her lips, grateful he could take such liberties now.
“In two weeks from today,” he said, helping her come to a stand, “we might be bringing home our very own baby boy.”
Candice nodded. “Cautious optimism, right?”
“Right. We get the room ready. Tell our family. And then hope for the best.”
She took a second to steady herself, resting a hand on his shoulder. “Yeah, but we somehow just… keep being aware that she could back out or the baby could die or she could just change her mind completely and we’ll be back where we were after Mason.”
Logan wrapped a solid hand around the back of Candice’s neck, locking his eyes on hers. “If that happens, we’ll be a whole lot better off than we were the first time. We have each other, and we’re not going to let anything get in the way of that again.”
He was pleased when Candice nodded in agreement, throwing her arms around him once more. From the corner of his eye, Logan saw Lana just off the hallway, her arms folded across her chest.
“Wow,” Candice said with a sigh. “This is totally crazy.”
“Sure is,” he agreed.
“Mom,” Kenny blurted. “These guys are going to get a baby!”
Candice spun to look over her shoulder, and Lana pasted a smile on her face.
“Oh, that’s great news,” she said, walking into the room at last. Boy did that woman unsettle him in the worst way. When it looked like she might be coming toward him, Logan made for the door.
“C’mon, Kenny,” he said, keeping it open for him as well. “We’ve got something to celebrate now, don’t we? Let’s get that meat on the grill.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
The food went on for miles. Mismatched cloths covered dozens of tables, all lined along the shaded backyard at Lilly and Earl’s place. The men had spent the day getting things ready out back. Setting up the corral, preparing the branding supplies, and rounding up every new calf on the ranch. Candice had to admit that it felt nice seeing Logan’s extended family. Earl’s brother, Grant and is wife, Betty, always treated her with a rare and genuine kindness; they somehow managed to make Candice – though she and Logan had lived out of state for most of their marriage – feel like they hadn’t missed a beat.
Logan’s cousins, Blake, Gavin, and Shane were there as well, the older two with their wives and kids. Candice was glad Logan had those Emerson men in his life. Next to his brother, Alex, Logan had been closer to them growing up than anyone. And here they were, all in the same place, helping their fathers run the family ranch. Candice couldn’t help but sigh in contentment. Logan was right – no matter how things went, they would be okay. She could feel it.
“Here she is,” Candice heard Allie say from somewhere on the patio. She wasn’t alone. Bree, Allie’s sister-in-law walked along one side while Shelly scurried along the other. A smile stretched over Candice’s face.
“Come on down,” she hollered, motioning for them to join her. She gave each of them a hug in turn before motioning to the cluster of chairs and benches arranged beneath a set of massive trees. “The food is either chilling in the fridge, warming in the oven, or covered tight enough to keep the flies out. Now we get to kick up our feet for a while.” They opted for a set of chairs surrounding a small table.
“Where’s your Colorado friend?” Shelly asked, smoothing a layer of Chap Stick over her lips. “Allie mentioned that she was here with her kid.”
“She is. She got here yesterday morning.” Candice looked out over the yard. “She and her boy went out to be with the guys. Lana thought it’d be more fun for Kenny to see that end of it.”
“Probably a heck of a lot more interesting than a bunch of women scurrying around a kitchen,” Shelly said with a nod.
“That’s a pretty popular opinion,” Bree said. “Braden had me text him the minute I got here so he could take Sophie and Carter to the corral as well. They were so excited.”
“Remind me,” Candice said, “how old are your kids?”
Bree squinted as she glanced up. “Five and seven.”
Shelly leaned onto her elbows and cleared her throat. “You ladies don’t mind if I give Candice here a bit of the third degree, do you?” she asked, looking to Bree and Allie in turn.
Bree shook her head.
“Not at all,” Allie said. “My mom always says trying to get information out of Logan is like priming a pump in a ghost town.”
The women chuckled.
; “But from what I understand,” Allie continued, “these two have some news to share.”
A spark of excitement flashed in Shelly’s eyes. “That’s what I’m getting at.”
Candice looked to Bree, the only woman in the circle not harassing her for details. Bree gave her an apologetic grin and shrugged. “I had no idea they were about to do this. I swear.” She put one hand in the air like she was under oath.
“I heard you guys are getting a baby,” Shelly said.
“And I heard that you and Logan are back together,” Allie added in a whisper. “Officially.”
Bree gasped and threw a hand over her mouth. “You are? That’s so exciting! Congratulations.”
Candice felt her face redden. “Thanks.”
“So why didn’t you tell me about you and Logan?” Shelly asked.
“Because we only made it official a few nights ago.”
“Which night was it?” Allie asked with wide eyes.
A wonderful thrill spread through Candice’s limbs as she thought back on the evening in question. “Thursday.” She worked to contain the images in her mind but it was impossible. Her time spent with Logan had proven to Candice that Logan still knew how to drive her wild; she hoped he always would.
“Why didn’t you call me on Friday?” Shelly feigned offense well enough, but Candice knew her sister was nearly as excited as she was.
“Well that’s just it. Everything happened so fast after that.” She started by telling them about the progress she and Logan made after getting the bowl of suggestions from Uncle Glen. Next Candice told them about the lovely dinner the two shared Thursday night, and the way things had steamed up between them on the way home. She skipped ahead a bit, moving to the morning where they decided to play hooky for the day. It was more fun than she imagined it might be, reliving the events; it was starting to feel like a fairytale.
“As soon as we called in sick,” Candice said, “everything just started happening so fast.” Even in her mind, it was like a roomful of dominos in motion. She told that part quickly, from the appearance of Lana and Kenny, to the online meeting with the birth mom, and that unbelievable call that let them know they’d been chosen. Those parts were thrilling. Invigorating. And absolutely terrifying. Yet still, she couldn’t shake the excitement that came over her as she spoke of it.
“I know you’re nervous about all this,” Allie said to Candice once she was through, “but things are going to be different this time around. I know it.” She hopped up from her seat and threw an arm around Candice.
Bree nodded in agreement, a sweet smile on her face. “Definitely.”
“Well,” Shelly said, “I just want to know how I can get a little more details on the ‘making it official part.’ You kind of breezed over what I wanted to hear the most.”
Candice gave her sister a slap on the arm. “Yeah, right.”
“No,” Shelly said, giving her hand a squeeze. “I really am happy for you. It might be happening quicker than you imagined, but you’ve been waiting for this your whole life. Now all you’ve got to do is relax and enjoy it.”
Talking to Shelly, Bree, and Allie had somehow made things feel more real than they had before. It was so different from how her conversation with Lana had gone. That woman seemed to like Candice most when she and Logan were at odds.
“Famous ribs coming through,” a booming voice announced.
Candice glanced up to see her mother leading Boyd down the patio steps and toward the tables. Behind them, a stream of Emerson women poured from the kitchen, each carrying casserole dishes with hot pads or pans covered with foil. She recognized the women with ease – Betty and her daughters-in-law, Reese and Jade.
Lilly marched over to the dinner bell and gave it a triumphant ring, announcing that supper would be served. Bree followed Candice over to the tables, helped her place serving utensils next to each dish.
“So, Allie mentioned that you do daycare,” Candice said to Bree. “That means we both work with kids for a living.”
Bree’s brown eyes lit up. “That’s right. Except you watch a lot more kids than I do.”
“But yours are much younger than mine,” Candice pointed out. “And you change diapers.”
“You’re right,” Bree said. “I win.”
Candice laughed.
“Sounds like you’re going to be changing diapers of your own pretty soon here,” Bree said. “I can’t tell you how thrilled I am for the two of you. Seeing you get your happy ending…” She paused there, turned to face the breeze as it swept in, and tucked her dark, silky hair behind one ear. “It gives me hope.”
“Me too,” Candice said, recalling what Logan had told her. Something about behaving as if the adoption was really going to happen. Because it very well might this time. She envisioned it. The day-to-day caring of a baby. The idea triggered another thought. “I wanted to ask you,” Candice said, setting a pair of tongs over a covered green salad. “Do you have any openings for a baby? I mean, the school year’s about over now, but in the fall if I decide to go back to work?”
“I do,” Bree said, looking a bit hesitant suddenly. She glanced over her shoulder and brought her voice down. “I’m not sure if Allie or Logan has told you about my situation, but I’m going to have to leave the state within the next year or so. I’m not exactly sure when it will be, or how long I’ll be gone. I’m just giving parents a head’s up.”
Candice remembered then what Logan had told her. About the stalker who’d pursued Bree for years. He was in prison now, but he’d be out soon, and Braden, Bree’s brother, had made arrangements for her to live out of state once he was released. For fear that he might come after her. “Yes, I did hear about that,” Candice said in a somber tone. “You’ve really been through a lot, haven’t you?”
Bree smiled, revealing a deep dimple in her cheek. “We all have.”
“That’s true,” Candice agreed. “I sure am glad to have you in the family. We need all the support we can get, don’t we?” And she meant it. Bree and her brother, Braden, had lost both of their parents years ago. Braden had remained single until his recent marriage to Allie, and Bree had gone through a divorce after having two children, all the while dodging some crazed stalker who made their lives miserable.
Having Braden, his sister, and her kids in the family was a wonderful thing. And being here among the rest of her family was a gift indeed. Call it optimism, hope, or a sheer desire to gain what she’d wanted all of her life, but Candice was certain everything was just about to fall into place.
~+~
“Are you gonna let me help with the cow-branding?” Kenny squeaked.
Logan reached back to prop the kid a little higher on his back. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d given someone a piggyback ride, but Kenny had insisted when he’d seen Blake and Shane carrying Blake’s twins on their backs like that. Gavin was just yards ahead, toting Luke on his back as well.
“As long as your mom says it’s okay,” Logan said. “We’ll have to be real careful, you know? Don’t want you to get burned.”
“Oh, I won’t,” the little guy assured.
“Hurry, hurry,” the young boys up ahead started to shout. Climbing down from their piggyback rides, the three boys motioned for Kenny to hop down as well. “Aunt Lilly’s handing out Otterpops before supper!”
“Oh, oh! Can I go get one?” Kenny asked.
“You sure can,” Logan said, helping him get down. Blake was headed back toward Logan now, tugging the brim of his hat to shade his eyes.
“Cute kid,” Blake said as he neared.
“Yeah,” Logan agreed. “He’s a smart little guy too, that one.”
Blake gave him a quick jab, then pointed beyond the field behind him. “Remember when Alex ran clear out to that pond in the buff?”
The two broke into laughter. “How could I forget?” Logan asked with a grin. “I’m the one who dared him to do it.”
“He only agreed because you told him you’d
do it next,” Blake reminded.
Logan chuckled. “He should have known better.” A vision of his twin brother’s face floated to his mind. “I think my pop really misses him this time of year,” he said. “I know I do.” The truth of it stung. On this day they’d be branding their logo onto all the new calves on the ranch. But Alex’s memory – his free-spirited joy and somewhat naïve approach to life – had been branded into Logan’s heart. A day didn’t go by that he didn’t think of his twin. It didn’t hurt so much anymore, not like it used to. But in that moment, the pain of it flared back up in his chest.
“It’s probably stupid,” Logan said, “but for some dumb reason, I kind of wish I could take back the prank I pulled on him that day. Along with the others I pulled over the years.”
Blake stopped walking, waited for Logan to do the same, and squared his shoulders until they stood face to face. “You were a damn good brother to him. Don’t you ever think different.”
Logan glanced away from the intensity he saw in his cousin’s eyes.
“You were the influential one of the two, and you were a mighty fine influence at that. As far as the teasing goes… hell, you could hardly call yourselves brothers if there wasn’t any of that.”
With a slight nod, Logan looked back to Blake. “Alex sure was a great guy. And a happy one at that.”
“That’s right,” Blake agreed. “He might not have fulfilled all he set out to in his short life, but he’s looking down on you now, seeing that you and Candice get everything the Lord wants to bless you with. In fact, I’d say a bit of Alex’s spirit will come on down with that child you’re about to get.”
He couldn’t manage any words, so Logan simply threw an arm around his cousin instead, clapping him solidly on the back. “Thanks, Blake.”
“You bet.”
Gavin and Shane were headed toward the men now, a gleam of interest lingering in Shane’s eyes. “So is that Lana chic single, or what?” he asked as they neared.
Gavin shoved Shane in the arm. “What do you care? You’re dating Natasha, aren’t you?”
Mending Hearts: Logan's Story Page 21
