Sighing, he went back to the table and sat down in an open seat across from Adam, who greeted him with a warm smile he didn’t deserve.
“Mom, Dad, I want you to meet Logan Edwards. Edwards, Beth and David Wakeland.”
Adam’s mother stood up, hurried around the table and wrapped his shoulders in a big hug. “Welcome home,” she said. Adam’s dad held out a hand and gripped his firmly.
The woman in the kitchen came to the table with a stack of coffee mugs and set them around. “And I’m Angie, Adam's big sister. The two little monsters running around here are Jack and Cassie.”
Angie looked nothing like Adam and Allie. She had straight blond hair and her blue eyes matched her mother’s. She was taller than Allie and so thin she looked like she might break. Despite the smile on her face, her eyes were unspeakably sad. It was no surprise. Logan knew her husband Jeff had been taken out by a roadside bomb while driving in a convoy. It had been a year or a little more, if he remembered right. Adam had talked about his brother-in-law a lot. He’d loved the guy. Grieved him hard.
Angie held out a thin hand and Logan took it and gave a gentle squeeze. He could feel her bones under a cool layer of skin. Then when he let go, he said, “Thank you all for letting me spend the holidays with you. You’re a beautiful family.”
“We’re happy to have you,” Beth said. “But won’t your family be upset that you’re not home? If Adam tried to get out of Christmas with me, I’d never let him hear the end of it.”
“I don’t have anyone to upset, Mrs. Wakeland.” Logan said it with a carefree smile and braced himself for the reaction that always followed that statement, the awkward pity.
“You call me Beth,” she replied, and instead of avoiding the topic the way most people did, she asked, “Have you been on your own for long?”
“As long as I can remember.”
“Well, that means you’re free to spend holidays with us from now on. We’ve got enough family to go around.”
Allie stepped out of the kitchen with the coffee pot and started filling the cups on the table. Her expression told Logan she might not be thrilled about her mother’s invitation.
“Thank you for opening your home to me.”
“Don’t thank us. This is Allie’s home,” Beth said. “Dave and I downsized a few years ago. With just the two of us, we couldn’t see maintaining a big old house any longer.”
He remembered Allie telling him that night that her family thought she was a screw-up. She’d changed, but they couldn’t see it, she’d told him.
He bet her pregnancy hadn’t helped her cause.
She filled his coffee cup and set it roughly on the table in front of him. Coffee sloshed over the sides.
Logan knew he shouldn’t, but he couldn’t hide his grin. That display of temper was unexpected, and he found it entirely amusing. Allie glared at him and stalked back into the kitchen.
“How did you manage to get on Allie’s bad side already?” Adam asked. “I thought I was the only one who could piss her off that fast.”
Logan shrugged and said the first thing that popped into his head. “I asked her if she was having twins.”
Adam let out a bark of laughter.
“In that case, you’re lucky that coffee didn’t wind up in your lap,” Angie said, stifling a grin. She followed Allie into the kitchen and returned with heaping plates of food.
Once the kids were seated at the table, the only spot for Allie to sit was next to Logan, and he worried that she was going to stab him with her butter knife. But instead, she doted on her niece and nephew and ignored him completely. He tried to pay attention to the conversation going on around him.
Adam’s father, Dave, talked about the upcoming Christmas Eve celebration at The Long Branch saloon, and how they’d added something special this year. Then with a loaded look at the kids, he said, “More on that later.”
Angie and her mom talked about Angie’s new house just west of Big Falls. Logan overheard enough to understand that they’d had to move out of base housing after Angie lost her husband. Six months was the maximum time a family could stay in base housing after a soldier died. He glanced at Angie’s kids and sighed, thinking of they’d been through.
He saw Angie spot the sympathy in his eyes, and she quickly said, “It ended up being a blessing in disguise, though, getting kicked out of base housing. I bought one of the only places I could afford, out in the middle of nowhere. Then the town purchased the huge tract of land beside it to build a reservoir. It’s just a hole in the ground now, but in a couple of years, my house will be lakefront property.”
“Somebody’s looking out for you,” he said. And she kind of beamed at him, so it must’ve been the right thing to say.
The family breakfast was the most noisy, chaotic meal Logan had ever seen. There was so much talking he kept forgetting to eat. A lot of the time, several of them were talking at once and yet they all seemed to get every word of it. The topics changed so fast he could barely keep up, even when he was focusing. Often, though, his attention wandered to Allie.
She was discussing dinosaurs with her nephew, Jack. The boy spewed information like he was livestreaming a paleontology website. How did a seven-year-old retain so many details?
“The ankylosaurus is my favorite,” Jack said, “It has a giant club for a tail, and armor all over its body.”
Allie said, “My favorite is a triceratops. It looks like it’s wearing a crown. Now that’s a dinosaur with some great fashion sense.”
Jack laughed. “It’s not a crown, Aunt Allie. It’s a bony frill, and it was probably used for defense against predators.” The little boy suddenly turned to Logan. “What’s your favorite?”
“I…um…a pterodactyl?”
Jack rolled his eyes. “That’s not a dinosaur.”
“Of course it is. Pterodactyls are the flying ones that turned into birds.”
The little boy slapped his forehead in an overly dramatic show of disbelief. “First, they’re not dinosaurs. They’re flying reptiles. Second, they’re actually called pterosaurs, not pterodactyls. And third, even big dinosaurs evolved into birds. Like the t-rex.”
Logan looked at the kid in surprise. “Seriously? What kind of bird did the t-rex turn into? An ostrich? Or an eagle? Something big and scary, right?”
Jack shook his head. “My book says the closest bird to a t-rex is actually a chicken.”
“No way. There’s no way a t-rex evolved into a little tiny critter that we serve up fried with a side of biscuits. That can’t be true.”
“It’s definitely true. Right, Aunt Allie?”
Allie nodded. “I’m pretty sure that’s right. I read him the book.”
“A chicken? That’s amazing. How’d you get to know so much about dinosaurs, Jack?” Logan asked.
“I read a lot. Mom says it makes you smart. You should try it. You can borrow some of my books if you want.”
Allie made a choking sound and covered her mouth with a napkin. But he could see the smile in her eyes, and for just a second, was dazzled by it.
She cleared her throat, took a sip of water, and said, “It would take an awful lot of books, Jack,” she said softly.
The little boy laughed. “Yeah. You might have to read all the books at the library.”
Logan smiled. “T. rex didn’t read any books, and it worked out for him, right?”
“Not really. He turned into a chicken!” Jack giggled.
“And now we’re eating his eggs for breakfast. Guess that’s not such a good thing.”
“He couldn’t lay any eggs,” Jack said. “Only girl chickens can lay eggs. You really gotta read some books.”
Allie laughed along with her nephew and her eyes met Logan’s for the first time since she’d sat down. The force of her smile made him feel warm all over, like he’d just sipped a hot coffee after a freezing desert night, and he couldn’t pull his gaze away.
“Don’t let this guy fool you,” Adam said from across th
e table. “He’s actually one of the smarter people I know.”
“You must know a lot of dummies, Uncle Adam.”
That brought a round of laughter from everyone, including Logan, but Jack’s grandfather didn’t look amused.
“Where are your manners, young man? Sergeant Edwards is soldier, just like your daddy was. Show him some respect.”
At the mention of his father, the little boy’s smile disappeared. He could see the regret on Angie’s face instantly.
“Sorry, Sergeant Edwards,” Jack said.
“Don’t worry about it, kid. Truth is, I got punched by a real big guy a few months ago, and I think he knocked some of my brain cells lose. But who needs brains when you have a face like this.” He winked and Jack managed a weak smile.
Allie gave him an appreciative look and that damn warmth flooded his body again. He didn't know what that was all about, but he intended to get to the bottom of it. It was probably some kind of chemical reaction that made cavemen willing to fight off saber tooth cats to protect their pregnant cave women, ensuring their children would be born. It probably happened to all human males when a woman who was carrying his baby smiled at him.
His baby. The thought made his heart pick up its pace again.
“May I be excused?” Jack was already out of his chair.
“Me, too!” the toddler said. Angie nodded, letting her little girl slide off her lap. Jack followed his little sister into the living room and after a minute the noise of rambunctious play filled the silence.
“Okay, Allie, I think I’ve waited long enough.” Adam turned his attention to his sister. “You said you’d give me all the details in the car last night and then you barely said two words about this whole…situation. So, it’s time. Who’s your new guy? And what exactly does he intend to do now that you’re–– ” Adam paused as if he was searching for the right word.
“Knocked-up?” Allie supplied.
“I was gonna say with child, but that, too. Who’s responsible for this?”
Allie rolled her eyes. “I’m responsible, Adam. Just as much as anyone else.” Her eyes darted to Logan’s, and he knew she was nervous he was going to tell Adam right then.
“You know what I mean, Allie. When did you start dating? How long have you been together? Do I know him? Do I hate him? Is that why you didn’t tell me?”
Allie took a deep breath. “I’m not dating anyone.”
“Did he break it off? Was it because you’re pregnant?” His eyebrows came down hard. “I’ll kick his freaking—”
“No, Adam. There was nothing to break off.”
“But if you weren’t dating…?”
Logan could see the exact moment that the words sank in. Adam’s face turned red and his forehead creased.
“Who did this to you?”
“It’s no use, Adam,” his father cut in. “We’ve all asked her. She won’t say a word about it.”
Logan cleared his throat. He was dreading this, but now was as good a time as any.
Allie grabbed his leg under the table and squeezed. The strength of her grip was enough to shut him up momentarily.
“I don’t have to say a word,” she said. “This is my life. I can make my own decisions, and I’ve decided I can do this. I don’t need anyone’s help.” She was on the defensive, but Adam didn’t back down.
“Allie, come on. You shouldn’t have to do this by yourself,” Adam said.
“There’s no reason I can’t. Angie does, and she’s doing an amazing job.”
Angie looked down at the table. “It’s true. You’re perfectly capable.”
“Come on, Ang. You don’t believe that,” Adam said. “You have no choice but to raise the kids on your own. Allie does. She’s just a kid. She’s going to need help.”
“I’m not a kid. I'm twenty-four years old. By the time you were my age, Adam, you’d already been married and were cruising towards divorce. No one gave you a hard time about your choices.”
“There’s a big difference between me at twenty-four and you at twenty-four.”
Allie glared at her brother, but he didn’t stop.
“I didn’t say anything when you changed your major six times. I kept my mouth shut when you dropped out of college and opened up your studio. But I can’t keep quiet and watch you make another mistake.”
“My studio is doing so well I’m turning clients away,” she said. “And nothing I’ve done in last three years has been a mistake.”
“Dammit, Lexie—”
Logan cleared his throat, drawing Adam’s irritated gaze. Allie gave him a pleading look and her hand squeezed his leg a little tighter. He placed his hand over hers, hoping that the action would be reassuring. He might not agree with Allie on much right now, but he wasn’t about to sit there and let her be attacked for something he was responsible for. “I’m sorry, Adam.” He paused choosing his words carefully. “I know it’s not my place, but I don’t think you’re giving your sister the credit she deserves.”
Adam shot a glare his way. “This isn’t your concern, Logan.”
“I get that. This is your family, but it seems to me like you’re letting your past with your sister cloud your judgment. I’m an outsider, so I can give you an unbiased view of things. It looks to me like Allie’s doing okay for herself. She’s living in a nice house. She’s driving a decent car. She’s feeding all of us this morning. She’s giving us both a place to stay while we’re home on leave. Seems to me that whatever she’s doing is working out pretty well. Maybe you should give her the benefit of the doubt.”
Allie met his gaze and he could see the gratitude in her eyes.
“You’re right. It’s none of your business,” Adam snapped.
“Look, Adam,” Allie said. “Whether the father is involved in his child’s life is between me and the father, and telling you isn’t going to help either one of us make those decisions. If he’s going to be around, I promise, you’ll know who he is. If not, it really doesn’t matter. But mainly, Adam, it’s just none of your business.” She looked around the table. “And that goes for all of you.” Her tone brooked no argument and without another word, she pushed back from the table and started clearing dishes.
Logan stood up and followed suit. Adam didn’t look happy, but he also didn’t look like he was going to press his sister any further. At least not at the moment.
“Whoever this guy is, he better have a damn good excuse for not being here,” Adam whispered.
His father nodded, and Logan looked from older face to younger face, and wondered what they would think of him when they learned the truth.
* * *
Chapter Six
* * *
Logan sat across the table from Adam and his father feeling like a complete and utter fraud. The OK Corral wasn’t exactly what he’d been expecting when Adam told him they were going out for a drink. It was a bar for the locals, clean and efficient, but not fancy. The woman behind the bar was short and curvy, with black hair shot with silver all piled up on her head, a ready smile, and mischief in her eyes.
He thought he might really like this place, if he wasn’t sitting across the table from his best friend, who was trying to work out who had got his baby sister pregnant.
Adam took a slow pull from his long necked brown bottle. “We can figure this out,” he said. “She might not want us to know, but it’s a small town, and we know everybody in it.”
His father didn’t look convinced, a fact that made Logan feel a whole lot better. “Your sister’s stubborn. If she doesn’t want to tell us, she’s not going to.”
“You can’t be serious, Dad. She needs help. She might be twenty-four, but on the inside, she’s still a kid. She has no idea what’s in store and there’s no way she can get through this on her own. You know that. Remember the dog?”
David nodded with a sad expression on his face. “I remember.”
“What dog?” Logan could not possibly not ask.
The men exchanged a look
. David leaned back in his chair, and pointed at Adam with the neck of his beer bottle.
“It was a few years ago,” Adam said. “Allie was still living at home. One day, Mom and Dad came home and there she was with this giant, filthy dog sitting in the middle of the living room. The thing must have weighed two hundred pounds. I don’t know where she got it, but she was completely unprepared. She didn’t have food or a leash or dog dishes. When I got to the house, she was feeding the thing hamburger out of one of Mom’s casserole pans.”
“Your mother was livid,” David said, smiling at the memory.
Logan could picture it in his mind. Allie cooking up a gourmet dinner for a mutt she’d found on the street. She had a big, soft heart. “What happened to the dog?”
Adam shrugged. “It tore the house apart every time she left it alone. I don’t know what happened to it, but after a week it was gone.” He sighed. “She thought she could handle that one on her own, too.”
Logan tried not to cringe, imagining Allie dropping the dog off at a shelter or leaving it on the side of the road. She didn’t seem like the type of person who would do that. Her heart was too big. But he didn’t really know anything about her.
“How’s she gonna raise a child if she couldn’t even handle a dog?” Adam asked, shaking his head and sipping his beer.
“People can change, Adam.” Logan said it without thinking first. “
David nodded. “Allie might not be the most level-headed girl, but she’s come a long way, Adam. She was only nineteen when she brought that dog home. She’s grown up. You haven’t been around enough to see it, but she has. That studio of hers is doing all right.”
Why was Logan feeling all puffed up with pride on hearing that?
“Besides,” David went on. “Your mother made me promise I wouldn’t get into the middle of this, and that I wouldn’t let you, either. I gave her my word. And you know better than to cross her.” He shrugged. “Besides, it’s not like there’s anything we can do about it anyway. She’s an adult. What are we going to do if we do find the guy? Force her to get married?”
Baby By Christmas (The McIntyre Men Book 5) Page 6
