To Hold Forever

by Carrie Carr

  "Dad has already cursed me with the old, 'I hope you have kids like yourself,' speech. Believe me, after the 'angel' you're holding got through finger painting the kitchen with chocolate pudding, nothing will surprise me." Amanda stopped and shook her head. "She's growing so fast. While she played with her friends, I picked up a few new outfits for her." She flopped tiredly onto the sofa. "I can't believe I'm so tired."

  Jacob sat next to her as his wife took Lorrie to the corner of the room where they kept her toys. "Are you not getting enough rest? I know taking care of Lorrie can wear a person down."

  "Actually, I've been getting more than my share. We've been taking naps together. I think she sleeps better if I'm with her." Amanda laughed as she saw her grandmother sit in the floor with the toddler and pull out the wooden building blocks. "Watch out, she likes to stack them high and then swat them across the room."

  Anna Leigh turned to Amanda. "You used to do the same thing. Oh, by the way Mandy, your father called earlier. He's bringing Lois over for lunch."

  "That's great. I was hoping to get a chance to see them while we were in town today." Amanda stretched her legs out in front of her. "I feel like I could take a nap right here."

  Her grandfather patted her on the leg. "You could always go up and take a quick nap. I'll come up and get you when they arrive."

  Yawning, Amanda shook her head. "No. I'll be fine. I guess it's the weather." She rested her head against the pillows. "Or maybe some sort of bug. I've been a little queasy lately."

  "Then you definitely should go lie down." Jacob stood and pulled her up with one hand. "Come on. I'll get you some tea."

  "Okay, you win." Amanda looked at her grandmother, who waved then continued to play with Lorrie.

  Chapter Fourteen

  HUBERT STOOD AT the door, hesitant in knocking. It had taken him some covert research to find the address. He didn't want to look bad in front of Janine by admitting he didn't know where he was going. Taking a deep breath, he rapped his knuckles on the wooden door.

  A woman, close to his own age, answered the door and peered at him. Her light brown eyes held a question, but no concern. "Is there something I can do for you?"

  "Yeah." Hubert straightened his tie. "I'm here to see Travis Edwards. Is this the right house?"

  She cocked her head. He looked vaguely familiar, although she had never seen him before. "What's this in reference to?" Before she could question him any more, a tall, elderly gentleman came up behind her.

  "Who is it, Ellie?" Travis looked around her and recognized the man she had been speaking to. "Hubert?"

  Hubert plastered what he thought was a sincere smile on his face. "Hello, grandfather. It's been awhile."

  "Yes, it has." Travis almost didn't recognize his grandson. The man standing before him was thinner and looked much healthier than he remembered. It was then he noticed the woman beside Hubert. He was curious as to the reason for the visit. "Come in out of the rain and I'll make a fresh pot of coffee."

  Ellie stood to the side as the couple moved into the house. "I'll take care of the coffee, grandpa. Why don't you go get comfortable?"

  "Thank you, dear." Travis gave her shoulder a friendly squeeze before leading his unexpected guests to the living room. He waited until they were seated and Ellie was out of earshot. "I had no idea you had been released from prison. What brings you to see me?"

  "I wanted to touch base with my family again. No harm in that, is there?"

  Travis fought to keep the surprise from his face. "No, I suppose not." He turned his attention to the woman sitting next to his wayward grandson. "I'm sorry, I don't believe we've met."

  "This is my wife, Janine." Hubert put his arm possessively around her waist. "Babe, this is my grandfather, Travis Edwards."

  Janine was charmed as Travis stood and shook her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Edwards. Hubert has spoken highly of you." He actually hadn't spoke more than a couple of sentences about any of his family, but Janine didn't want to hurt the older man's feelings.

  "Um, thank you." Travis returned to his chair. He wasn't sure what Hubert was up to, but he certainly wasn't going to turn his back on him. He was saved from making a comment when Ellie returned to the room, carrying a tray with four cups of coffee.

  She held the tray out in front of each person until there was only her own mug left. "Would anyone like cream or sugar?" At everyone's negative response, she put the tray on a side table and took a chair near Travis.

  "Who are you?" Hubert had never been known for his ability to lead a polite conversation. "Did I hear you call him grandpa?"

  Travis cut in. "That's right. Ellie is your Uncle William's daughter. She's staying here with me."

  "I didn't know there even was an Uncle William. Who the hell is he? Oof." Hubert jerked as Janine elbowed him in the ribs. "What?"

  Janine gave Ellie a friendly look. "You'll have to forgive my husband. He's been under a lot of pressure since we got here." She was beginning to see Hubert for what he truly was. So far, everyone they had come in contact with didn't want anything to do with him. His stories of a close-knit family and good friends were starting to look more like fairy tales.

  "Don't worry. I'm very well aware of how Hubert is." Travis placed his coffee cup on the table in front of him. "So tell us, son. What is your real reason for coming here?"

  The tone in his grandfather's voice set Hubert off. He leaned forward and glared at him. "I've told you before, old man, I'm not your son." To cover his outburst, he cleared his throat. "I mean, can't a guy want to see his own grandfather? Neither one of us is getting any younger, and I--"

  "You wanted to see what you could get from me." Travis stood. "I think you should leave."

  Getting to his feet, Hubert pointed at Travis. "You've never liked me, you old coot. It's always been my damned sister."

  Janine took her husband's arm in a firm grip. "I think you've said enough, Hubert. Let's leave these nice people alone." She forcefully pulled him toward the door. "I'm sorry we disturbed you, Mr. Edwards."

  "You're more than welcome anytime, Janine." Travis wasn't surprised when Ellie stood between him and her cousin. He put his hands on her shoulders as the other two left.

  "That was different." Ellie closed and locked the door. She turned and rested one arm around Travis' hips. "Are you all right?"

  He nodded. "But I won't be unhappy if I never see that boy again. I'd bet everything I have that he's up to no good."

  A LIGHT TOUCH on her forehead woke Amanda from a deep sleep. She slowly opened her eyes. "Dad?"

  "Hello, sweetheart." Michael Cauble sat on the bed next to her. "Are you feeling okay?"

  She pushed herself up into a sitting position. "I don't know. I think I may have a touch of the flu. I haven't been quite myself for the last week or so."

  "I'm sorry to hear that. Lois and I brought Chinese. Will you be able to eat it?" He stood so she could swing her legs from the bed. "Or would you rather stay up here and get some more rest?"

  Amanda ran her fingers through her hair to give it some semblance of order. "No, I'll be okay." She got to her feet and embraced him. "It's good to see you."

  "Same here, kiddo." He stepped away and studied her for a moment. "Maybe you should go see a doctor, if you've been feeling bad for that long."

  "I think you're right." She followed him down the stairs. "I'll call next week."

  They were met in the kitchen by the rest of the family. Lois sat at the table holding Lorrie, who squirmed away from her when Amanda came into the room.

  "Mommy, I do good." Lorrie proceeded to climb Amanda as if she were a jungle gym.

  Amanda hefted her up and settled Lorrie onto her hip. "What did you do, sweetie?"

  Lorrie pointed to the counter, where there were cookies cooling on a rack. "I cookded."

  "You did? That's wonderful." Amanda looked at Jacob. "I'm assuming you assisted her in this culinary surprise?"

  "A little," he admitted. "But she sprink
led the chocolate chips in the batter all by herself."

  Amanda then noticed a smudge of chocolate behind her daughter's ear. "I can see that." She sat next to Lois and took a paper napkin from the holder on the table. She tried to clean the mess from Lorrie's head, but seemed to be fighting a losing battle. The little girl kept moving from side to side, trying to pull the napkin from her hand.

  "No." Lorrie stretched toward Lois. "Help!"

  Laughing, Lois took the child into her arms, which allowed Amanda the opportunity to get her clean. "You're a handful."

  "She certainly is." Michael sat next to his wife. They had been married almost two years and he couldn't remember ever being happier. "She reminds me of Mandy at that age."

  "Gampi?" Lorrie reached out for Michael. No one knew where she came up with the names she used, but they good-naturedly took them in stride.

  He chuckled and lifted the little girl over Lois' head. "Come here."

  While everyone else took turns entertaining Lorrie, Jacob and Anna Leigh put the containers of Chinese food and plates on the table. Michael placed Lorrie in her high chair, while his mother dished up some rice and vegetables on a small plate for her.

  After they filled their plates, Amanda took a few bites of her food. Frowning, she got up and opened the refrigerator. She took a jar from one of the shelves, closed the door and went to her seat. She fished several green olives from the container and began to munch on them happily. The silence in the room caught her attention. "What?"

  Jacob watched as more of the olives disappeared from her plate. "It's nothing, Mandy. But when did you develop a fondness for those?"

  She chewed hastily and swallowed. "I don't know. It seemed like something that would taste good." Amanda checked the jar, which was now over half empty. "Weird, huh?"

  "Not necessarily." Anna Leigh exchanged knowing looks with Lois. They had been talking of this very subject while Amanda napped. To her, all the signs were there. She was curious to see if her granddaughter had any inkling of what could be causing her "symptoms". She pushed her plate away and stood. "Dearest, could I see you for a moment in the living room?" The last thing she wanted to do was to embarrass Amanda, or say something in front of everyone, without cause.

  "Uh, sure." Amanda speared another couple of olives and popped them in her mouth. She got up and followed her grandmother into the other room. "Is everything okay?"

  Anna Leigh studied her closely. Yes, she did appear tired, but there was something else about Amanda that made her certain of her thoughts. She took Amanda's hand and led her to the sofa. "Let's sit for a moment. I have a few questions for you and I didn't want to get into them in the kitchen."

  "Okay." Amanda appeared confused, but did as her grandmother asked. "Go ahead."

  "How long have you been feeling under the weather?"

  Amanda shrugged."I don't know. A week or two, I guess."

  "You've been tired? Moody? Feeling nauseous?" Anna Leigh gently questioned her. "And, I hate to ask a delicate question, but have you been running to the bathroom more than usual?"

  "Yes. That's why I think it's the flu or at least a bladder infection.

  But I haven't been running any fever. Do you think I should go to the doctor? I'd hate for Lex or Lorrie to catch whatever this is."

  Anna Leigh couldn't keep a gentle smile from appearing. "If I'm right, I don't think you're contagious."

  "But what--" Amanda's eyes widened. "But--" A slow smile began to stretch across her face. "Oh, my God. Do you think it's possible?"

  "I think it's more than possible. You two have been trying for so long. Why haven't you tested before now?"

  Amanda raised a shaky hand to her mouth. "There's been so much going on lately, it had completely slipped my mind. I've been so tired and Lorrie's been more rambunctious than usual. The days have blurred together." She jumped to her feet. "I've got to call Lex."

  "Hold on." Anna Leigh hung on to her hand. "Let's run to the drugstore and pick up a test kit first. There's no sense in getting Lexington all excited until we know something for certain."

  Bouncing in place, Amanda swung their hands. "Let's hurry. I can't wait."

  Chapter Fifteen

  THE RAIN HAD let up and Lex used the opportunity to saddle up the new filly and take her out. She rode across the northern part of her property, following the fence line to make sure no trees had fallen and taken it down. She hadn't come across any tracks that would indicate the direction the missing horses took, but Lex knew that it would only take a small break in the fence to give them an escape route.

  A loud rumble of thunder caused the young horse to prance sideways. Lex tightened her grip on the reins and used her knees to bring the animal under control. Once they were headed in the right direction again, she checked her watch. "Damn. It's almost three o'clock. I can't believe I've been out here that long." She grimaced when a few drops of water hit her cheek. "Great. It would start to rain while we're at the back end of the place. Maybe it won't get too heavy." As the words left her mouth, the sky opened up and Lex found herself caught in a deluge. The horse reared, and it took all of Lex's considerable talents and strength to keep from falling to the ground. "Whoa!"

  A crack of lightning caused the filly to scream and race off through the wooded area. Lex hung on as the rain stung against her face. She pulled hard against the reins, to no avail. The terrified horse slipped through the mud and leaves with no apparent concern for its own safety. "Dammit, horse. I said whoa!" Lex stretched in the saddle and used the strength in her arms and shoulders to finally bring the animal under control. They stopped under a canopy of leaves as the rain fell around them.

  Lex used one gloved hand to rub the heaving filly's neck in an attempt to calm her. She thought about dismounting but was afraid it would be harder to control the horse from the ground. Her own heart was pounding from the frenetic race through the trees. "That was more excitement than I cared to have today, girl." Lex continued to speak to the creature in a soothing voice. "I think we're going to have to come up with a better name for you than 'horse' or 'girl'. Got any preferences?" When no answer was forthcoming, Lex laughed and patted the animal's neck. An evil thought crossed her mind. "Since you've got enough sense not to want my jackass half-brother near you, I think I'll call you Mine. That'll piss him off."

  Once the newly named Mine had calmed somewhat, Lex guided her through the trees. Since they were both already drenched, she didn't see any reason why they shouldn't finish checking the fence line. It wouldn't be long before they would be heading down the opposite fence on the way to the stables and Lex didn't feel like sitting alone in the house until Amanda and Lorrie returned from town.

  They had traveled quietly for over half an hour when the thunderstorm worsened. Thunder rumbled ominously while lightning raced through the dark clouds. The rain continued to fall heavily and it was getting harder for Lex to see very far ahead. When a large, obviously dead tree shuddered and fell beside them, Mine took off, causing the reins to slip through Lex's rain slicked gloves. Lex's curses were swallowed up by the storm as she ducked forward and pawed frantically at the wildly whipping leather strips. Her left boot slid from the stirrup and she struggled to stay on the horse.

  She had gotten her hands on one of the reins when the ground fell out from underneath them. The horse pitched over to the right and fell hard into the churned mud. Lex was tossed with her as they dropped into a newly formed sinkhole.

  AMANDA AND HER grandmother returned from the drug store before anyone knew they were gone. The co-conspirators tiptoed up the stairs and were neatly hidden away in the guest room while those downstairs were none the wiser. Amanda took the home pregnancy test from the plastic bag and stared at the bathroom door. "I guess now's as good a time as any, huh?"

  "It's going to be fine, dearest." Anna Leigh opened the door for her.

  "Thanks." After she closed the door behind herself, Amanda struggled to tear the outer wrapping from the box. She didn't know why
she was so nervous. She had been through the routine before and was now an expert at reading the small indicators. Her hands shook as the plastic finally came free and she was able to take the test stick out.

  For her part, Anna Leigh sat on the edge of the bed with her hands folded neatly in her lap. Her outside demeanor appeared calm, but inside she was as anxious as when she had waited to find out she was pregnant with her son, Michael. She knew of Amanda's previously failed attempts and hoped more than anything that this time would be lucky for her. Bits of her granddaughter's childhood played through her head. Anna Leigh remembered how excited they were when Amanda came to stay with them during the summer months. Having been confined to a playroom when at her own home, the little girl was quite boisterous when she was allowed to run freely.

  Climbing trees, walking across the top of the picket fence and swinging from anything she could reach brought Amanda to the emergency room more than once every year. Her penchant for finding trouble followed her into adulthood, Anna Leigh realized fondly, as she thought about how Lex came into their lives. She was nudged from her reminiscing by the opening of the bathroom door.

  Tears streaked down Amanda's face as she stepped into the room. Her lower lip quivered when her eyes met Anna Leigh's.

  "Oh, baby." Anna Leigh held out her arms. "It's going to be okay." She rubbed her granddaughter's back and rocked her gently. "Don't worry, dearest. You can try again."

  Amanda pulled away until she was able to see her grandmother's face. "It's positive," she choked out. "I'm going to have a baby." Her tears continued to flow as her face creased into a smile. "Lex is going to go nuts."

  Kissing her on the head, Anna Leigh chuckled. "Of that, I have no doubt. Your father will be ecstatic."