Somebody's Baby

Somebody's Baby
Annie Jones

For the last year, Josie Redmond had raised her twin sister's child as her own. Now Adam Burdett could take her boy away. The scion of a prominent South Carolina clan, he'd come home to claim his rightful son. Expecting the fight of her life, Josie was stunned to discover the handsome Southern charmer had a different agenda. The prodigal son who'd turned his back on a whole town was seeking his own redemption.Could Josie help Adam forgive the sins of the past and create the home they'd always wanted– a place where they could both truly belong?

Somebody’s Baby

Annie Jones

For Elijah Dobben and Riley Davis, the two newest

babies in the Jones family tree. You already have

the blessing of wonderful parents who love you so

dearly, but a legacy of faith that will serve you all

your days.

And remember when they speak of your “Great”

Aunt Annie, that’s not just a label, it’s a promise!

Really. I already have toys in my closet for when

you come to visit.

Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Prologue

“What is your secret, Miss Josie?”

“Secret?” Josie Redmond wiped her hands on the long white bib-apron covering her pink T-shirt and black jeans. She swallowed hard to push down a bitter lump of anxiety. Her gaze darted from the face of the man sitting at the counter to the huge glass window with the swirling red lettering spelling out the name of her business—Josie’s Home Cookin’ Kitchen.

Did her customers know she hadn’t taken in enough money this month to pay her business loan to the Mt. Knott First National Bank? That the bleak downturn in business for the Carolina Crumble Pattie Factory had taken its toll on not only her customer base but also threatened to rob her of a very essential ingredient to her success? Or had someone gotten wind of the fact that her twin sister had been trying to contact her?

Just thinking of what her sister wanted left Josie feeling jumpy as a cat, fearing for everything she held dear.

Her eyes went to the far wall of her diner, the one she had painted with special black paint, virtually turning the whole side of the room into a giant chalkboard. She had meant it to keep young people from carving their initials on the tables and to allow children something to busy themselves with while their parents lingered over the last bites of dessert. But somewhere along the line, it had turned into a town message board. A place where people left notes to friends, reminders of upcoming events and, in a segment sectioned off by vines drawn in pink and green chalk, a prayer request list.

“Please remember Millie Tillson’s oldest girl—baby due any day.”

“Traveling mercies for Agnes and Virgil.”

“For our children and teachers as the new school year begins.”

Some farmer in the midst of a dry summer spell had simply scrawled in an earnest, oversize script: “RAIN.”

And of course: “Pray for the Burdetts. Our jobs. The whole of Mt. Knott.”

All summer Josie had been praying about all the things that got posted on her wall, as well as for the welfare of all the people she cared about in her adopted hometown of Mt. Knott, South Carolina. But her deepest concerns remained between her and the Lord, not something she wanted thrown out to feed the small-town rumor mill.

“Secret?” She laughed and tossed her head, knowing it would make her strawberry-blond ponytail bounce and give her an even younger appearance than her twenty-four years. “What secret?”

The older of the two long-past-middle-age regulars sitting on the stools at the lunch counter lifted his fork with the last bite of cherry pie for his answer. “Go-oo-od stuff.”

The other man leaned in on his elbows, his deep-set eyes twinkling. “When you going to marry me, Sweetie Pie?”

All the men over a certain age in town called Josie Sweetie Pie. They said it was because she was sweeter than a baby’s kiss and cuter than a bug’s ear and whatever other cornpone phrase they could toss out to make her laugh. But really, they called her that because Josie Redmond, who otherwise thought herself a most unremarkable young woman, made the best pies in seven counties.

Everybody said so. In fact, more than one person just passing through town had told her that if she could ever figure out a way to market the unique pastry to the masses, she’d make a mint. Right now, Josie couldn’t even afford to buy a mint, she thought, letting her eyes trail to the empty candy dish by the cash register.

“You? You’re not her type, Warren.” The more rough-around-the-edges of the two men looked into his coffee mug and grinned. “It’s me she’s going to marry.”

“And spend the rest of my life trying to stay ahead of your appetite for pie, Jed? No, thanks.” Josie teased the white-haired man in striped overalls and a short-sleeved plaid shirt. “I am on to you two. Always proposing and slopping sugar all over me like that when I know all you really want is to sweet-talk your way to a second slice on the house.”