The Pregnant Bride Wore White

“She has?” He didn’t know exactly what that entailed.

“A real trouper, that one.” Her eyes, deep blue and direct, took aim at his. “We’ve had a few ‘early’ babies in our family, but none as close to the wire as this one.”

And no divorces. Jake didn’t say the words out loud, but they clanged in his head like the bell at Notre Dame, reverberating, deafening. “When Keri and I decide what we’re going to do, you’ll be the first to know.”

Aggie pursed her lips. “I don’t see how there could be any hesitation—or doubt.”

“Just give me a chance to breathe, okay?” His jaw hurt, his hands clenched.

After a long silence, Aggie said, “How is Keri feeling this morning?”

“I don’t know. I left before she woke up.” He could see her debating what to say. He was, after all, one of her children who ignored what she called her “mother’s right to know,” as all eight siblings had been told forever. To forestall any unwanted advice or recrimination, he stood. “I’ll go home right now and check.”

“Would you like to come to dinner?”

He forced himself to keep his voice level, reminding himself that she didn’t understand all he’d been through and that he needed time and space—something Keri had recognized. Score one for her. “Not tonight, okay, Mom? I’ll talk to you later.”

Jake scooped up the container of turnovers, then went out to his car. He headed up the winding road, again with no particular destination in mind, only a need for his previously unappreciated freedom, and solitude of his own choosing.

And yet ten minutes later he found himself pulling into his own driveway.

He had responsibilities he couldn’t ignore now, no matter what else was on his mind.

He could almost see his mother’s approving nod and feel his late father’s pat on the back, the weight of his responsibilities made even heavier by parental expectations—and those of his grandmother, who hadn’t yet had her say.

Chapter Four

He hadn’t even left a note.

Keri kicked a pebble and watched it tumble down the slope behind Jake’s cabin. He’d taken off this morning without extending even the most basic courtesy of telling her he was leaving, and also stranding her without a car.

She toed another pebble loose then kicked it, not giving it her all. The baby had dropped recently, shifting her center of balance, and there was nothing to grab hold of to stop her from falling.

She grumbled at the ground, feeling handcuffed by her isolation after months of living in the easy company of Nana Mae, and with Aggie right up the block, not to mention Dixie only three streets away.

Keri had constantly thought about seeing Jake again, her fantasies about their reunion mushrooming out of proportion with time and distance, and pregnancy, of course. Doesn’t every woman want her baby’s father in her life? And it wasn’t just her, but his family and friends’ steady assurance that everything would be perfect once Jake came home. She’d begun to believe it herself, needing something to hold on to.

The reality hadn’t matched the fantasy, which made the letdown even harder.

Keri heard a car approaching. Through a smattering of trees, she spotted a black SUV as it made its way toward the house. She rounded the corner of the house as Jake got out of the vehicle. She had a whole lot to say to him, then stopped short when she saw him—his too-lean body and too-tired face stark reminders that he’d been through some kind of hell.

She didn’t want to fight with him or add to his burdens.

“Good morning,” she said, as they walked toward each other.

His shoulders relaxed a little. “Morning. You okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine, thanks. How about you?” They sounded like strangers. Well, technically they were. Strangers who’d slept together once, no matter what ensuing hopes had come of that for her.

He passed her a plastic container. “Apple turnovers. Mom made them.”

“Yum.” So, he’d gone to visit his mom. Keri forgave him for leaving without a note. “Did you have breakfast with her?”

“I wasn’t hungry.” He gestured toward his side yard with his head. “You were out for a walk?”

Nothing else to do. She stopped the words from escaping. “I walk a few times a day.”

“Did I interrupt it?”

“No, I’d been out for a half hour. I’m ready to sit for a little while.”

They turned toward the house at the same time.

“You’ve been healthy, then?” he asked, matching his stride to hers.

“Exceptionally. I adore your Doc Saxon.”

His brows raised. “He delivered me. He must be ninety by now.”

She laughed. “Seventy-two, I think. He’s looking for a replacement, but it’s hard to get anyone to come to a community this small. I told him after the baby was born, I’d help him search, maybe even work a couple days a week.”

Jake turned a sharp gaze on her. “I’ll provide for you and the baby.”

Her heart slammed into her sternum. What did that mean? Provide in what way? “I don’t want to lose my nursing skills,” she said as they went into the house. “It’s not about the money.”

“Isn’t it? You don’t own anything.”

“By choice.” She took off her sweatshirt and hung it on a hook by the front door, then went into the kitchen to make some tea. “I couldn’t accumulate anything, since I moved from job to job so often. If I wanted those things, I could have them,” she added, waiting to see if by “provide” he meant he would offer her money to set her up somewhere and guarantee he’d get to see the baby. As if she’d keep the baby from its father. Or maybe he’d meant he intended to be part of their future, although she’d always assumed that would happen. He was a good man, not one to shirk his responsibilities.

“I’ve hardly ever had to spend any money, Jake. I’ve got a ton. Well, that’s an exaggeration, I guess, but I could buy what I need.”

“Yet you stayed with my grandmother.”

“Again, a choice I made. We needed each other. Money wasn’t the issue.” She lit the burner under the teakettle. “Can I fix anything for you? Coffee? Breakfast?”

“Have you eaten?”

She’d had a bowl of cereal, which was enough, but she decided he wouldn’t let her fix him anything if she wasn’t eating, too. He needed to eat. “I thought I’d have some scrambled eggs and toast. Would you like some?”

“Yeah, thanks. If you’ll do the eggs, I’ll do the toast.”

“That’s a deal.” As she washed her hands, she felt him come close. He stopped maybe a foot behind her, but her sense of him was so strong, her pulse leaped. If only she could turn to him, be held for a while. He’d held her in that dark, dank, frightening place all those months ago, when she’d panicked in a big way, thinking they would never get out alive. He’d taken her in his arms and held her tight, soothing her even though he’d been furious at her, too, for getting them into the situation to begin with.

Eventually he’d kissed her as she crumbled in fear, his mouth warm and comforting at first, then hot and needy, stopping her tears, giving her different reasons to shake and quiver.

And after the wild and intense sex, he’d held her as she slept well for the first time since they’d been kidnapped…

“What’s wrong?” he said from behind her, passing her a hand towel.