That baby's been trying to get to his cookie for a good five minutes
now, ' she added, deliberately changing the subject because Jessica
looked on the verge of tears again. 'Why don't you lessen your grip on
him and let him have one. Can he drink out of a glass yet? ' Jessica
turned her attention to her son. She moved the glass toward him and
told him to show Josey how he could manage a glass. She was bragging
about his ability when he spilled the milk.
Josey chuckled. 'It's usually my Tom who does that, ' she commented.
She mopped up the milk with a dishcloth and then held Jessica's glass
while Caleb took a drink.
Caleb was finally ready to get down and explore the kitchen. Jessica
followed him and held the drawers closed so he couldn't empty them.
'Sit back down and let him play, ' Josey suggested.
'He'll destroy your kitchen, ' she warned. 'Caleb's a very curious
child.' Josey opened the doors under the counters. 'My nieces and
nephews like to play with my pots and pans. That's the way, ' she said
when Caleb squatted down and reached for one of the wooden spoons.
Jessica sat down next to Josey once again, and while they got to know
one another, Caleb made a fine mess banging on the pots and pans.
Within ten minutes he had warmed up to Josey enough to let her pick him
up and kiss him.
Cole and Tom came back into the kitchen then, and Cole gave Jessica a
quick nod.
'Josey, you and I are going to be keeping this little boy a spell, '
Tom announced.
Josey patted the baby and looked at Jessica. 'No wonder you were
asking those questions. I'll be proud to watch him for you, ' she
added. 'And Tom and I won't let anything happen to him.'
'Jessica's a witness, and she's got to go to Texas to testify, ' Tom
said. 'Cole doesn't think it's a good idea to take the baby with
them.'
'When do you think you'll be back? ' Josey asked Cole.
'I don't know, ' he answered. 'Maybe two weeks . . . or longer. '
'He won't remember me.' Every one turned to Jessica.
'Of course he'll remember you, ' Josey said. 'We won't let him
forget.
