“Want me to drop you off up at the house?”
“No. I’ll walk. I’d like to stick around awhile longer with Jazzie and Hope.”
He smiled. “See you later.”
Eventually she made her way up to the house and into the bathroom to take a shower. Turning on the water, she adjusted the temperature, stripped off her clothing and stepped under the spray. It had been a long day. She’d forgotten how busy things could be around Cooper’s Hawk.
By the time she turned off the water, she was as pink and wrinkled as a newborn pig. Wrapping a towel around her, she stepped out of the bathroom followed by a puff of steam. She felt better and was still excited that she’d helped deliver a baby.
Her phone! It was ringing. Running, she hit ‘talk’ by the fifth ring.
“Hi, mom!”
Mindy smiled in gratitude. “Hi, honey. How’s school?”
“It’s going great. How are you?”
“I’m good. Guess what? I just helped deliver a baby goat. It was amazing. I’d forgotten how wonderful it feels to help on the ranch.”
“Mom, you sound…different.”
“Different? How?”
“Happy.”
Mindy sat down on the end of the bed. “I am. I like being here. I feel like I’m living again.”
“That makes it harder for me to tell you something,” Jane said in a low voice.
“Honey, what’s wrong? You can tell me anything?”
“I saw Dad today.” There was uncertainty to her daughter’s voice.
“You did? How’d that go?” Mindy laid back on the bed, pulling the towel from her wet hair.
“He and Sian got married last night,” Jane said it with an obvious carefulness. “At the courthouse.”
“Wow. I knew they were planning on getting married but not so soon.” She sat back up and used the towel to soak up the water dripping from the ends of her hair.
“There’s more. They got married so fast because she’s pregnant.”
“Oh…okay.” Mindy felt a blow to her chest. Swallowing the unwanted emotion, she cleared her throat. “That’s nice. Tell him I said congratulations.”
“I wanted you to hear it from me, but she’s seven months along.”
Mindy tossed the damp towel aside. Although she didn’t want Branch back, a part of Mindy felt hurt. He never wanted to have a child with Mindy.
Unfortunately, a woman’s internal clock ticked a lot faster than a man’s and, at her age, she guessed her window of baby opportunity was dwindling.
“Mom? You okay?”
“Yes. Of course, sweetheart. I’m truly happy for them.” She forced her voice to stay level. She didn’t want Jane worried. “I’m sure you’re excited to have another sister or brother.”
“Another?” Jane’s chuckle vibrated the line. “Are you pregnant too?”
“No…never. I meant I’m sure you’re glad to have a brother or sister soon.” Mindy squeezed the phone.
“Sort of. I think it’ll seem more real when its actually here.”
Feeling her throat clog, Mindy said, “Thank you for telling me.”
“I guess. I just want you to be okay.”
“Honey, don’t worry about me. Be happy for your father and Sian.”
After a few more minutes of talking about Jane’s classes, they hung up and Mindy dropped onto the bed, feeling the sting of tears. She’d wasted so many years.
Chapter Fourteen
“THIS ISN’T FAIR! I’m tired of living like a prisoner here,” Livvy said dramatically.
“So I’m keeping you prisoner now?” Creed sighed.
“Why can’t I call Mom? Are you afraid that she’ll let me come live with her?” She crossed her arms over her chest, acting like her world was crumbling around her cute, pink flip flops since he’d told her she had to earn her phone back by doing chores on the farm.
“I’m not keeping you from calling her,” he pointed out. “You can call her any time.”.
“Really?” Her face twisted. “How am I supposed to call her, or anyone, without a phone?”
Creed bit his lip to keep from reminding her that her mom hadn’t called in months to check up on her, but he didn’t want to hurt Livvy. “You can call her using my phone. Keep it on speaker phone.”
“See what I mean! Prison.”
He took out his phone from his front pocket and laid it on the table. “It’s up to you.”
She whipped the cell off the table like a gunfighter at the Okay corral. On the fifth ring Mel finally answered, “Hi, sweetie. How are you? Did you get the gift I sent you last week?”
“No. I didn’t.” Livvy paced the floor.
“Oh, I’ll have to track it. You’re going to love it. I’ll give you a little hint. It’s what all the hip young girls are wearing here in New York. Consider it an early birthday present.”
“My birthday just passed.”
“Yes, of course. I knew that.”
“Why haven’t you called, Mom?”
“Sorry, hun. You know I’m so busy right now with the new series. It’s so much fun working here in the big city. I’ve met so many people.”
Creed’s chest twisted as he watched the beginning of disappointment spread over his daughter’s face. Every time she spoke to her mother it ended with more hurt and anger for Livvy. Creed didn’t understand why Mel didn’t just tell the truth. Livvy was getting too old and wise not to see through the cracks and lies. She knew her mother had only started shooting the new TV series in the last three weeks.
“Dad’s being mean. I had to call you from his phone because he won’t let me use mine. I hate it here. He’s going to make me do chores on the farm. I can see why you left.” Livvy rolled her eyes and gave Creed a smirk. “I want to come there with you. Can I come live with you? Please.” Sadly, that was the first sliver of vulnerability Livvy had shown in months.
Mel’s heavy sigh rattled the line. “Livvy, you know—”
