“I’ll gladly show you who’s ready to come out and play.” He presses his lips to mine just as my cheeks heat, removing any chance I had of playing nonchalant.
I love his bedroom talk. Maybe not within earshot of my parents though. That’s a bit awkward. Lucky for me, his kiss is a highly effective amnesiac.
“Daisy, your dad moved your clothes into Rod’s room since Marlee will be here later this evening. It doesn’t appear either of you will mind the close quarters.” Mom grins, then cuts her eyes to Tracy. When I follow her gaze, I instantly recognize Tracy’s smile. They’ve been conspiring behind my back. The two of them were in cahoots planning this move.
What all has Tracy shared with her?
My extended family isn’t fazed at all. There are a few smiles and heads nodding in agreement, but her announcement shocks no one. Except me, since no one asked me if I’m comfortable with their decision. Or if I’m ready to share this part of my new relationship with Rod in front of my son.
“Hey, your entire body went rigid at once. If you don’t want to sleep in my room with me, I’ll find a local hotel. You know I’d never pressure you like that.”
“It’s not you, Rod, so don’t take my reaction personally. You’re not staying in a hotel. You’re staying right here. I just don’t appreciate others making decisions for me, even my mom. My main concern is Landen and how this will affect him.”
Speaking of my little man, he and Isa come running up to join us. The smell of cooked food is too good to resist. “Mom, I’m starving. We’ve been working so hard on putting our tent up in the playroom. Can Isa and I sleep in there tonight? We promise to be good.”
Juliana walks up and wraps her arm around my shoulder. “For what it’s worth, I think it’ll be good for them to camp together. I’ll sleep on the sofa bed in there in case they wake up scared in the middle of the night. What do you say, Momma?”
“Yeah, what do you say, Momma?” Landen echoes her. With those big eyes and bright smile beaming at me, how can I say no?
“Okay, as long as you promise to behave and mind Juliana.”
“I promise, I promise!” He jumps up and down, excitement taking over his normally calm demeanor.
After everyone piles their plates full of food, they’re all busy stuffing their face when I sit beside my mom.
“Don’t you think you should’ve talked to me about playing musical rooms before announcing I’ll be sleeping with Rod to the entire family?”
“Maybe, but since everyone here knows you two are crazy about each other, it’s not as if you’re hiding anything. What good has staying apart done you? Seems to me you’d want to spend more time with him.” She quirks one eyebrow upward, not bothering to conceal her knowing smirk.
“What about Landen? You know I’ve never had a man around him, not like that. I’m not ready to answer his questions.”
“Daisy, you can’t hide from the past for the rest of your life. Keeping him from seeing a happy, healthy relationship doesn’t protect him. He needs a consistent father figure in his life. All kids do. That doesn’t necessarily have to be a boyfriend or a husband, but he needs a positive male influence as much as he needs you. You’re trying to protect yourself by hiding how you truly feel about Rod. That won’t work, sweetheart. You’ll be miserable in the long run, and I want more than that for you. You deserve more than that.”
“I hate when you’re right.” I sulk, picking at the pulled barbeque chicken on my plate.
“Have you told Rod yet?”
My head jerks up involuntarily at her question. My heart races and I feel as if I’ll hyperventilate. “Told him what?”
She narrows her eyes and furrows her brow. “About Landen’s father.”
“Oh. No, I haven’t told him, and he hasn’t asked. I suppose I should share that little tidbit of information before too much longer.”
“That’s probably a good idea. Maybe you should also share the other secret you’re keeping from him. He’s bound to find out sooner or later. I’m sure he’d appreciate hearing it from you instead of someone else.”
There’s no use in denying it or playing dumb. Momma knows.
I move back to my shared seat with Rod, where he, Juliana, Tracy, and Kevin are talking and laughing together. He’s already finished eating, so he pulls me into his lap without missing a beat in the conversation. Once I relax, I realize I’m starving and scarf down every last morsel on my plate.
“You must be feeling okay since you have a healthy appetite this evening. Did you skip a meal or two today or something? How about some dessert now?”
Simple question. So many meanings.
“If you’re going that way, I wouldn’t turn down some hot peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream.”
He kisses my cheek and moves me to sit on the chair beside him. “Now you’re making me hungry. Two plates of dessert coming up.”
Tracy’s gaze is burning a hole through me, but I can’t bring myself to look at her. I know exactly what she’s thinking because I’m thinking it too.
No way would a recent conception affect my appetite so soon. That can only mean one thing.
I’ve been pregnant since our trip to Punta Cana.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Rod
“Feel like taking a walk around the subdivision with me?” I extend my arm to Daisy and she wraps her hand around the crook of my elbow. “The neighbors must be competing to see who can come closest to the brightness of the sun. It’s lit up like a football field out there with all Yuletide lights.”
“Sure, that sounds nice. Let’s go.”
Night has fallen, and the neighborhood is lit with multi-colored Christmas lights and animated displays of reindeer, different variations of Santa, and every other imaginable North Pole character.
