Chapter 7
7
O utside, the wind howled, rattling the windows and loud enough to be heard over the music playing softly in the background. But inside what was now Marina’s apartment over Buns and Roses, the smell of popcorn, chocolate, and cheesy goodness hung on the air.
It was the sort of cold January night that made staying indoors feel like a luxury.
Tonight, a nice combination had gathered, and while Tansy was considered the host, she’d had the brilliant brainwave of asking Marina if she wanted to join them and Marina had instantly offered her apartment for them to gather in. She’d added thick blankets to the backs of the couches, and as everyone settled, the soft covers were eagerly grabbed and draped over legs and shoulders. Candles were lit and snack plates filled.
“It’s been forever since our last girls’ night out.” Petra made a face. “Or it feels like forever.”
“You’ve been too busy with your guy and being Mom-ish to Jinx to notice we’re constantly underfoot. Tansy more so than usual.” Petra’s sister-in-law Julia Sorenson pointed out. Her hand rested lightly on her belly, stroking the small bulge.
Petra looked thoughtful. “I suppose. Although I don’t know how I feel about that Mom-ish moniker.”
“We do need to come up with something snappier, but it’s true.” Tansy dropped onto the couch next to her. She glanced at the other ladies settling around the coffee table that all but groaned under the weight of all the goodies on it. “Jinx seems to have settled on Aiden and Petra as her surrogate parental figures. She asked Aiden to come to the father/daughter game night at the school.”
Marina frowned for a moment. “I thought Declan was Jinx’s official guardian while she’s going to school here.”
Tansy waved a hand. “He is, but Jinx seems to consider Declan a combination of superhero and idol to be kept on a pedestal. If she needs some parental-type cuddling or advice, look no farther than Petra and Aiden.”
“Awww, that’s sweet,” Marina said as a series of nods set off around the room, like cooperative bobble heads.
“As long as she’s got someone, that’s what counts,” Sydney offered approvingly.
With seven of them tucked around the table, it was a little tight, but it still seemed perfect to Tansy. Like most girls’ night out gatherings in recent years, whoever hosted sent the time and place out to the universe, and those who could make it, did.
Of course, these days that meant less of certain ladies at sometimes, or in far different combinations, as work, children, and life in general interfered. So far their girl gang had stayed tight, though, which was a joy all in itself Tansy liked to take some credit for.
She and Rose were the founding members of the group, after all.
Tansy scooped up a cheesy jalapeno onto a cracker and popped it in her mouth, as she counted heads, somewhat amused to realize that in spite of Rose being missing, the ladies were a near perfect mix of old to new residents.
Petra, Sydney, and Marina were definitely on the new list. Petra’s sister-in-law Julia, and the very mischievous Lisa Ryder—now married to the local veterinarian with a three-year-old and five-month-old baby—had both been around long enough that they qualified right in the middle.
Finally there were Tansy, and Kelli Stone, a ranch hand at the local Silver Stone ranch and married to Sasha Stone’s uncle Luke. They’d both lived in Heart Falls for years.
As a fifteen-year-old runaway, Kelli had walked into Silver Stone ranch as if she owned the place and been accepted. Tansy had held Kelli’s secret tightly all those years. Just like Kelli was the only one who knew all the details of Tansy’s past, pre-Fields adoption.
They were the Fort Knox of secret keepers for each other, they’d always teased.
Now as Kelli wiggled to the front of her chair, expertly manoeuvering in spite of the baby belly rounding in front of her, so many memories tangled in Tansy’s mind.
In spite of her past, Kelli was now loved beyond measure by not only Luke, but the entire Stone family. She was about to start a family of her own?—
Maybe, just maybe, big, beautiful changes were possible for Tansy as well.
Thankfully, before she could spend more time being hyper-contemplative, Petra pointed at Kelli’s belly. “Is that not supposed to be bigger by now? It’s the end of January, and you’re due in four weeks.”
Kelli filled a bowl with chips then eased back in her chair. She stretched her legs out in front of her displaying fuzzy socks that didn’t quite match. Somehow it totally worked. “The baby is healthy. I just have a long torso, I guess.”
Julia sighed. “What do you want to guess that I’m going to swell up and look as if I swallowed a watermelon patch?”
“You’ll look adorable,” Petra assured her. “Oh, and I found something for you that I think is appropriate for this moment.” She reached under the couch and pulled out a paper bag.
Suspicion on her face, Julia wiggled the present. “Is it safe to open this in public?”
“Of course. I’m always public approved,” Petra assured her sister-in-law before glancing at the candle on the table she’d brought that said So Fucking Zen . “Well, mostly public approved.”
The gift was safe to open but also hilarious. Petra had made a T-shirt that had an image of a flag planted right where Julia’s belly would eventually push out the fabric. The flag was emblazoned with This territory claimed by baby Sorenson. Touch at your own risk .
“I need one,” Kelli muttered. “I never realized exactly how many people assume it’s okay to come in too close and pat my belly.”
“Are they still doing that?” Lisa asked in amazement. “I thought they would’ve stopped after you accidentally slugged Mrs. Wilson.”
A burst of laughter danced around the room. Marina eyed Kelli with admiration. “Good for you. I want to know how to accidentally slug someone. Sounds like a skill we need to learn.”
“Twirl rapidly and lift your elbows, and that’s all I’ll say about that,” Kelli offered with a wink.
“Wonderful advice.” Lisa cleared her throat. “This seems an appropriate moment to announce I’m on the baby brigade again.”
Everyone paused for a moment, then a cheer went up.
“Congratulations,” Julia said. “When’s your due date? I’m April fourth, which means cousins who are close together in age.”
“August fifteenth, so I’m past the first trimester. Which means I am no longer waiting in dread for the moment my sister Tamara always threatened would come. You know, the vomiting your guts out twenty-four seven.”
Tansy snickered. Too funny. Poor Tamara had dealt with morning sickness that lasted until she gave birth. “Did you get away scot-free again ?”
“Except from the wrath of Tamara, yes,” Lisa said with a smirk. “Although, I don’t know if the fact I don’t get morning sickness but do have the labour from hell is a trade-off win.”
The only one of the ladies not leaning forward and offering their heartfelt congratulations was Sydney. She eyed Lisa. “You really okay with the barefoot and pregnant for years on end routine? Or do I need to suggest a little snipping to a certain obviously viral male?”
“It’s hardly been years on end. That’s my cousin Jaxi, although it looks as if she’s finally stopped at six kiddos.” Lisa settled back in the couch, lifting her soft drink in the air. “I know, it shocks me too. Not the fact that I’m pregnant again, because I do know how that happens. And the happy cause of getting me pregnant occurs often, with great enthusiasm, thank you.” She leered at Tansy, who couldn’t help but grin in return. “But Zoe and Mason are so much fun, and Josiah’s like the dad of the century with them. I always wanted three or four kids, so these two will be spaced out like dominoes, one year after the other.”
“As long as it’s your plan, I’ll celebrate,” Sydney assured her. She took a glance around the room. “Onward from babies. Because as awesome a topic as they are, it’s time to discuss what’s keeping all of us busy these days, including the ones who haven’t bred.”
“Busy, or entertained.” Petra grabbed a wine bottle off the table and topped up her glass. “The busy for me is High Water, and entertained is Tansy and all her excitement.”
What the hell? Tansy shot Petra a look. “You make me sound like a walking circus.”
“If the clown shoes fit,” Petra teased.
Tansy threw popcorn at her.
Across the coffee table, Julia smirked. “I think what Petra means is that you seem a little distracted lately.”
Kelli raised a brow. “Do tell. Luke and I just got back into town after visiting my grandfather for most of January. I’ve obviously missed some exciting news.”
This time Marina lifted a hand as if an eager student. “Oh, oh. Pick me. Pick me.” She leaned forward on her elbows. “Tansy’s smitten.”
A snicker escaped Kelli. “Tansy’s always smitten. She’s always got a flavour of the week or two lined up for dancing and other enjoyment.”
“Oh, no. This is totally different.” Petra ignored the evil glare Tansy shot her way, lips twitching into a grin. “Tansy is serious about someone.”
“Wait—serious?” Kelli sat up, suddenly very interested. “I was gone for three weeks, and I missed a serious Tansy?”
Tansy groaned and buried her face in her hands. “Why do I hang out with you people?”
“Because we’re your best friends, and we’re fascinated by this rare phenomenon.” Lisa jerked the bowl of popcorn away from Tansy’s hands to avoid getting showered with it. “Now spill. What’s going on with you and Jake?”
“Yes, details. I thought you’d be done with him by now,” Julia added. “According to everybody, two weeks is your max.”
“Then everybody is wrong.”
Lisa leaned toward Marina, dipping her chin knowledgeably. “The sex must be out of this world.”
Before she could stop herself, Tansy shot that idea down. “We haven’t had sex.”
She could have heard a pin drop.
Tansy was tempted to buried her face in her hands again, but instead she glared at Lisa, cheeks burning hot.
Lisa faked a gasp. “You haven’t had sex? Who are you, and what have you done with Tansy?”
“Stop it,” Tansy whined even though she grinned through the embarrassment. “It’s not as if I’m sitting around not working. We’re both killer busy these days. Plus…” She considered how much to say but decided this was worth mentioning. “He and I are polar opposites, so it’s a good idea to take it slow. Making sure that we—at least on my part—don’t give up what makes us unique just to try and be together.”
Which got a chorus of awww s from the group.
Marina sighed heavily. “Well, I’m glad someone is having fun in the dating world. The last guy I went out with spent the entire date talking about his fantasy football league.”
Petra snorted into her wineglass. “You’re kidding.”
“Sadly, no. I know more about his imaginary team than I do about his real-life.”
At which point the topic drifted, and Tansy no longer found herself the center of attention. Which was nice, since she hadn’t really wanted to be there in the first place. This whole thing with Jake was new and odd and yet still somehow shiny.
When Kelli took the opportunity and slipped onto the couch beside her to chat, Tansy welcomed the distraction. They spoke softly, separated enough that no one could overhear.
Kelli eyed her for a moment. “You happy?”
“I think so.” Tansy laid her head against the back of the couch. “I don’t know where this is going, Kell, but I feel hopeful. It’s a nice sensation.”
Her friend nodded slowly. “You had any serious talks with him yet?”
A shiver went through her. Tansy shook her head.
“Okay. I get it. There’s no rule that you have to tell him everything, but—speaking from experience—when I finally got to tell Luke the truth about my past, it felt good. Really good, like I’d been carrying a giant box around my entire life, and suddenly I didn’t have to anymore. Not with him.” Kelli grabbed her fingers. “Your secrets are yours , and I will never share them.”
“But you think maybe I need to share them with Jake?” The really scary part was the thought didn’t make Tansy go into an instant panic.
Kelli took a moment and breathed out slowly. “You’re not that person anymore, but what you went through, what you did, make you who you are today. Which is a wonderful, loving, amazing person. I see it, and I think maybe Jake sees it too.”
Which was a wonderful thought, but the opposite could be true as well. “He could decide he wants nothing more to do with me.”
Kelli lifted a shoulder. “Might be better to know that sooner than later, but if you’re feeling deep Tansy-feelings for him, I doubt that’s something you have to worry about. Trust yourself, sweetie. You’re smart, and you’re kind, and you’re amazing. You need to believe that.”
Tansy offered Kelli a giant hug. “You’re so kickass.”
“Takes one to know one.” Kelli squeezed her tight before letting her go as they rejoined the general party.
But it gave Tansy a lot to think about as she and Petra returned to High Water. Petra gave her a hug then took off to the apartment she shared with Aiden. Tansy slipped into the house quietly.
It was nearly midnight, but the light in the living room shone clearly on Jake as he rose to his feet and approached.
“You’re up late,” she teased.
“Not that late.” He took her coat from her. “Besides, I had lists to make.”
She snickered. “Of course you did.”
In spite of the whirling in her brain, she didn’t protest as he pulled her into his arms. A good, long kiss was followed by another, and Tansy pressed her hands to his torso, caressing as she slid her palms around to his back. The firm muscles under his soft flannel shirt made her sigh happily, and it was tempting to tug him down the hall to her room so they could get rid of their clothes and increase the skin contact.
Before she could act on the impulse, Jake eased away. “We’d better stop now.”
“Really?” She couldn’t imagine why that was a good idea. Tansy dug her fingertips into his chest a little harder, scratching slowly, and he groaned.
A second later, dog nails sounded on the floor. Dixie came dancing up to them, and Tansy separated herself to stand at Jake’s side a second before Jinx rounded the corner, blinking sleepily.
“Oh, hi. Sorry, I thought I heard something. Dixie was excited—happy excited, not upset excited, if you know what I mean. I figured it was you.” Jinx yawned. “Have a good time with your girls?”
“The best. Sorry we woke you,” Tansy said.
“Just wanted to make sure Tansy got home safe. I’ll see you ladies in the morning.” Jake squeezed Tansy’s fingers then snatched his coat from the wall and was out the door before she could protest.
Jinx made a face as Tansy strolled toward her. “I really am sorry.”
Tansy frowned at her. “For what?”
“Interrupting.”
This time it was easy to laugh. Tansy slipped her arm around Jinx’s shoulders and guided her back toward the bedroom area. “Here’s a fun thing to know about grownups. If they want to kiss, they’re allowed to find a place to kiss. If they decide to kiss in public, interruptions are fair game. But now you need to get back to bed.”
“Okay.” Jinx paused at the door, Dixie weaving in and out of her legs as the young woman examined Tansy thoughtfully. “I like Jake. He’s a little too serious sometimes, but you can tell he’s got a good heart.”
“Go to bed,” Tansy said firmly.
A soft snicker escaped the younger woman. “Good night.”
Now she had the teenager of the house selling her on how good Jake was. Problem was, she already believed the bill of sale.
It was just that Kelli’s suggestion of telling Jake more of her past was both a great idea and a huge sticking point. It would take a little longer for Tansy to wrap her brain around that particular suggestion.
She took herself off to bed and hoped for a dreamless sleep where she didn’t need to make any decisions.