Chapter 9
Snow remained on the ground, but the late May sunshine poured in the windows at High Water, warm enough to offer hope that the seasons were finally changing.
Petra leaned back at the breakfast table, and the skin over her broad baby belly tightened. She rubbed a hand slowly over the surface, smiling in spite of the discomfort. Any day now.
Please, Lord, a day that is soon.
A teeny heel pressed outward far enough to make a bulge, and she laughed, even as she pushed back a little. “Cool it, baby. That’s not as painful as when you kick my bladder, but still no.”
A plate of pancakes, peach slices, and whipped cream landed on the table in front of her.
“Eat what you can,” her mother, Pamela, ordered. “You have no idea when labour will begin. Even if you don’t feel hungry, you’ll be grateful for the calories later.”
The scent was tempting, but Petra’s appetite had vanished in the last twenty-four hours. Hopefully that meant the baby was ready to appear. Still, she obediently cut off a small piece of peach, stacked it on a pancake slice, and nibbled thoughtfully.
Petra’s parents had arrived over a week ago, a day before her due date.
They had set up camp in one of the rooms made for the temporary hands and leapt into the fray.
Pamela had taken over a ton of kitchen duties from Tansy, while Zachary Senior was entertaining himself fixing older ranch equipment.
He’d hauled Logan in as a helper, and the young man was walking with his chin held high after the two of them had gotten an old baler working that the ranch had given up on.
Beside Petra, Aiden tapped on his watch. “Jinx. You’re cutting it close for the bus.”
Jinx hurried to fork the last of her meal into her mouth even as she shook her head. “The Stones are picking me up.”
Oops. Baby brain had struck again. Petra grimaced. “Sorry, Jinx, I forgot. Tamara messaged to say they’re running late so you should catch the bus.”
Her dad spoke up. “Logan and I are headed to the hardware store. We can drop you off.”
Jinx’s cheeks turned bright pink, but she sat back down and gulped in relief. “Thanks, Mr. Sorenson.”
He shook his finger at her.
This time a genuine smile escaped. “Thanks, Grandpa Zach.”
A warm buzz hit at the acknowledgment of their family connection, brushing away Petra’s curiosity at the unexpected blush she’d seen on her adoptive daughter’s face.
Happiness at how amazing it was to have a teenage daughter and a baby on the way warmed Petra for the rest of the morning until she and Aiden pulled up in front of Brooke and Mack’s bungalow home.
“Ready to see the new baby?” Aiden asked.
Some things weren’t fair. Brooke had gone into labour early while Petra remained belly-filled and waiting. A little complaining wasn’t wrong, was it?
“Yes. Ready to see our new baby, as well, but theirs first, I guess.”
Aiden laughed. “No pouting, sweetheart.”
Brooke’s dad opened the door to their knock and welcomed them in, the thin but piercing cry of a baby on the air.
Gary Silver laughed. “She’s got opinions, that one.”
“Good to hear,” Aiden said, shaking the man’s hand. “Congrats for the second time, Grandpa.”
“Thanks. I’m having a blast.” Gary gestured them into the back of the house. “Go ahead. It’s time for me to get Landon up from his nap.”
Brooke sat in splendor in an oversized rocker by the kitchen window. She sipped tea while Mack had the teeny baby pressed to his shoulder, patting her back gently as he paced. A surprisingly loud whine escaped the little thing as she complained.
Petra hurried over to the chair beside Brooke—okay, she definitely waddled this time. “Congrats. She sounds healthy.”
A laugh escaped Brooke as she put down her cup and rose to give Petra a hug. “She’s got the lungs of a drill sergeant, but luckily, she’s selective about when she uses them.”
A belch worthy of a much larger person escaped the teeny baby, and the crying vanished.
“There we go. Much better, princess, right?” Mack turned, proud grin in place as he handed the baby to Petra, who had settled in the open chair next to Brooke. “Leia is ready to say hello.”
Finding a way to cradle the baby around her oversized belly was a challenge, but looking into big eyes and a small pouting mouth, a bit of peach fuzz on her head—
Worth it, Petra thought.
And yes, every moment of waiting to say hello to their own was worth it too.
“She’s gorgeous,” Aiden whispered from his spot beside Petra. He glanced up at Mack, mischief in his eyes. “She takes after Brooke, not your side of the family.”
“Ha.” Mack grinned wider. “I’m Teflon right now. No insult can possibly stick. Besides, it’s true.” He lifted Brooke’s hand to his lips and kissed her fingers tenderly. “You’re beautiful and brave and I can’t believe I get to share this with you.”
Brooke blew him a kiss then accepted Landon’s hug as the sleepy-eyed two-year-old climbed into her lap. “Hello, my big boy. Did you have a good nap?”
“Yup. Baby Leia needs cuddles?”
“Soon,” Brooke promised.
“First, we have something for the new big brother,” Aiden announced, pulling a brightly wrapped present from his pocket.
Delighted, Landon tumbled off his mom’s lap, reaching out eagerly. He unwrapped the soft-sided book about big boys. “Book! Thank you.” He hugged both Aiden and Petra then caught Aiden by the hand. “Read to me.”
A contented quietness held in the house, even with the new life and a toddler. Petra couldn’t help thinking her world wasn’t going to be quite as calm.
On the drive home, she suddenly remembered. “Have you noticed something’s up with Jinx lately?”
Aiden glanced at her briefly then focused back on the road, but not before she spotted his grin. “That question tells me you’re not your usual self.”
“Don’t poke the pregnant bear,” Petra warned.
Aiden held up a hand, but he laughed. “If you’re talking about how Jinx seems to absolutely not be interested in anything Logan has to say, or in sitting beside him, or in being alone with him…
Yet he’s taking her to her grad in three weeks?
If that’s what you’re talking about, I might have noticed a time or two. ”
God, was she really that dense? “Do you think she’s scared to go but doing it because—”
“Petra,” he interrupted. “I don’t think it’s anything bad at all. Honestly? I think they like each other.”
Shock hit, hard and fast. “Boy, do I feel as if I’ve had my head in the clouds.”
She paused. It would be a huge step if Jinx was interested in a guy, considering her background. Logan had a rough time as a youth as well, in entirely different ways.
“Two damaged kids interested in each other. Is that a recipe for disaster?”
Petra was glad Aiden paused and considered before answering.
“If they’d hooked up when he’d first arrived, I’d have been concerned.
But they’ve both had time to grow and learn that we’re there for them.
All of us here at High Water.” Aiden coughed lightly.
“Don’t get me wrong, I still have a few issues with the idea.
Seems all my dad urges to protect showed up, no problem.
I expect Logan to behave far better than I did at his age. ”
Petra snorted. “Troublemaker.”
“I was, but I somehow don’t think Logan will be.” Aiden caught her fingers in his and held on as he pulled into the High Water driveway. “I think it’s an okay situation that we need to keep our noses out of. If possible.”
Dear God. “Tansy stay out of it? Good luck.”
“I think she and Sydney already know, and neither of them have said a word to you, have they?”
Shock struck again. “My gal pals betrayed me?”
He shrugged. “They’re a tad protective of you right now, if you haven’t noticed that either.”
Fair enough.
Still, when they were gathered that night by the fire, Petra did her best to look without seeming to look.
Were those secretive glances passing between Logan and Jinx? Did she hesitate for a moment before taking the only empty seat—the one that put her beside him?
Petra’s clandestine attempt was hindered by the growing repetitive pain that streaked across her belly. Braxton Hicks, but unlike the ones she’d grown accustomed to over the last month.
Hard enough contractions to force her to concentrate so she didn’t give it away. Erratic enough in timing to make holding her tongue difficult. But the last thing she wanted was a full-on High Water all-hands-on-deck when she could be at this for days.
If she could hold out until the first people said good night, she could excuse herself without anyone worrying.
“We’re turning in,” Aiden announced. He pulled Petra to her feet even as he spoke to Jinx. “You figure out what your baby brother’s middle name will be yet?”
“Close,” Jinx offered.
“Don’t put it off much longer, okay?” He promptly led Petra from the room, bundled her into her winter coat, and hustled her out the door.
Thank goodness she wasn’t currently in the middle of a contraction.
The instant he closed the door behind them, guiding her back to their suite, he wrapped an arm around her waist and sighed big enough to melt the snow around them. “How long have you been in labour?”
Well now. No use in hiding it then. “Since supper.”
Aiden shook his head, but he held his tongue until they were safely inside their suite. Then he twisted her to face him. “Before we take off our boots and coats, is this a head-to-the-hospital moment?”
Petra shook her head. “It’s uncomfortable, but I don’t think we’re anywhere near that point.”
He stepped in closer, hand cupping her cheek in a gentle caress. “Then tell me, what do you want? What do you need?”
She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tight. “You. I need you.” A new contraction hit, and she sucked for air. “And maybe a lower back massage and a hot shower?”
Aiden stripped her down, controlled concern on his face. “Let’s start there.”