Chapter 15
Chelsea poked her head into Jagger’s office after her and Kaden’s swim.
She’d expected Jagger to join them, but once Kaden’s fingers started pruning, she decided something must have come up at the farm.
She sent Kaden upstairs to change while she checked on Jagger.
“Kaden’s getting dressed. I’m about to head up to change too.
” She glanced out the door to make sure no one was watching, then she opened her robe.
“You said you wanted to see me in a bathing suit.”
Jagger’s face remained impassive. In fact, although he’d looked at her, she got the feeling he didn’t see her.
“What’s wrong?” She closed her robe as she walked farther into the office.
He held up an envelope. Chelsea couldn’t read the return address, but, with Jagger’s pained expression, it didn’t take a brain surgeon to know what it was.
“Jagger, I’m sorry.” She reached out to touch him, but he withdrew.
“She won’t win. I won’t let her.”
The menacing promise in his voice sent a shiver through Chelsea. How far would he go to make sure Tanya lost?
“Have you called your lawyer?”
“She’ll be here in forty-five minutes or so.”
“I’ll go change.”
Jagger finally made eye contact with her. “What for?”
Chelsea frowned. “To be presentable when she arrives. Is she local?”
“You’re not a part of this.”
His words felt like a slap, but Chelsea reminded herself he was in pain. “We’re married.”
“I’m in charge of Kaden. Our being married doesn’t change that.”
Chelsea worked to tamp down her annoyance. “Then why am I here? This marriage is all about keeping Kaden.”
Jagger sprang from his desk, rushing toward the office door. He glanced outside the office before shutting the door. “Keep your voice down.”
“Why? You said we needed to act like this was a real marriage. In a real marriage, we’d fight this together. If we’re not doing that, then why pretend anymore?”
He scowled. “We need to pretend so everyone believes we’re a happy family. But we’re not a team. Kaden is my responsibility alone. I’ll be making all the decisions about him.”
While she cringed at the idea of being a subservient 1950s wife, this marriage was a business deal, so she needed to abide by his rules. “Fine.”
She turned to leave, but his hand grabbed her arm.
“I paid a fortune for you to act as a loving wife.”
The mention of money shocked her. Made her feel dirty.
But she smiled sweetly, hoping she wouldn’t lose her lunch.
“Why, of course, dear. My little ol’ self couldn’t possibly offer any help.
I’ll just run off and care for the chitlin.
” She glowered at him, yanked her arm free, and fled the room.
Once in the foyer, she wasn’t sure where to go.
All of a sudden, the house felt like a prison.
She considered leaving, but Kaden appeared at the top of the stairs.
“I’m hungry.”
“Wanna make cookies?” There was nothing like baking to take her mind off her troubles.
“Yay! Will Miss Z let you use the kitchen?”
The comment reminded Chelsea that she was a guest in the house. None of Jagger’s staff had warmed to her. Now Jagger was cold too, and the only friend she had was Kaden. But she’d agreed to this arrangement and so she needed to stick it out.
“We’ll find out.”
“What if she says no?”
Chelsea didn’t have an answer. “Let me get cleaned up and we’ll see what happens.”
After changing her clothes, Chelsea met Kaden in the kitchen. Miss Z was nowhere to be seen. Chelsea checked her watch. It wasn’t quite four, so surely they had time before Miss Z needed to start dinner.
“You take a seat at the island and I’ll see if we have everything for snickerdoodles.”
“Snickerdoodles.” Kaden laughed like it was the funniest word he’d ever heard.
“You’ve never had a snickerdoodle?”
“I don’t know. What is it?”
“It’s a cookie. We’ll make my mother’s recipe. You’ll love it.” Chelsea rummaged through the pantry, looking for flour, sugar, and other ingredients. “We’re going to need a mixing bowl and measuring cups.”
“I know where they are.” Kaden jumped down from the stool. “Sometimes Miss Z lets me watch her bake cookies.”
“Well, this time you can help make them.” Chelsea carried the ingredients to the island counter. She worked with Kaden to find the needed bowls and measuring spoons and cups.
“Miss Z usually uses that machine.” Kaden pointed to an electric mixer.
“This time we’re going to use old-fashioned manpower. How strong are you?”
Kaden held up his arm, showing off his bicep. Chelsea gave it a squeeze. “You’re strong enough to stir.”
Chelsea combined the ingredients to make half a batch and stirred enough so the flour wouldn’t go flying if Kaden’s spoon slipped out of the bowl. Then she handed him the spoon. “It’s your go.”
He maneuvered onto his knees and, holding the bowl in one arm, began to stir.
“It’s thick.” His brows furrowed and his little pink tongue stuck out as he concentrated on mixing the dough.
“You’re doing great.” As he stirred, Chelsea gathered the cooking tools and set them in the sink. She’d wash them once the cookies were in the oven. She then went to stand with Kaden. “I used to make these with my mom.”
“My mom is sick.”
Chelsea was surprised by his comment. She’d never asked Jagger what Kaden believed about his mom. She only knew that Jagger didn’t think Kaden remembered her. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“You’re like my mom now. And Jagger is like my dad.” There was a wistfulness in his tone. As if he wished she and Jagger were his parents.
“Families are made in all sorts of ways.”
“Is this good?” Kaden showed her the bowl.
“That’s pretty good. You’ve got a few clumps right there.”
Kaden resumed stirring. “Where’s your mom?”
“My mom died.” Chelsea purposefully avoided saying she died after an illness so Kaden wouldn’t equate his mom with hers.
“Like your brother?”
“Yes.”
“What about your dad?”
“He’s gone too.”
“At least you’re not alone. You have us now.”
Chelsea smiled, even as her heart sank. She didn’t have them. Not really. Soon, she’d be back at her house, and if all went well, Jagger would continue to raise Kaden.
“What are you doing?”
Chelsea jerked at Miss Z’s shrill tone.
“We’re making cookies. Look, I’m stirring.” Kaden showed her the bowl.
“I see that.”
Kaden missed Miss Z’s disapproving tone as he kept stirring.
“We have plenty of cookies.”
“Now we’ll have more.” Chelsea worked to keep her voice unaffected.
“These are snickerdoodles. We don’t have those.” Kaden pushed the bowl toward Chelsea. “Is that good?”
Miss Z’s lips pressed into a thin line. She inhaled a deep breath, turned on her heel, and left the kitchen.
Good riddance.
“I don’t think she likes us in the kitchen.”
“You caught that, huh? Well, good thing we’re almost done.” Chelsea picked up the spoon, scooping up some of the batter. Then she dropped the dough in her hand and rolled it into a ball. “Once you have a ball like this, we roll it in the cinnamon and sugar here. Then put it on the cookie sheet.”
“They’re round?”
“They’ll flatten when they cook.”
She supervised as Kaden worked to ball the dough and roll it in the cinnamon sugar.
“I never did this before.”
“Cookie making is an important life skill.”
Kaden had filled half the cookie sheet when Miss Z returned with Jagger in tow.
“Great day! You tattled?”
“I told you she doesn’t like it.” Kaden dropped his spoon, looking reprimanded.
Chelsea fisted her hands, hating that Miss Z could make a little boy feel he was in trouble simply because they were making cookies. Why would Jagger have hired someone so mean and insensitive?
“How am I going to make dinner in this mess?”
Chelsea took a deep breath to rein in her temper for Kaden. If he hadn’t been there, Chelsea was sure she would have let a few colorful words fly. “Kaden and I will clean up as soon as the cookies go in the oven.”
“Jagger, we’re making snickerdoodles. Miss Chelsea used to make them with her mom.”
Jagger’s expression was a mixture of annoyance and anger.
“Her mom and brother and father died. We’re her family now, right, Jagger?”
Jagger jerked back, surprised by Kaden’s statement. He nodded. “I don’t see what the problem is here, Miss Z.”
“I can’t cook in a crowded, messy kitchen.”
“We’re almost done.” Chelsea then remembered the court letter. “I’m sure Jagger has more important things on his mind than worrying about this.”
Miss Z’s nostrils flared and Chelsea was sure she saw steam coming from them. “Dinner will be late.”
“Then it will be late.” Jagger turned his back to Kaden and Chelsea to give his attention to Miss Z. “Chelsea is my wife. She is the mistress of the house, so you’ll accommodate her.”
Chelsea felt vindicated.
“She’s making cookies with Kaden, for God’s sake. It’s not the end of the world.”
Without a look back, he strode out of the kitchen. Miss Z shook with anger, and Chelsea was sure a litany of vile words was on the tip of her tongue. Fortunately, she turned and left the kitchen as well.
“Now what?” Kaden rolled the last cookie ball in cinnamon sugar.
“Now we put them in the oven to cook.”
“I’m not allowed to use the oven.”
“It can be dangerous.” Chelsea put the cookie sheet in the pre-heated oven.
“Now, move your stool to the sink, and we’ll start cleaning our mess.
” She and Kaden developed a system: she washed and he dried.
Nine minutes later, they pulled the cookie sheet out and set it to cool while they finished the dishes.
“Mrs. Talbot.”
Chelsea turned to the voice of Grayson, who always managed to say her name with an air of disdain. What did these people have against her?
“Mr. Talbot asks that you join in his meeting with Mrs. Monroe.”
He does, huh? “I’ll be right there.” She turned back, handing Kaden the last bowl.
“I got the impression it was urgent.” Grayson barely hid is irritation.