features much like Anne’s, but a little older. Her smile was wide and genuine. A clean but faded sleeveless blouse had been tucked into a loose skirt. He wondered if she’d dressed up to meet them. “Annie Jo Baker, you are lookin’ mighty pretty. Is this beautiful young lady your little girl?”
Anne took Laurel’s hand and led her forward. “Laurel, this is my cousin, Becky Sue.”
“Laurel. Ain’t that a lovely name.” She moved closer, then touched her cheek. “Oh, my. You’ve got Aunt Rose’s eyes.” She held open her arms.
Laurel looked at him for guidance. He felt as if someone had sliced his belly open and was now twisting the knife. He wanted to drag Laurel into the car and drive so far that they both forgot about Paradise and Anne Baker and birth mothers and being adopted. But he couldn’t. He nodded his approval and his daughter stepped into Becky Sue’s embrace.
“Welcome home, Laurel Baker. Welcome to the family.”
Chapter 6
”N ow are you sure you don’t want another piece of pie?” Becky Sue asked, rising from the table.
“Not for me,” Anne said. “I’m stuffed. Jake?”
The man beside her shook his head. He’d been silent through their meal. Not that she blamed him. It was hot and sticky; even talking was an effort. The air conditioner in the mobile home had long since given up. Even though she’d showered and changed before dinner, Anne could feel the sweat dripping down her back. Her normally curly hair was lying flat from the heat. Jake’s tailored white shirt clung to him in patches. Only Becky Sue looked comfortable in her loose floral print skirt and blouse.
The three adults sat at the old table in the kitchen. The six kids were scattered throughout the trailer. Two dogs and an assortment of cats wove between their legs and generally added to the heat and din.
Anne glanced at the cherry pie sitting in the center of the table. Becky Sue would have gotten up early to bake it herself. The fried chicken and biscuits had been from a family recipe, the corn picked that morning. This was the home she remembered. It was all the same; she was the one who had changed.
Tm sure sorry J.T. couldn’t get home early,” Becky Sue said as she cleared the table. Anne rose to help, but her cousin pushed her back in place. “Now I know you’re family, darlin’, but today I’m gonna treat you like company.”
Her familiar open smile eased the pain in Annie’s heart. Becky Sue could always put her world right.
“Anyway, he wanted to meet your little girl, but he can get to it in the morning. He’s got an extra half shift down at the gas station.” She looked around the trailer. “We sure could use the money to fix up this place.” She moved efficiently around the small but clean kitchen. When one of the dogs walked in front of her, she easily stepped out of the way.
“Annie Jo and her mother had a real nice mobile home,” she said, then gave Jake a wink. “‘Course it was only the two of ‘em. Kids have a way of wearing a place out.”
Anne shifted uncomfortably in her chair. She wasn’t ashamed of where she’d grown up. There might not have been a lot of luxuries, but there’d been plenty of love and understanding. Still, what did Jake think of all this?
“You must be very proud of Anne,” he said, taking the cup of coffee Becky Sue offered.
“Oh, we are. She’s got that important job of hers. And her place. Have you seen it?”
He nodded.
“Ain’t it pretty? All white.” Becky Sue gave her a grin. “She tried to buy us a new mobile home, but I wouldn’t let her. This one might be a little worn, but it still works for us.”
“I’m sure Jake doesn’t want to hear this,” Anne said, starting to get uncomfortable.
Jake ignored her. “That was very generous.”
“She is. She gives me money for the kids. College, she says, if they want to go.” Becky Sue glanced over at her brood. “I think only little Dolly will take
Anne took Laurel’s hand and led her forward. “Laurel, this is my cousin, Becky Sue.”
“Laurel. Ain’t that a lovely name.” She moved closer, then touched her cheek. “Oh, my. You’ve got Aunt Rose’s eyes.” She held open her arms.
Laurel looked at him for guidance. He felt as if someone had sliced his belly open and was now twisting the knife. He wanted to drag Laurel into the car and drive so far that they both forgot about Paradise and Anne Baker and birth mothers and being adopted. But he couldn’t. He nodded his approval and his daughter stepped into Becky Sue’s embrace.
“Welcome home, Laurel Baker. Welcome to the family.”
Chapter 6
”N ow are you sure you don’t want another piece of pie?” Becky Sue asked, rising from the table.
“Not for me,” Anne said. “I’m stuffed. Jake?”
The man beside her shook his head. He’d been silent through their meal. Not that she blamed him. It was hot and sticky; even talking was an effort. The air conditioner in the mobile home had long since given up. Even though she’d showered and changed before dinner, Anne could feel the sweat dripping down her back. Her normally curly hair was lying flat from the heat. Jake’s tailored white shirt clung to him in patches. Only Becky Sue looked comfortable in her loose floral print skirt and blouse.
The three adults sat at the old table in the kitchen. The six kids were scattered throughout the trailer. Two dogs and an assortment of cats wove between their legs and generally added to the heat and din.
Anne glanced at the cherry pie sitting in the center of the table. Becky Sue would have gotten up early to bake it herself. The fried chicken and biscuits had been from a family recipe, the corn picked that morning. This was the home she remembered. It was all the same; she was the one who had changed.
Tm sure sorry J.T. couldn’t get home early,” Becky Sue said as she cleared the table. Anne rose to help, but her cousin pushed her back in place. “Now I know you’re family, darlin’, but today I’m gonna treat you like company.”
Her familiar open smile eased the pain in Annie’s heart. Becky Sue could always put her world right.
“Anyway, he wanted to meet your little girl, but he can get to it in the morning. He’s got an extra half shift down at the gas station.” She looked around the trailer. “We sure could use the money to fix up this place.” She moved efficiently around the small but clean kitchen. When one of the dogs walked in front of her, she easily stepped out of the way.
“Annie Jo and her mother had a real nice mobile home,” she said, then gave Jake a wink. “‘Course it was only the two of ‘em. Kids have a way of wearing a place out.”
Anne shifted uncomfortably in her chair. She wasn’t ashamed of where she’d grown up. There might not have been a lot of luxuries, but there’d been plenty of love and understanding. Still, what did Jake think of all this?
“You must be very proud of Anne,” he said, taking the cup of coffee Becky Sue offered.
“Oh, we are. She’s got that important job of hers. And her place. Have you seen it?”
He nodded.
“Ain’t it pretty? All white.” Becky Sue gave her a grin. “She tried to buy us a new mobile home, but I wouldn’t let her. This one might be a little worn, but it still works for us.”
“I’m sure Jake doesn’t want to hear this,” Anne said, starting to get uncomfortable.
Jake ignored her. “That was very generous.”
“She is. She gives me money for the kids. College, she says, if they want to go.” Becky Sue glanced over at her brood. “I think only little Dolly will take
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