alternative.”
“If anyone can charm them into cooperating, it’s you, baby.”
“Thanks, but I’ll keep the breadstick threat in my back pocket in case what I have planned doesn’t work out.”
The noise level from the back room made them both stop and laugh. Both kids would be fine with their housekeeper Carmen and Ross, but Merrick and Katlin had volunteered to join in until they got back. Katlin usually went with Cain to meetings like this, but tonight Muriel was filling in since Cain had expanded her role.
“Let’s hope there’s no dog in whatever movie they’re blaring back there,” Cain said. “If there is, your rugs are toast.”
“ My rugs?” She pointed to her chest. “Any dog that comes into this house is going to live in the study.”
Cain laughed as she followed her to the den. When they entered, the group was watching Hannah as she took her turn at the video game they were playing. Emma savored Cain’s smile every time she saw it. They spoke often before going to sleep, and every time Cain thanked her for the happiness she’d brought to her life.
Their time apart and the guilt because of why it’d happened faded a bit more each time Cain told her the kinds of things that were meant for her heart only. Through everything they’d experienced together and during their separation, she’d never lost sight of what a blessing and a gift her life with Cain and their family was. That her father was here with them to share this with her only completed the sense of family she’d always wanted.
“Mama, look, I’m doing good,” Hannah yelled as she swung her arm around with the game control in her fist.
Had Emma known Cain at this age, she probably wouldn’t see much difference from their daughter. Hannah and Hayden both had a competitiveness that reminded her so much of Cain it made her optimistic for their future. Like their mother, both children would excel at whatever they did for the clan, and they’d assure the business for the generation that came after them. It was too early to daydream of grandchildren, but she did sometimes, wondering what Cain would be like surrounded by small Caseys again while their children ruled the clan.
“Have you eaten anything, Miss Doing Good?” Cain asked her when she picked her up and threw her in the air. Hannah squealed in delight since, like her brother, she loved to roughhouse with Cain whenever she was around her. With Cain there to catch her, Hannah was fearless.
“We ordered pizza,” Merrick said. “And wine for later, in case they don’t calm down from all this electronic stimulus.”
“You’re a funny woman,” Emma said as she kissed Hannah’s forehead when Cain held her out. Hayden had stood and put his arm around her waist and a hand on her growing belly. “Give him more time and he’ll say hello.”
“It’s a boy?”
“It’s a guess. Your mom and I are split on our choices. She says girl, and I say boy. Do you have a preference?” she asked, surprised she hadn’t before now.
“Hannah and I are split too. She wants a brother, but I think another sister would be cool.” He hugged her and kissed her cheek before he took Hannah from Cain. “Maybe one more so all of us will be happy if it’s not what we wanted.”
“Maybe,” she said, “but let me survive the heat first.”
“You guys have fun and try not to stay up too late,” Cain said as she took Emma’s hand again. “And tell your mama how beautiful she looks before we go.”
Everyone, including Carmen, said something.
“Thank you, and be good,” Emma said after she’d kissed Cain for her thoughtfulness. It was hard to not let her self-esteem deflate a little the bigger she got, but Cain derailed those thoughts before they could take hold. “I want you to know something,” she said when they were alone in the backseat.
Cain had her arm around her and held her hand. “Last-minute advice?”
“No.” She rested her head against Cain’s shoulder.
“If anyone can charm them into cooperating, it’s you, baby.”
“Thanks, but I’ll keep the breadstick threat in my back pocket in case what I have planned doesn’t work out.”
The noise level from the back room made them both stop and laugh. Both kids would be fine with their housekeeper Carmen and Ross, but Merrick and Katlin had volunteered to join in until they got back. Katlin usually went with Cain to meetings like this, but tonight Muriel was filling in since Cain had expanded her role.
“Let’s hope there’s no dog in whatever movie they’re blaring back there,” Cain said. “If there is, your rugs are toast.”
“ My rugs?” She pointed to her chest. “Any dog that comes into this house is going to live in the study.”
Cain laughed as she followed her to the den. When they entered, the group was watching Hannah as she took her turn at the video game they were playing. Emma savored Cain’s smile every time she saw it. They spoke often before going to sleep, and every time Cain thanked her for the happiness she’d brought to her life.
Their time apart and the guilt because of why it’d happened faded a bit more each time Cain told her the kinds of things that were meant for her heart only. Through everything they’d experienced together and during their separation, she’d never lost sight of what a blessing and a gift her life with Cain and their family was. That her father was here with them to share this with her only completed the sense of family she’d always wanted.
“Mama, look, I’m doing good,” Hannah yelled as she swung her arm around with the game control in her fist.
Had Emma known Cain at this age, she probably wouldn’t see much difference from their daughter. Hannah and Hayden both had a competitiveness that reminded her so much of Cain it made her optimistic for their future. Like their mother, both children would excel at whatever they did for the clan, and they’d assure the business for the generation that came after them. It was too early to daydream of grandchildren, but she did sometimes, wondering what Cain would be like surrounded by small Caseys again while their children ruled the clan.
“Have you eaten anything, Miss Doing Good?” Cain asked her when she picked her up and threw her in the air. Hannah squealed in delight since, like her brother, she loved to roughhouse with Cain whenever she was around her. With Cain there to catch her, Hannah was fearless.
“We ordered pizza,” Merrick said. “And wine for later, in case they don’t calm down from all this electronic stimulus.”
“You’re a funny woman,” Emma said as she kissed Hannah’s forehead when Cain held her out. Hayden had stood and put his arm around her waist and a hand on her growing belly. “Give him more time and he’ll say hello.”
“It’s a boy?”
“It’s a guess. Your mom and I are split on our choices. She says girl, and I say boy. Do you have a preference?” she asked, surprised she hadn’t before now.
“Hannah and I are split too. She wants a brother, but I think another sister would be cool.” He hugged her and kissed her cheek before he took Hannah from Cain. “Maybe one more so all of us will be happy if it’s not what we wanted.”
“Maybe,” she said, “but let me survive the heat first.”
“You guys have fun and try not to stay up too late,” Cain said as she took Emma’s hand again. “And tell your mama how beautiful she looks before we go.”
Everyone, including Carmen, said something.
“Thank you, and be good,” Emma said after she’d kissed Cain for her thoughtfulness. It was hard to not let her self-esteem deflate a little the bigger she got, but Cain derailed those thoughts before they could take hold. “I want you to know something,” she said when they were alone in the backseat.
Cain had her arm around her and held her hand. “Last-minute advice?”
“No.” She rested her head against Cain’s shoulder.
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