Love and Secrets - Kit Morgan Page 0,23
after tonight, word would get around that Zane had come home to introduce Sophie to his parents. She just hoped he succeeded this time.
Holly found a gift bag, wrapped Zane’s purchase and made it as pretty as possible. She knew his mother well enough not to make it too glitzy, but it also had to satisfy her sense of style.
She stepped back to admire her work. “Mrs. Brody is going to love this.” She looked at Zane and Katie. The two were chatting away.
Holly sighed. Katie was probably trying to get as much information out of him as she could. Well, good luck with that. Holly smiled at the thought and put the gift bag on the counter.
Chapter Eight
“Zane, is that you?”
“Yeah, it’s me,” he called as he entered the motel room.
Holly finished diapering Sophie then picked her up. “There, I bet that feels better.”
Zane stood in the doorway of the bathroom. “Did I miss anything?”
Holly made a face then smiled at the baby. “Did he miss anything? Just the biggest, smelliest …”
“Glad I missed that,” he interjected.
Holly studied him. He didn’t look upset. A good sign. “How did it go?”
He sighed. “They’ll be here in ten minutes.”
Her face fell. “Is that a good ten minutes, or an ‘I’m really dreading’ it ten minutes?”
“They’re still in shock,” he stated.
She nodded. “Make that I have ten minutes to make Sophie look fabulous.”
“Holly, she looks fine,” he said. “Judging from the way my mother cried, she’s going to love her.”
Holly cringed. “She cried?”
“Buckets.” He left the doorway and went to the playpen.
She followed. “And your dad?”
“He’s different. He didn’t say much other than, ‘hmmm …’”
She cringed again. “Oh. Did he at least nod a lot?”
“Don’t worry, I can handle my parents.” He blew out a breath. “I just… I just don’t want to see them disappointed.”
Her jaw dropped. “Disappointed? At what?”
He jabbed a thumb into his chest, turned and started taking toys out of the playpen.
Holly, with Sophie held in one arm, tapped him on the shoulder. “Zane…”
He straightened, a toy in each hand. “It’s the whole ‘I’m the pastor’s kid’ stigma. How will this make the family look sort of thing. Thank Heaven my grandparents are out of town right now. That’s two pastors.”
Holly nodded. The elder Pastor Brody handed over the reins of the church years ago, but still performed weddings and baptisms. “Life happens,” she said. “To everyone. You should have Katie tell you about her big brother John and Crystal. Wow.”
“I’ve heard bits and pieces but don’t think I’ve got the whole story yet.”
“Trust me, you haven’t. And in case you’re wondering, John wins, hands down.”
“Wins what?”
“You don’t want to know that either.” She set Sophie on the bed and started to rummage through a small suitcase Zane kept her clothes in. “Let’s see, how about your red and white dress?”
Sophie flayed an arm and drooled.
“She doesn’t care what she wears, Holls,” Zane said.
“Well I care.” She pulled out the dress she wanted, shoved the bag aside and sat on the bed near Sophie. “We’re going to make you look like a princess!”
Zane gave her a look of something between helplessness and horror. “Don’t make her so foo-foo. My parents might be afraid to touch her.”
“Sophie’s grandparents won’t care what she was wearing …”
“Oh?” Zane said with interest.
Holly squeezed her eyes shut. “That’s not what I meant.”
Zane laughed and got back to work. Holly watched him a moment, then did the same. It wasn’t long before there came a knock on the door. Holly picked Sophie up and Zane looked at her as if waiting for permission to open the door.
She gave him a curt nod and he did.
“Where is she?” Mrs. Brody said before she so much as stepped over the threshold. Zane moved out of the way to let her in. His mother gasped. “Cormac, will you look at her?” Her jaw trembled then stopped when she noticed Holly. “What are you doing here?”
“Babysitting,” Zane said, “I asked her to.”
“You mean Holly Kupiec got to spend time with the baby before we did?” she huffed.
Zane pinched the bridge of his nose. “Mom, I wanted to speak to you alone first to tell you. I wasn’t going to show up on your doorstep with Sophie unannounced.”
“That’s wise,” his father said.
Holly watched the Brodys take in their granddaughter for the first time. Mrs. Brody looked about to burst into tears whereas Mr. Brody had the same look he did every Sunday morning. Right before he went into his