Adele (Angel Creek Christmas Brides #18) - Cynthia Woolf Page 0,36

house. She did take care of Lissa in the beginning. I have to give her credit for that.”

She smiled at the little girl. “But your daddy is the one who helped you when you were a toddler. Your mama didn’t understand what to do with you when you started to walk and get into everything. She’d put you in the kitchen and I’d watch you. That situation continued until you were about five. Then she learned I was teaching you how to cook and she took you away. You had to play alone in your room after that. I think she didn’t want you to know more than she did. I don’t know what else could explain her behavior. We tried to change her mind, but she refused.”

Lissa stared at the table. “I didn’t know. She didn’t really want me, did she?”

Ruama looked at Adele before she answered. “I don’t believe it’s a matter of not wanting you. She thought taking care of you would be easy and that she could just put you away like a doll when she was through playing. But she discovered that a baby is not a doll. They need feeding and changing and loving all the time. She simply wasn’t capable of taking care of you. Your father on the other hand, was thrilled when you were born. When he realized your mother wasn’t doing it properly, he took over your care.”

Adele chest tightened and she crossed her arms. “What do you mean properly? Did she abuse Lissa?”

Ruama shook her head. “Not on purpose, simply through neglect. For example, she wouldn’t change Lissa’s diaper when it needed it. She’d wait until she absolutely had to before changing her.” Ruama took Lissa’s hand. “You had such a terrible rash that your father and I took over your care. When he was here, he saw to you. When he was working I did. Two weeks passed before we got that rash cleared up. We made sure you didn’t cry needlessly.”

“All babies cry,” said Adele.

Ruama held Lissa’s hand but looked at Adele. “She only cried when she was lonely and needed loving. Or when she was wet or messy and needed changing. Lissa was a very happy baby, as long as Catherine wasn’t the one caring for her.”

I hope the baby I carry is a happy baby. I certainly won’t neglect him. Yes, I think I’ll call the baby him, which is so much better than it. Anyway, I’m much too excited about him being here to neglect him. Edward might tell me I’m spoiling him but I don’t believe you can spoil a baby or love him too much.

Adele placed her hands on her stomach but quickly moved them away.

Ruama lifted an eyebrow.

She probably knew now but Adele was sure she wouldn’t give away her secret. Adele wanted to wait until Christmas Eve, when she and Edward were alone in bed, after making love. Then she would tell him, as sort of a Christmas present.

*****

By the time her family sat down at two o’clock, everyone was famished. All the morning chores were done and many of the evening’s chores as well. The fourteen members of Adele’s little family sat down to Thanksgiving dinner even though it was served closer to lunchtime. Ruama roasted the turkey, plus a ham, a large beef roast and another of pork. The beef and pork roasts were for supper when sandwiches would be the entrée.

Adele cut the oranges into quarters and put one piece on each plate. She used the other sections to season the ham and pork roast, basting them in the orange juice.

Seeing her family all together made her eyes fill with tears. I won’t cry. I won’t cry.

She thought the selections were way too much food, then she remembered it was a holiday and everyone over ate on a holiday. Richard had lain on the sofa after eating, too full to move any further.

The turkey was gone in no time, followed by the ham. The men ate until most of them were leaning back in their chairs, patting their bellies and groaning.

Adele was tempted to have seconds but her stomach simply couldn’t handle any more. Besides, she was afraid she’d throw up as she did most mornings now, even though this was the afternoon.

So far, she’d been able to be sick in private, so no one knew except maybe Ruama, but she was afraid that situation may be coming to an end. Edward lingered over his coffee more