managed to get home at least once or twice a week, loving catching up on the little things.
Those family dinners had dwindled over time once she’d married Evan. He’d never come right out and said he didn’t want to go, but somehow, he’d always have something else planned for them on the same day. His feigned interest made her enjoyment of being around her family strained. Knew her mother and father felt it too, though they never uttered a word.
But sitting here, in the center of another family, that feeling of warmth, of belonging, sparked deep within. She wanted Jamie to know what it meant to be part of something bigger, to know other people cared for her, the way Beth’s family had loved Beth and Tessa. Glancing toward her daughter, who sat cross-legged on the floor, her mouth smeared with sauce, Beth felt like she was finally home.
“Momma, this is awesome.” Rafe stood and dropped a kiss on the top of his mother’s head. “I’m gonna grab another piece.”
“Wait for me, bro. I want more too.” Brody stood, and his eyes met Beth’s. A tingling warmth filled her belly when his stare roved over her, lingering on her mouth. For a brief second, the hunger in his gaze made her think he wanted more than food. She broke eye contact, though it was hard. How could she feel like this?
“Ms. Patti, Douglas, I can’t thank you enough. I don’t know what I’d have done without your help.”
Ms. Patti reached over and squeezed Beth’s hand. “You’d have done fine. We’re glad you’re here, with your family.”
“You need anything, you call me. Or Ms. Patti.” Douglas’ gruff voice, deep and rumbly, was belied by the twinkle in his eyes. He was a big man, well over six feet, and muscled from his years of construction work. Though he wasn’t a big talker, not that she’d noticed anyway, everyone paid attention when he spoke.
“I will, I promise.”
Once everyone had eaten their fill, the leftovers were packed up and put in the refrigerator. Beth was surprised they’d gone through an entire tray of lasagna and part of the second one. She chuckled. Those Boudreau men sure could pack away a lot of food.
Walking to the door, she waved as their vehicles drove away, leaving her and Jamie to settle into their new home. Heading back inside, she ran her hand over the back of a chair, taking in the cozy living room. Tessa had told her about the break-in, how everything had been ransacked and destroyed, including the furniture that came with the rented house.
Her hand tightened on the back of the chair. This furniture, all of it, belonged to Brody. All of it had been in storage, and he’d immediately offered it to Tessa, to replace the stuff that had been unsalvageable. Taking in the warm butterscotch tones of the leather sofa and matching chairs, she had to admit he had good taste. Her sister had added a few simple touches, pops of color, making the house feel like a home.
A home Beth now shared with her baby girl. A noise behind her had her spinning around, catching her daughter with a cookie halfway to her mouth. Beth raised her brow, and nodded toward the cookie.
“Where’d that come from, young lady?”
“Ms. Patti gave it to me.”
“I don’t remember seeing any cookies.”
Jamie grinned and pointed to the freezer. “Mr. Douglas put them in the freezer, so they stay fresh. He said there’s a whole package just for me.”
“Oh, really? So, I don’t get any cookies, huh?”
Jamie giggled. “You gotta say please and thank you.”
Beth stepped forward and ruffled her daughter’s hair. “May I please have a cookie?”
“Yes. Ms. Patti said to cook it in the micro-something to make it taste better.”
Beth pointed to the cookie in Jamie’s hand. “The microwave, and yes, that makes them all warm and gooey. Want me to heat one up for you?”
“That’s okay, I like it this way too. Can I go play?”
“Right after I get a hug. Stay on the porch though.”
“Okay, Mommy.” Jamie wrapped her arms around Beth’s waist and squeezed, then darted through the kitchen and out the front door. Beth watched her for a few minutes through the open door, and knew her baby was safe. Leaning down, she lifted one of the boxes piled against the kitchen wall, set it on the table, and pulled back the tape. Might as well get some things put away.
She was barely halfway through the box when