Baby, Come Back (17 page)
Authors: Erica Spindler
“Not Maggie.” She stood on tiptoes and kissed him, a smile tugging at her mouth. “My biological mother. But that's another story. I'll tell you all about it. Soon.”
“But not now?”
“Uh-uh.” She laced their fingers. “Now I have other plans.”
With a soft laugh, Hayes let her lead him inside.
“J
ust how big is that bird, Alice?” Hayes eyed the turkey as she maneuvered it out of the grocery bag. “And are you even sure it's a turkey? It looks more like a small horse.”
“Very funny.” She arched an eyebrow indignantly at her husband. “A twenty-six-pound turkey is not that big. Especially considering Maggie and her brood are coming. Josh alone will pack away a third of the bird.”
Hayes laughed. “Oh, sure. Blame it on Josh. Are you telling me that the size of that bird doesn't have anything to do with the fact that you're eating for three now?”
Alice placed a hand on her swollen belly, a soft smile tugging at her mouth.
Twins. Perfectly healthy and thriving. She still couldn't believe it.
“Are you calling me a glutton, Counselor?”
He tumbled her into his arms and kissed her soundly. Lifting his head, he grinned. “I plead the Fifth.”
She tipped her head toward Sheri. The teenager stood anxiously at the window, looking out. Jeff was due home any minute, his first trip back since leaving for Georgetown, and Sheri hadn't budged from the window all morning. “What do you think? Should I show him mercy? Or throw the book at him?”
The teenager dragged her gaze from the window, her eyebrows drawn with worry. “I'm sorry, what did you say?”
Alice's heart tipped over, and she shot the girl a sympathetic smile. “Never mind. It was just silliness.”
Hayes kissed her again, then released her. “I'll get the rest of the groceries.”
“Thanks.” As he started past her, she caught his hand. He stopped and met her eyes. She smiled. “I love you.”
He brought her hand to his mouth. “I love you, too.”
Hayes headed out the back door, and Alice crossed to Sheri. She laid a hand on the girl's shoulder. “He'll be here. Don't worry.”
“That's not what I'm worrying about.” Sheri caught her bottom lip between her teeth and glanced over her shoulder at Alice. “Do you think it'll be, you know, the same between us?”
“Goose.” She tapped the end of Sheri's nose. “He writes you every week and your phone bill rivals the national debt. Of course it will.”
For long moments the teenager gazed out the window, before turning to Alice once more. “But what if...college has changed him? Or changed the way he looks at me?” She clasped her hands together. “What if, after being around all those college girls, he doesn't love me anymore?”
“Never.”
Alice and Sheri swung simultaneously toward the kitchen doorway. Jeff stood there, arms loaded with grocery bags, his face wreathed in a smile, his eyes only for Sheri. Hayes stood beside him, looking every inch the proud and happy father.
“Never,” Jeff repeated, handing Hayes the bags and opening his arms. Sheri ran to them.
As the teenagers embraced, Hayes shifted his gaze to Alice. Her heart turned over at the wealth of emotion in his eyes.
A family. They were a family at last.
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ISBN: 978-1-4592-8793-8
Baby, Come Back
Copyright © 1994 by Erica Spindler
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