Not Quite Mine (Not Quite series) (38 page)

Savannah babbled to herself and jumped at the side of the playpen. She was ten months old and close to taking her first step.

“Cooking shouldn’t be this hard.”

Savannah muttered, “Da Da.”

“Yeah, he’s a better cook. Don’t remind me.”

“Da Da.”

Katie lifted the sticking pasta from the pot with a frown before taking it to the sink and letting the garbage disposal eat it.

“Da Da.”

She tucked her hair behind her ear and flattened her hands on the sink. The three-carat square-cut diamond set in white gold with a matching diamond band twinkled on her hand. So she was a lousy cook. She had the wife thing down and loved everything about being a mother.

Life could be worse.

Maggie had moved out of state without a good-bye. Katie thought about her from time to time but no longer worried that she’d return and demand custody.

With some legal help, Dean’s name was added to Savannah’s birth certificate. The three of them were a real family now…in every way.

The floor squeaked behind her before a bouquet of flowers was thrust in her face.

“For my beautiful wife,” Dean whispered behind her. His lips found the nape of her neck and she leaned into him.

“What are these for?”

“Do I have to have a reason?”

She twisted in his arms and cocked her head to the side. “A husband brings a wife flowers on Valentine’s Day, birthdays, and anniversaries…or if he’s feeling guilty for something.” She sniffed the flowers and smiled. “So what has you feeling guilty?”

Dean’s strong jaw dropped in mock offense. “I’m offended.”

“Ha! Takes more than that to offend you. I know. You eat my cooking and you’re not offended.”

He looked past her and into the sink. “Looks like I’m off the hook tonight.”

She poked him with the stem of the flowers “Hey!”

“It’s OK. I’m taking my Prescott girls out tonight.”

“You are?”

“Yep, and pack a bag, cuz we’re staying overnight.”

“We are?”

“Yep.” Dean leaned over and turned off the water, which was still running.

“Wow,” she said. “You must have done something awful for this kind of guilt. Flowers, dinner…overnight stay.”

Dean took the flowers from her hands and placed them on the counter. He leaned his body into hers, pinning her to the sink. “You’re forgetting one holiday on which a husband buys his wife flowers.”

She pinched her lips together and tried like hell to take him seriously with him pressed so close. “Can’t think of one.”

“What’s tomorrow?”

“Not my birthday.”

He kissed her nose. “Happy Mother’s Day, Katie.”

Her mouth opened, closed, then opened again. “I forgot.” She’d spent years ignoring the holiday because she had no one to celebrate it for. She’d seen some of the commercials on the TV and they’d both joked about this being her first Mother’s Day as a mom…but she’d forgotten. “It is Mother’s Day.”

“It is. And I’m taking you and our daughter to the happiest place on earth.”

Katie’s eyes flew wide open. “Really? I haven’t been there in years.”

“I couldn’t think of a better place to celebrate.”

She tilted her lips to his, thanked him with a kiss. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

He kissed her again and then retrieved Savannah from her playpen. “Did you say Happy Mother’s Day?” he asked.

“Da Da.”

“She has that down. One of these days I’m going to hear Ma Ma.” Katie sponged out the pot and set it on a towel to dry.
Yep, it’s time to hire a cook.

“There’s mail on the counter,” Dean told her.

She picked it up and thumbed through the junk.

In the stack was a card-shaped envelope addressed to Katelyn Prescott. It was postmarked from Florida. She opened the envelope and found a floral card with
Happy Mother’s Day
written on the front.

Dear Katelyn,

I hope this card finds you well, and that you’re happy in your new life. May this and every Mother’s Day bring you the happiness you so richly deserve. You’ve grown into a strong and beautiful woman, one I would be honored to have as a friend.

I’ve been a lousy mother, but I would like a chance of being a halfway decent grandmother. If an invitation arrives, I’d love to visit you and meet your family.

All my best,

Annie

“Katie?”

She waved the card in the air. “It’s from my mom.”

Dean stopped bouncing Savannah. “You’re kidding.”

“She wants to visit.” The note was clearly an olive branch. Katie smiled. The ice in her heart in regard to her mother began to thaw.

He moved beside her, glanced down at the card. “What do
you
want?”

Katie looked into the eyes of the man she loved. “I think it’s time. Put the past behind us and move forward.”

“It won’t be easy,” he reminded her.

“The good things in life never are.”

Dean pulled her into his arms, squeezing Savannah in between.

“Da Da.”

Katie groaned. “Mama. C’mon. Can I have a little
mama
?”

Savannah giggled. “Ma.”

Katie squealed. “Did you hear that? She said
ma
.”

Delighted with the praise, Savannah said it again. “Ma.”

“Ah,” Katie screamed, kissing Savannah over and over. She grabbed Dean’s arm. “C’mon, guys. Let’s pack. We’re going to Disneyland.”

“Ma Ma.”

A big thank-you to my fans who have embraced this new series with open arms.

As always, thanks to my agent, Jane, and her team, for making this book possible.

For Montlake, and my editor Kelli, who wanted a story where I tied in Mother’s Day to the theme. Everyone has read the secret baby story. I thought it was about time for a baby to be left on a woman’s doorstep.

This book was as much about motherhood as it was about family.

I will end my acknowledgments with the person I dedicated this book to, Kayce. You’re more than a cousin, more than a friend. I can count on you anytime, day or night…and know you’ll always be there. I hope your daughters know how lucky they are to have you as their mother.

I love you!

Catherine

Photograph by Lindsey Meyer, 2012

New York Times
bestselling author Catherine Bybee was raised in Washington State, but after graduating high school, she moved to Southern California in hopes of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full-time and has penned the novels
Not Quite Dating, Wife by Wednesday
, and
Married by Monday
. Bybee lives with her husband and two teenage sons in Southern California.