Off Season (The Blake Boys Book 15) (17 page)

She was relieved to hear that her dad was handling all of this well. She’d half expected him to fall apart, but Sydney had been teaching him about living with stress since his heart issues began. He did some research of his own on the Internet, spoke about it in church, and discovered a few members of the congregation had been living with it for a while. Sydney said Curtis got on his knees and asked God to watch over his baby. She had too much living to do get to get struck down by some disease.

The rest of the family had been just as supportive. There were so many decisions to be made. Still, the guilt of holding up Michelle’s dream of a second bookstore gnawed at her, and she feared the kids would wonder why she was getting all these well wishes, so she told Seth it was time to tell them. He agreed.

* * *

Seth noticed Morgan was so nervous about talking with the kids about her diagnosis, she almost spilled the milk twice and didn’t notice Mackenzie was dropping food on the floor for Rowdy to eat. Seth had rallied the kids this morning and had them all in a good mood as they discussed what they were doing today. He’d promised them they’d go to the craft store. Now seemed like a good time to talk. He took a seat at the table and took a deep breath before starting.

“Boys and Sweet Pea.” Seth tapped on his orange juice glass with a fork to get their attention. “Your mom and I have something we want to discuss with you.”

The table quieted.

Morgan squeezed his hand and cleared her throat. “A little while ago I went to the doctor because I wasn’t feeling well, and the doctor informed me that I have something called lupus. It’s a disease that has something to do with my immune system. It’s not functioning properly to protect my body like it should, and there will be times when I may need to get more rest than usual. Do you have any questions?” She bit her lip.

“Are you going to be OK?” Jake asked.

“Yes. I have a really good doctor who’s mapped out a good treatment plan for me, and I’ll have to take my meds and get the proper rest when I need it.”

“Do you have to go to the hospital like Aunt Cassie?” Connor asked.

“Not yet. But there may come a time when I’ll need to go in for testing or stay a couple of days so the doctors can figure things out. Dad and I will have a system in place so our lives won’t grind to halt.”

“But you won’t go away? Right?” Colby’s voice quivered.

“No.” Morgan shook her head. “I’m going to do whatever I have to do make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Jake got out of his chair and came over and hugged her. Connor and Colby followed suit, while Mackenzie reached out for her from the high chair. Colby helped her out and set her on Morgan’s lap.

“Mommy.” Mackenzie wrapped her little arms around her mother’s neck.

Seth smiled when Morgan’s eyes welled up at the sound of Mackenzie’s first “mommy.”

Seth added, “Your mom and I are a team. I will do everything in my power to make sure she’s OK. But in order for us to help her, we have to go on with our lives and be optimistic. That means no sad faces, just good wishes and prayers that she gets better whenever she’s feeling sick.”

“Dad’s right. I have good doctors and the best family on the planet. We’re going to get through this together.”

Right then and there, Seth knew she’d be OK.

“Let’s finish our breakfast.” Morgan hugged and kissed each of them as they returned to their seats. But she kept Mackenzie on her lap.

“Jake, the note your teacher put in your bag said it’s picture time for your class,” Seth said as he got up and went to the fridge for cranberry juice.

“It’s next week.”

“Sounds like we need to get you a haircut and a new outfit.” Seth rubbed Jake’s head on the way back to his seat.

“Aw, man.”

“What’s the grumbling for? You always look so handsome in your pictures,” Morgan said.

“We can’t play on picture day. We have to stay neat and clean.” Jake stuck his tongue out in disgust.

“That’s cruel and unusual punishment.” Morgan put her hand on her cheek. “I think you should take that picture. How else are we going to track how much you look like dad did when he was your age? It’s remarkable how much you look like him.” Morgan shared a banana with Mackenzie.

Connor smirked. “Ah ha. You look like Dad.”

“Well, you look like Colby,” Jake retorted and shoved pancakes in his mouth.

“Hey!” Colby yelled.

“Everybody calm down.” Morgan handed Mackenzie another piece of banana. “Jake, there are worse things than looking like your dad.”

“I don’t know what you saw in him.” Jake rolled his eyes.

“Hey,” Seth said. “I’m still here you know.”

Morgan laughed. “Your father’s handsome, smart, funny, and he’s got swagger.”

“What’s swagger?” Connor snagged a piece of toast off Jake’s plate.

“It’s the way he moves. It’s says he’s confident and has charisma.”

“I thought Charisma was our cousin?” Colby asked.

“Yes.” Morgan bit back a smile. “Charisma can also be the name of a person. Like some people use the word ‘Jake’ to mean something is satisfactory. But we all know my baby is more than satisfactory, he’s awesome.”

The boys all gave Seth a sideways glance like they were sizing him up.

“I don’t see it,” Jake replied.

“If your mama didn’t like my swagger, you wouldn’t be here right now. So, you’re welcome.” Seth poured cranberry juice into Morgan’s glass.

“Seth!” She swatted at his arm and turned back to the boys. “You are all handsome and unique in your own way, no matter who you resemble in the family. And Connor and Colby, you know how many people who would love to have an identical twin? Count your blessings.”

“Who does Mackenzie look like?” Jake asked.

“She has your mama’s adorable nose.” Seth tapped his daughter’s nose.

“And she has your dad’s eyes,” Morgan added. “And looks like she’s going to have red hair like Grandma Teri-Lyn and Uncle Channing. But like all of you, as she grows she’ll get her own unique look too.”

The chatter fired back up around the table, and a half hour later they were finished with breakfast. As the kids filed out of the room and headed upstairs to get ready for their outing, Morgan and Seth cleaned the kitchen.

“That went well.” Morgan went over to the door to make sure the kids were upstairs.

“I think so too.” He came over and gave her a hug. “Do you want to go to the craft store with us?”

She looked into his eyes and desperately wanted to say yes. It would have been so great to go out as a family after that touching discussion, but truth was she didn’t feel up to it. She wanted to write in the journal she’d gotten to keep track of her symptoms and then lie down.

“If it’s all right with you, I won’t push myself today. I’ll stay here and get some rest.”

“Can I get you anything while I’m out?”

“Can you bring home some chunky chocolate chip ice cream?”

“I can do that.” He kissed her.

“Great.”

It felt good to tell him the truth.

* * *

Seth, J.J., and Tate put their heads together and thought of the best way to teach an arrogant, wet-behind-the-ears quarterback a lesson was a day of real ranch work. So after playing phone tag for a week, Riley finally agreed to come back out to the ranch. He arrived at six in the morning dressed to kill only to be informed that he’d been put on the work roster. Seth turned him over to Bo Sr. and wished him luck. He went back to the house and helped Morgan get the kids ready for the day. It was their turn to babysit again. The family had redesigned the sleepover rotation, but Morgan wasn’t having that. She calmly stated at the family Sunday dinner that if they wanted her to get well then the best way would be to go back to normal. She was fighting for that normalcy, a little at a time. The kids came first, he knew that. But she’d put the bookstore project on hold, and that bothered him a little. He knew how much books meant to her.

But she looked good today, and her appetite had returned. She even shooed him out of the door so he could get on with his diabolical plan to work Riley to death. It wasn’t his intention to over-work the kid, but he did get a chuckle out of the text messages Bo had been sending him the last few hours. It was a sheer coincidence that one of the aqueducts for the horses on the east side of the ranch needed repairing. Riley was earning his keep today. J.J. was right, this ranch was a good place to learn discipline and respect.

Later on, Seth found it hard to keep himself composed as Riley approached, dripping wet with sweat. He almost felt sorry for the guy.

Seth tipped his hat at Bo when he walked by. “Nice day, isn’t it Bodine?”

“A mighty fine day.” Bo grinned and tipped his hat too.

Riley rolled his eyes. “He has to be the ranch hand from hell. I know it must be tough working for a bunch of rich people, but he doesn’t have to be so crabby.”

“Bo’s the ranch manager and he’s worth millions. If you’re lucky, you may be able to catch up with his net worth in a few years.”

“Why the hell does he work here?”

“Because he and my daddy have been best friends since the beginning of time and he’s good at his job. You don’t always have to broadcast that you have money.”

Riley took another look at Bo, who was now talking to Ed. Something had changed in the way he looked at Bo. “Still, I don’t see how working me like a dog has anything to do with parting with those mini jewels of wisdom you like to throw my way.”

“We’re not working you like a dog. Because if we were, you’d be sleeping in a cushy bed right now.” Seth pointed to Rowdy and Bingo who were taking a nap next to his office door.

“Do I get a nap now? Because I’m pretty sure I’ve cleaned out every stall in this stable and created a new water system for the horses.” Riley wiped sweat from his brow. “And your horse tried to bite me twice.”

“Hard to believe. She’s such a good-natured animal.” Seth touched the rim of his hat.

“Well, I think I’ll go home and get some shut-eye. I’m going to stink up the interior of my car.”

“OK, hotshot. There’s a shower in my office. You can clean yourself up in there. There are some extra clothes in the closet. I’m sure something in there will fit you. Meet me outside in twenty minutes.”

“Twenty minutes? That’s barely enough time to look presentable,” Riley balked.

“Lucky for you there’s no one on the ranch to impress.”

Riley smirked. “So your niece isn’t here today?”

Seth gave him a look he usually reserved for the boys when he meant business. Riley stomped into the office and shut the door. That look worked every time.

Bo turned the corner with a very satisfied expression on his face. “When are you going to put that boy out of his misery?”

“I honestly don’t know. This has been too much fun.”

“I say give him ranch work for a month. That will teach him to flirt with Avery. But it’s good to see you smiling again.” Bo gave him a pat on the shoulder. “Morgan looks like she’s in better spirits too. I saw her riding Reed’s Fire yesterday. I’ve told you a thousand times before, you picked a winner when you married her.”

Seth smiled. “I count my blessings every day.”

“Good. I’ve always found when you’re aware of what you have, you take care of it better.”

“Does that include Bonnie? You and Bonnie have been burning hot and heavy since she came back into your life.”

“Bonnie and I have a strange way of loving each other. She went and lived her life, and I lived mine. I think we were better off with the time apart.”

“And now you have two more sons.”

Bo had been trying really hard. The Jamison universe had exploded the last several months. For the longest time it had been him and Bo and the Blakes as their extended family. Now there was a hesitant Corbett and an enthusiastic Wyatt. Not to mention future daughter-in-law Summer and her sister Autumn coming into the fold. Surprisingly, Bo Sr. seemed to enjoy all the new people popping into his life. But having a relationship with Corbett and Wyatt also meant he had to interact with Bonnie’s ex-husband Buck.

“Yeah, my house has people coming and going all the time. I used to tease John Jacob about that. Now I see why he likes the hustle and bustle. You can see the future happening right before your eyes.”

“The future is upon us. Bo and Summer’s wedding is in a couple of months. Are you almost done with the tailoring on your suit for the wedding?”

“Almost. I’ve never worn anything that fancy in life.” He whistled. “Hell, I got married to Bonnie in a pair of jeans and my cleanest work shirt.”

“Fancy duds or not, we’re going to have a good time. I’ve never seen Bo so happy. Too bad Corbett and Courtney had to push back their wedding again.”

“Yeah. But I’m glad Bo and Summer didn’t change their plans again. Maybe it will be the wakeup call Corbett needs. Courtney is so fussy. She reminds me of—”

“Eden,” Seth said, finishing his sentence. There was rustling coming from his office. Riley must have finished changing.

“I’ve talked to him a few times, but I’m not his dad,” Bo said.

“You still give good advice. And I think he’s warming up to the new family dynamic.”

“I hope so.” Bo rubbed the back of his neck. “Good luck with phase two of your project. T.K. owes you big time. I’m thinking the best steak dinner in Texas.”

Bo nodded good-bye and started off in the direction of his office.

“Hey, Bo,” Seth called after him. “You ever think about getting married again?”

“I think about a lot of things, son.” He winked and kept going with an awake Rowdy and Bingo in tow.

A few minutes later, the door opened and Riley came out.

“You ready for a walk?” Seth asked.

“I don’t have to outrun a tractor in a field?”

“No, you get to cool down your muscles and listen to my mini jewels of wisdom.” Seth flashed a cheesy grin.

Seth and Riley walked around aimlessly for a while. He finally settled on the fence where the horses were grazing.

“How’s Morgan? Is she feeling any better?”

Seth gave him a strange look. “Why are you interested in my wife all of a sudden?”