Winds of Heaven (14 page)

“
Cafey
,” Skye insisted in a whisper.

“Okay.
Shh
. Let’s let Mommy sleep for a while longer. C’mon...” Casey whispered and slid off the big bed. She put her finger to her lips. So did Skye.

“Mama seeping?”

Casey nodded and picked Skye up, quietly walking out of the room.

“
Geesh
,
Shortround
, will ya hold still?” Casey struggled with Skye’s bathing suit. Once on, Casey sat back sporting a confused look. “Why doesn’t this look right?”

Skye grimaced and reached around, pulling at the bottom of her suit as she frowned. It was then that Casey noticed the tag… It was in the front.

“Shit,” she said and Skye frowned.

“Not nice,
Cafey
,” Skye scolded.

Casey was actually ashamed—a three-year-old shames Casey Bennett, she thought, shaking her head. “You’re right. I’m sorry. Now let’s get this suit on right before your mother gets up and thinks I’m a bigger idiot than she already does.”

It was almost four o’clock when Liz woke to the soft sounds of the piano. Feeling rested, she struggled out of bed and slipped on her sandals, rolling her eyes as she remembered Casey slipping them off her big, fat, swollen feet. However, she enjoyed the warm feel of Casey’s strong fingers on her feet. I bet she gives a great massage, Liz thought as she walked out into the hallway. She stood there unnoticed as Casey played the piano while holding Skye in her lap.

“Put your fingers here, here, and here,” Casey said and pressed her fingers onto the keys playing the chord. “See? You’re playing the piano.”
 

Skye looked up. “’Gen,
Cafey
, peas.”

“How can I resist those baby blues? They’re like your mother’s. Okay, again.”

Liz stood there watching and curiously raised an eyebrow at the blue eyes comment. Julie never did these things with Skye. She was never home long enough, and when she was, she only played what she wanted. It was like having two children. Casey Bennett was right. Julie was in love with the idea of having children, not the reality. Liz only hoped having this child would change that. She guiltily ran her hand over her stomach. Was she wrong to want a child? She shook the question from her mind, instead thinking of Casey’s attitude toward parenting. Casey Bennett let Julie go instead of having children. She was mature and intelligent; Casey knew it would end in disaster. Liz wondered what it would be like now if Julie were alive. Liz felt a pang of guilt waft over her again as she looked at Casey, smiling and laughing with her daughter.

Skye then saw her mother. “Mama, I paying
pinano
!” Skye cried out in delight.

“I hear you, it’s beautiful, sweet pea.” She glanced at Casey, who was smiling slightly as she watched her.

“You look rested,” Casey said.

Liz knew the color was once again rising in her cheeks as she put a hand to her hair and walked up to the piano. “I look awful.”

“You look just fine,” she said as Skye reached up and grabbed Casey’s cheeks, forcing her to look at her.

“’Gen,
Cafey
,” Skye insisted. Casey raised a dark eyebrow. Skye watched her face. “Peas?”

“Sure, ya dwarf.”

“Stop calling her a dwarf,” Liz insisted, and Casey laughed out an apology. “Do you like annoying me?”

Casey cocked her head. “Yes, sometimes,” she said and laughed again as Liz glared at her. Casey lifted Skye off her lap and set her on the piano bench. Skye immediately started to bang on the keys. Casey, wild-eyed, cringed as she turned to her and gently grabbed her hands.

“Gently, gently. This is a fine musical instrument,” she explained to the feisty blonde. “And expensive.”

Liz rolled her eyes and stepped up to Skye. “Sweet pea. No banging or you can’t sit there,” Liz said in a concise motherly fashion. Skye pouted, then looked up at her mother’s stern unwavering face.

“’Kay, Mama,” Skye said and gently poked the keys.

Liz gave Casey a superior glance. “Fine musical instrument. She can’t even say it,” Liz said sarcastically.

Casey narrowed her eyes. “I’m going to make some iced tea, then take a shower.”

Liz sat outside with Skye, who played with her fish. Liz handed her a slice of orange and Skye happily took it, shoving it into her mouth.

“Skye? You…you like Casey, don’t you?”

“Mmm-hmm. I
fim
. She bide me
sungasses
. She bide me a
fith
. I pay
pinano
.” Skye rattled off her list.

Liz smiled, thinking how her daughter’s vocabulary was getting better day by day.

“You like
Cafey
, Mama?”

Liz grinned. “Yes. I like Casey,” she said as she handed her another slice of orange.

“
Cafey
say Mama
piddy
,” Skye said, and as she reached for the orange, Liz pulled it back.

“What? Did
Cafey
, uh, Casey say I was pretty?” she whispered to her daughter, then looked at the door. “Did she say that, sweetie?”

Skye nodded happily and reached for the orange. Liz grinned and sat back. “When, sweet pea?” She should feel guilty grilling her own daughter.

“
Fimming
. Mama, peas.” Skye whined and reached for the orange slice.

“Oh. Sorry, sweetie,” Liz said and handed her the piece of fruit.

“What, uh, what else did Casey say, sweetie? Can you remember for Mommy?” Liz peeled another piece of bait. She pulled Skye up on her lap, groaning as her back ached.

Skye gave her an adult, thinking pose that had Liz affectionately rolling her eyes. “Blue eyes,” her daughter said as she ate the orange.

“Casey said I have pretty blue eyes?”

Skye nodded and ate another slice. Liz’s heart raced at the idea. Get a hold of yourself, Kennedy, she thought. This woman is way out of your league. Being nice to your daughter is one thing, being attracted to a pregnant woman with fat, swollen feet is quite another. She let out a dejected sigh. Oh, well, she thought, it was a nice dream.

“
Cafey
piddy
, Mama?” Skye looked up at her mother.

Liz stared off, thinking of those long legs and that body in a bathing suit, the green eyes dancing, and the smile. “Yes, sweet pea. I think Casey is very pretty.”

Just then, Casey walked out onto the deck and Skye grinned. “
Cafey
, Mama, say you—”

Liz stuffed an orange into her daughter’s mouth and smiled sweetly at Casey.

Casey gave them a curious look. “You two look as guilty as sin.”

Skye wrenched her face away from her mother. “Present!” she exclaimed as she saw the wrapped boxes behind Casey’s back.

“Casey, you’ll spoil her,” Liz said, noticing the awkward grin as Casey looked down at Skye.

“Sorry,
Shortround
, these are for your mom.”

Liz swallowed with difficulty. “For me?”

Casey shrugged and handed her the boxes.

“Hurry, Mama!” Skye cried out and clapped her hands.

Liz prayed that Casey did not see her hands shaking. She pulled at the wrapping paper and opened the box. “Oh, Casey. It’s gorgeous,” Liz exclaimed as she held up the blouse; it was cobalt blue and silk.

“God, I hope it fits. I had some poor pregnant woman helping me,” Casey said nervously and scratched the back of her head. “I think she wanted to kill me after a while.”

“I’m sure it will,” Liz said and looked up. “Thank you.”

“Mama, more. Open…” Skye insisted.

Liz gave Casey a helpless look. “More? You shouldn’t.”

Casey blushed deeply, and once again, Liz saw the embarrassed pose and smiled inwardly. The urge to touch her crimson cheek was overwhelming.
 

Liz looked down at her daughter. “Okay, sweet pea, help me,” she said, and Skye eagerly ripped off the paper. Liz held up a pair of tan linen maternity slacks. Liz knew what they must have cost. “Oh, Casey,” she said in a small grateful voice.

“Well, you don’t seem to have many maternity clothes, and I just figured you’d be more comfortable, a-and I—”

“
Cafey
, what this?” Skye asked. She held up the baby rattle. Casey’s eyes bugged out of her head, and she avoided Liz’s shocked glance. She had completely forgotten about it.

A smile then tugged at the corner of Liz’s mouth as she raised an eyebrow in question.

“It’s a baby rattle,” Casey said to Liz.

“For baby?” Skye asked and shook the rattle.

Casey threw her hands up in defeat and chuckled. “Yes,
Shortround
.” She looked at Liz, who had tears in her eyes. “I-I saw it on the counter and…”

“Thank you,” Liz whispered, then inexplicably burst into tears.

Casey’s eyes flew open in alarm. Skye flung herself onto her mother’s lap. “Mama...” she exclaimed.

Liz could not control herself; she was blubbering like a fool and holding on to her daughter.

Casey smiled and knelt down in front of both. “It’s okay,
Shortround
, your Mommy’s just happy, right?” she asked and covered Liz’s shaking hand with her own.

Liz looked up and nodded as she cried.

“See, I’m getting the hang of this pregnant thing,” Casey said proudly.

Liz suddenly reached up and grabbed Casey around the neck. For an instant, Casey was stunned. She recovered quickly and put her arm around Liz.

Liz then stopped and immediately released Casey. “I-I’m so sorry. Thank you, Casey. This was quite unexpected,” she said and dried her eyes.

“Well, I hope they fit because you’re wearing them tonight. C’mon, I’m starved, we’re going out to eat,” Casey announced, and Skye clapped her hands.

“Hot dogs?” she asked happily.

“Well, sure. Whatever you want,
Shortround
,” she said as she ruffled the blond head.

Chapter 9

Liz and Casey laughed as Skye scrunched up her face as Casey fed her the asparagus.

“Yucky,
Cafey
.” She pulled back as Casey tried it again.

“
Shortround
, life is not all hot dogs and macaroni and cheese.”
 

Liz rolled her eyes. “You have to start thinking like a three-year-old, not just acting like one,” Liz said as she sliced the hot dog up in little pieces.

Casey opened her mouth to say something sarcastic, then stopped as she looked at Liz. She wore her auburn hair down and flowing. The blue of the blouse matched her eyes perfectly as Casey knew it would. She then remembered how Liz hugged her earlier. Relax, Romeo, she thought. Liz was grateful, that’s all. She sighed and shook her head.

“Goodness, that was a heavy sigh,” Liz said as she fed Skye, then concentrated on her plate of pasta.

Casey hid her grin as she watched this woman eat. Eating for two was no lie, and Casey was amazed at how much she could eat and how little weight she gained.