Silver Thaw (33 page)

“We don’t have sex; we make love.” She snuggled closer, loving the solid heat of him. “Thank you for everything. Having Mom here has made this Christmas perfect.”

And the following day
was
perfect. Chloe awakened the household at five thirty in the morning, screaming at the top of her lungs, “Santa came! He really and truly came this time! Hurry! Hurry! You have to come see!”

After throwing on clothes, Jeb and Amanda got downstairs just in time to see Emma hobbling sleepily from the master suite. All three adults hurried to the living room. Chloe knelt in front of her dollhouse, her expression rapt. She didn’t even glance up when Amanda said her name.

Jeb crouched beside the child. “Wow, that’s quite some dollhouse. Is that what you told Santa you wanted?”

Chloe nodded, her eyes sparkling as she took in each room. “But I never meant for him to work so hard to give me one this nice!” She reached in to touch the tiny stove. Then she saw the dishes in the cupboard. “It’s so pretty! If it wasn’t so little, I’d live there.”

The child’s fascination with the dollhouse gave the adults some time to drink coffee around the tree and wake up. Then, with no little effort, Amanda distracted her daughter long enough for them all to unwrap their
gifts. Emma loved her fancy teacup and saucer. Jeb liked the all-purpose knife that Amanda had ordered for him online. She was equally appreciative of the expensive wool slacks and sweater Jeb had ordered for her. Chloe was soon nearly eclipsed by piles of discarded wrapping paper and bows all around her.

Jeb brought in large black garbage bags for the used wrapping paper. While the adults adjourned to the kitchen to start breakfast, Chloe remained with her dollhouse, dressing the tiny dolls. After enjoying the light meal, Jeb announced that it was time for everyone to slick up for Christmas. Even though it wasn’t safe for them to attend a church service, they dressed as if they were going to one. Amanda wore her new black slacks and the charcoal gray sweater Jeb had given her. Jeb complemented her attire with black trousers, a Christmas red dress shirt, and a gray sports jacket. Emma donned the only dress she’d packed, a lovely blue jersey, and Chloe wore her birthday outfit.

When they all gathered downstairs again, they sang some traditional hymns followed by Christmas carols. Afterward they spiffed up the house and prepared for the Sterling clan to arrive for gift giving and a huge meal. Emma expressed nervousness about meeting her daughter’s future in-laws, but the moment Kate and Jeremiah arrived, her anxiety faded. Jeb’s parents went out of their way to make Emma feel like part of the family, and all their kids followed suit. Amanda, who’d fretted for days about preparing a holiday meal to equal one of Kate’s, soon relaxed as well. So many people went to work in Jeb’s huge kitchen that no one could lay claim to any successes or failures. The meal became a group effort.

When everyone moved into the dining room, Jeb
hurried to seat Amanda at the far end of the table from him, where a hostess would traditionally reign over a gathering. After herding everyone else to their places, he filled goblets with wine, and then, carrying his glass, he came to stand at Amanda’s side. “I have an announcement to make.”

Barney winked at Amanda, making her wonder if he already knew their secret. While cooking, she’d turned the ring so the diamond was toward her palm because she knew Jeb wanted to surprise everyone with the news.

“On the night of Chloe’s birthday, I asked Amanda to marry me,” Jeb said. Looking at his mother, he added, “Yes, Mom, I did it the old-fashioned way, on bent knee.” Everyone laughed. “Anyway, she said yes.” He captured Amanda’s left hand to show off the beautiful diamond surrounded by sapphires that she now wore. “It’s official. I’m no longer a free agent. We’ll be married as soon as we can.”

All the Sterling women vacated their chairs to look at the ring and gush over how gorgeous it was. Jeb accepted congratulatory handshakes from the men and hugs from the women. Amanda stood to receive embraces as well. The last came from her mom.

“You stinker. You didn’t even tell
me
.”

Amanda laughed. “You already knew. You told Jeb my ring size so he could order it, and I know you’ve seen it on my hand.
And
you were worried about meeting my future in-laws. So you’re the stinker.”

Emma smiled. “Okay, I confess. But I decided not to say anything until you were ready to share the news.” She drew Amanda close for yet another hug. “Congratulations, darling. You picked a winner this time.”

After the meal, the family gathered around the tree
for yet another round of gift opening. By evening, when the house emptied of guests, Amanda felt weary to the bone. The holiday had been a whirlwind of ceaseless activity. Leaving Jeb and Emma at the kitchen table, she took her snifter of brandy into the living room where Chloe was once again entranced by her dollhouse. Gazing at the tree, the child, and the dog snuggling happily with a kitten, Amanda couldn’t help but think that this was every woman’s dream come true.

Jeb came to find her. Slipping an arm around her shoulders, he said, “Deep thoughts?”

Amanda released a happy sigh and leaned her weight against his sturdy length. “I was just thinking that it took me a lifetime to get here, but I’ve finally come home.” She smiled up at him. “
Home
. Isn’t that a beautiful word?”

“For me, home is in your arms,” he whispered, his voice gravelly with emotion.

Amanda went up on her tiptoes to kiss him. “And they’ll always be open to you.”

*   *   *

At bedtime, Amanda couldn’t pry her daughter away from the dollhouse. She went back to join Jeb and her mom in the kitchen, allowing the child a few more minutes of playtime. After a quarter hour had passed, Jeb glanced at his watch.

“It’s been a long day for her,” he said, pushing to his feet. “Now that I’m Daddy Jeb, I think it’s my turn to do her bath and bedtime stories.” He leaned down to plant a kiss on Amanda’s forehead. “Enjoy visiting with your mom. I’ll take care of it tonight.”

“Have you ever bathed a child?” Amanda asked.

He grinned. “I think I can figure it out, Mandy. Relax. I’ll yell if she goes under for the third time.”

Keeping an ear cocked, Amanda soon noticed that Jeb had encountered rough sailing. In a high-pitched voice, Chloe refused to stop playing.

Astounded, Amanda started up from her chair, but her mother’s firm grip on her arm forestalled her. “Let Jeb handle it, Mandy. He isn’t Mark. You needn’t worry that he’ll harm her.”

“It’s just—well, Chloe
never
argues. I mean
never
.”

Emma smiled and swirled her brandy. “And now she has Daddy Jeb. It’s good that she isn’t afraid of him.” She took a sip of the liquor. “If you interfere, it’ll be a mistake. At some point, Jeb needs to step in and act like a parent.”

Next Amanda heard her daughter start to cry. In fact, it sounded as if Chloe was pitching her first temper tantrum. A jolt of fear shot through her. But when she looked at her mom, Emma shook her head. To stop herself from leaping to her feet, Amanda made tight fists on the table’s edge.

Jeb said in a firm voice, “You can put all your dolls to bed first. Tuck them in and pull the covers up to their chins. When you wake up in the morning, they can wake up with you. Then you can all play together some more.”

Sniffling loudly, Chloe cried, “I don’t want you to be my daddy anymore. You’re bossy and mean!”

Amanda’s heart caught. Emma snickered. Jeb replied, “Sorry, princess. It’s a dad’s job to be bossy and mean sometimes.”

A moment later, Jeb strode to the kitchen table with a pouting little girl in his arms. Leaning over, he said, “Give Grammy a night-night kiss.”

With begrudging obedience, Chloe gave Emma a peck on the cheek. Next, Amanda received a wet kiss
from her daughter and a wink from Jeb. Then he headed toward the stairs. Over his shoulder, he called, “I’ll be a while. Someone I know is wound up tighter than a Big Ben alarm clock.”

Amanda couldn’t focus on a conversation with her mother. Instead she listened to what was happening upstairs.

Emma patted Amanda’s shoulder. “He’s a good man, and he’ll be a wonderful father, stern when he needs to be but never cruel. Your little girl is in good hands.”

Amanda released a taut breath. “You’re right. I know you are. It’s just difficult to let go of the old and embrace the new.”

Emma nodded her understanding. “Until you feel comfortable, fake it.”

Amanda sent her a startled look.

“You can talk with Jeb about your feelings, Mandy, but you mustn’t interfere between him and your daughter. Chloe should never feel that she can play the two of you against each other.”

*   *   *

When Jeb reappeared in the kitchen, the sleeves of his red shirt were damp. Turning a chair, he straddled it and sat down, facing the table. “I have now memorized
’Twas the Night Before Christmas
. She went out like a light on the fourth reading.” He sent Amanda a teasing look. “Our young miss finally told me that she guesses she’ll keep me as her daddy, but she still wasn’t happy about going to bed.”

“She was up at five thirty, and she’s been going full speed all day.” Emma leaned forward to pour him a second measure of brandy. “Children grow cross and intractable when they get too tired.”

Jeb accepted the snifter. “I’m not complaining. It felt good to see her act up, and even better, she did it with me. At first, she was afraid of me.” He grinned and shrugged. “Now she isn’t at all. That tells me I’ve done something right, although I know I still have a lot to learn.”

“Did you scrub behind her ears?” Amanda couldn’t resist asking.

“I followed a mental checklist, and all parts got washed, including her teeth. I let her do some of it herself. She is seven, after all, and starting to feel modest. She made me hold up a towel as she got out of the tub so I wouldn’t see the same little bottom that she flashed at me when she climbed in.”

Emma snorted with laughter. Amanda hid a smile.

Jeb stared into his brandy for a moment. Then he glanced up, his gaze holding Emma’s. “Change of subject, and please don’t start objecting before I’ve finished.”

“All right,” Emma agreed.

Jeb drew in a breath and released it slowly. “You may think we’re crazy, Emma, so bear with me. As you know, I plan to marry your daughter soon, and I’ll be Chloe’s new dad. Even though Mandy and I can’t make it official until her divorce from Mark is final, in my books, you’re already part of my family, and Amanda and I are concerned about your trying to work when your hip is giving you so much pain. So, to get it said fast, would you consider leaving Washington and moving to Mystic Creek to be close to your daughter? You can live here with us. Mandy agrees that it’s a great idea.”

Emma shook her head. “Newly married couples need their privacy.”

Jeb held up a hand. “Hear me out. I understand that Mandy and I will need our privacy, so I’m not suggesting that you live in this house indefinitely. Later, you may decide that you want your own place, but I’m thinking it would be more practical if I add on a mother-in-law apartment. I’m licensed as a builder, even though I mainly do finishing work and make furniture. It wouldn’t cost much. Then you’d have your quarters but still be able to join us in the main part of the house whenever you wanted. Everyone would have their privacy that way. And without rent and utilities to pay, you could afford to miss work in order to have hip replacement surgery. Right after the operation, Amanda could care for you.”

Emma gaped at him, apparently speechless.

“Until I can get a separate house built for you, Amanda and I will continue to use the larger bedroom upstairs. It’ll be no hardship on us, and that way, you won’t have to deal with the stairs. After you recover from the surgery, I can either add on to the house, or, if you prefer, I can help you find a residence here that’s fairly close to us.”

“At least think about it, Mom,” Amanda inserted. “Your hip is pretty bad, and I worry about you trying to work. It has to be causing more and more wear on that joint.”

Jeb added, “The financial picture for you would be advantageous as well. According to Mandy, you’re sixty-four. That means you can start drawing on your deceased husband’s Social Security in less than a year. And if you choose to live in a mother-in-law apartment here, you’d have so few expenses that that should give you plenty a month to live on.”

Amanda waited with bated breath for her mother’s answer. After a long moment, Emma replied, “I’d like nothing more than to live near my daughter and granddaughter, but I’d need your word, Jeb, that you can afford to add onto the house. I don’t want to be a financial drain.”

“Trust me, we wouldn’t offer if we couldn’t afford it. All you really need is a living room, a bedroom with a bathroom, and a small kitchen. I’m not talking about adding on that much square footage.”

Emma looked dazed. “I’m not even sure I can afford to move. I’d have to hire all the packing done and have a company transport my things. Then, until the apartment is finished, where would I store everything?”

Jeb chuckled. “I’ve got three brothers here in town over this holiday break. I’ll recruit them to go with me to Washington, we’ll pack, and we’ll move all your stuff south in a U-Haul van. As for temporary storage, I’ve got a shop that’s plenty big enough. I’ll put tarps over everything so your things don’t get covered with sawdust. While I’m away, you, Amanda, and Chloe can stay with my folks, where you’ll all be safe. I’ll ask Tony across the road to take care of my livestock for a couple of days. Bozo and Frosty can go to my parents’ house as well. Bozo and their dog, Murphy, are pals, and both canines tolerate felines.”

Emma downed the bit of brandy in her snifter and poured herself another modest measure. “Are you saying I’ll never go back to Olympia? That I’ll just stay here?”

“Is there a need for you to go?” Jeb asked. “You can call your place of employment and quit your job. My brothers and I can take care of all the details up north. Would you like to sell the house or rent it out?”

Emma’s expression turned sad for a moment. “I raised my daughter there, and I have so many wonderful memories. But if I’m going to do this, it would be wisest to sell. Living so far away, I’d have to put the house with property management to rent it out, and that would end up being more trouble than it’d be worth. I need to just do it and not look back, because this is now where my family is.”