That touched Addie. The ranch was self-sufficient, but donations were always welcome. “Thank you,” she managed to say around the lump in her throat.
Jennifer nodded and murmured another, “I’m so sorry,” before she turned and walked away.
“If Shane shows, I’ll send him straight to the police station,” Grace said after Jennifer was in her car. “I figure he won’t be nearly as tearful as his sister.”
Probably not, but at least he was alive and wasn’t in jail because Elijah had framed him for murder. Once that sank in, Shane might be plenty thankful for the outcome.
“We’ll be in the nursery if you need us,” Judson said, and taking Addie’s hand, they headed in that direction. Not taking a direct route, since that would have led them past the room where Elijah had died. Instead, they went out through the side porch to get to the kitchen and the back hall. The moment they reached the door, Addie heard an amazing sound.
Cooing.
She went straight in and saw Etta Jean sitting on the floor with the babies, who were lying on a quilt. Both Lily and Rose were indeed awake, and as Addie approached, they both looked up at her.
Twin smiles.
And no way would she believe that was gas. They were as glad to see her as she was to see them.
Addie dropped down on the floor next to them, giving them both kisses, which brought on yet more cooing. The tears came. Happy ones, of course, and she saw that Etta Jean had them, too.
She gave the woman’s hand a squeeze. “We can watch them for a while so you can take a break.”
Etta Jean nodded. “I do want to pack some things to take to Judson’s.” She looked at him as she got up from the floor. “Thank you for letting us all stay there.”
“Anytime,” he assured the woman, and he pulled her into a quick hug. “We’ll leave as soon as Grace gives us the okay.”
Another nod from Etta Jean, and she blew out what sounded like a breath of relief. They all needed to get away from the chaos for a while, but Addie was already looking forward to coming back home. To things returning to normal.
Well, her new normal, anyway.
Addie wanted some things to stay exactly the same. But she wanted some changes, too. For now, though, she just savored this moment. Her babies were smiling and making those wonderful sounds, and Judson was right by her side.
“I’ll call my lawyer in a couple of hours and ask her to try to expedite the adoption petition,” Addie told him. Now that the killer was no longer a threat and there wasn’t any next of kin to try to claim them, there shouldn’t be any obstacle standing in her way.
Judson smiled and sat down beside her. “Good. The sooner, the better.”
She felt the same way. Lily and Rose were a huge part of that new normal. In a couple of months, she wanted to resume taking in foster kids, too, so the legacy of the Horseshoe Ranch could continue.
“Does the sooner, the better work for other things?” Judson asked.
Addie had been playing with Lily’s toes, but she turned to stare at him. He wasn’t quite smiling now, but there was certainly no gloomy expression on his incredible face. Just the opposite.
And his expression got a whole lot better—hers as well—when he leaned in and kissed her.
Oh, there it was. That dreamy feel of pleasure sliding right through her. The man could perform magic with that mouth.
He upped the magic by slipping his right arm around her and pulling her to him to add a hug to that kiss. It was plenty hot. But fun, too, because both babies were kicking them.
Laughing, Judson eased back from the kiss and gave both Lily and Rose a nuzzle on their cheeks. The girls clearly liked that, because they cooed some more.
“Well?” he said. “Does the sooner work for other things?” he repeated.
Addie hoped he was talking about their future, but just in case he wasn’t, she went ahead and launched into things she needed to say to him. “I’ve been in love with you for a long time, Judson. Then we made that stupid pact. Not so stupid then, but it would be for us to try to hang on to it now.”
Mercy, she was babbling. And she was nervous. Or at least she was until Judson smiled again.
“You’re in love with me,” he stated.
She nodded. Waited. Waited some more. Then his smile widened.
