“I’m not. Promise.”
“Sure.” He stretched the word into multiple syllables, clearly not believing her, but he handed over the shovel anyway.
She shoveled a few inches, clearing a foot spread in the path, pretending she had no ulterior motives. Once she saw Landon relax his defenses, she scooped a large shovel full of snow. In a single, graceful movement, she lifted the shovel and dumped it on him before he had a chance to realize what was happening.
She broke into laughter at his stunned expression.
His face registered the attack, and his eyes glinted with revenge. He stooped down and gathered a large handful of snow. Rolled it and patted it until it formed a perfect snowball.
Still laughing, Jessa held the shovel in front of her as a shield. “Oh no, you don’t.”
“Don’t play if you can’t pay.” Landon grinned, pulled his arm back, and released the snowball.
She braced for the impact. Thanks to her layers, she barely felt it, but she wouldn’t let Landon get the last move. Tucking the shovel handle under her arm, she bent down and made a snowball of her own. Too late. Landon had already sent another her way.
Multiple snowballs flew across the yard. Jake and Zane had joined the game and showed no mercy. One flew straight to her head, and she ducked to miss it. She straightened up, only to be struck on the shoulder.
Mr. Lejeune laughed and identified himself as the culprit.
She clucked her tongue. “Grown men acting like children.”
Mr. Bill chuckled and lobbed one toward Jake. “Who says we can’t still have fun.”
“No one.” She winked, throwing a snowball at Zane.
Landon ribbed her. “I was going to say, you’re the one who started it.”
The fun continued for another ten minutes until they collectively decided to get back to work. Freshly fallen snow covered parts of the path they’d already cleared. They’d have to repeat the process once the snow ceased falling but getting the bulk out of the way would make the second pass less demanding.
They reached the front porch in an hour. Clearing access to the door came first, and then they started on the sides of the porch and the walkway from the steps to the front gate along the road.
The front door opened, and Mrs. Addy appeared with a cell phone in hand. “Landon, your phone keeps ringing. I wouldn’t have bothered you, except it’s rung five times in a half hour, so I thought it’s probably important.”
His face tightened, and he gave Jessa the shovel. “I’ll be back.”
She knew his first thought was to worry something had happened to Gran. Though tempted to follow him inside, she gave him privacy and stayed back, praying while she shoveled.
He came out five minutes later, a huge smile on his face. “Tanya is in labor and at the hospital. I’ll have a new niece or nephew by the end of the day.”
“That’s great.”Thank You, Lord, for good news.
“I wish I could be there, but there’s no point getting upset. It’s not like I can control the weather.”
“She knows you’re there in spirit.”
“I know, and it pains me to admit it, but she doesn’t need me. Scott will be there with her, along with Mom and Gran.” He took the shovel back from her. “When Lacy was born, Archer and I were both with her at the hospital for moral support. We didn’t stay in the room for the birth, but for hours leading up to it and afterward.”
“You’re really close with your siblings.” She frowned, tried not to let her mind go to the dark places. “Even before Hunter started drinking and Trixie ran off, we didn’t have the bond you have with Archer and Tanya. We were close, but it’s not like what you have.”
He sighed. “That bond is a byproduct of our parents’ abandonment. We were so young when it happened and didn’t understand—granted, I don’t think we would have understood no matter how old we were. It’s not something anyone can comprehend. For a long time, we didn’t believe our grandparents would keep us. We kept waiting to be sent off again, and it was during those times we decided we’d always stick together, no matter what.”
“That’s sweet, even if the circumstances were sad.”
“And naïve.” He snorted. “We had no idea families were split up into foster homes all the time. I’ll be forever grateful Granddad and Gran took us in and kept us together.”
Did he realize he spoke with less bitterness than he had two months ago? “I’m proud of you.”
He stopped shoveling and looked up with confused features. “What for?”
