“Come meet my family. Madison and Archer will be here in an hour, they had a previous engagement with her family, and Scott will be here at six when he gets off work.” He took them through the house, pointing out pictures and their significance as they walked.
His kindergarten graduation picture with his white cap and gown was her favorite. He hadn’t changed, only grown older.
Her stomach regressed when Landon slid the door open to the back porch, but she drew on the strength he offered with a hand on hers. She’d seen pictures of all of them, but Gran’s hair was whiter in person, and Tanya did not look like she was only one month postpartum. Except the dark circles under her eyes, she looked fantastic and glowed.
After all the introductions were made, Landon made a circle with the patio chairs.
Gran smiled at her. “Sit next to me.”
Honored to receive the invitation, Jessa sat on the swing with her. “I’m so glad to finally meet you. I’ve heard so much about you, I think I know you better than my own grandmother.”
“Landon has said much about you as well.” Wrinkles formed on her cheeks when she smiled. “I don’t believe he realizes he works you into every conversation.”
Her cheeks warmed, as did her heart. “I’m sorry I didn’t have a chance to meet you when you came to Jasper Lake.”
Gran laid her weathered hand on top of Jessa’s. “Something tells me we will have plenty of time to spend together in Jasper Lake.”
A shuffling sound ran through the monitor, followed by a baby’s cry.
Tanya rose to her feet. “Duty calls. I’ll be back after I feed him.”
Lacy came to the swing and handed Jessa a bracelet made from woven plastic bands. “This is for you. I made it.”
“Thank you. I love it.” She slipped the bracelet over her hand and admired it, catching Landon’s wink from the corner of her eye.
“Are you and Uncle Landon getting married? Mom said she hoped you would so there would be lots of babies. Aunt Madison is having one this fall.”
Everyone fell silent and stared at Lacy.
Landon’s mom coughed. “What did you say, Lacy?”
“Aunt Madison is having a baby this fall. She told Mom yesterday.” Lacy glanced around the group with a confused face, not understanding why everyone looked at her with a strange expression.
“Are you sure you heard her correctly?” Gran asked. After Lacy nodded, Gran pulled her close. “I don’t think you were supposed to say anything, so let’s pretend you never heard or told us, okay?”
Lacy scrunched her nose. “But wouldn’t that be a lie?”
Everyone stared at Gran, waiting to hear her response, relieved to not be the one who had to answer.
“It’s not lying, it’s acting. Like you did in the Christmas play.”
“Okay.” Lacy shrugged then returned to her seat and loom. She began working on another bracelet, apparently not giving another thought to what she’d said.
Gran made eye contact with each adult. “No one say anything. Let them tell us in their time. And act surprised.”
Everyone nodded in agreement, and soon Tanya returned with Caleb.
She offered him to Jessa. “Would you like to hold him?”
“Absolutely.” She took Caleb and cradled him in her arms. Breathing in, she smelled the sweet scent of a happy baby. His downy soft dark hair had grown since the last picture Landon had shown her. The closest to a baby she had in Jasper Lake was Dex, Beth’s toddler, but he only snuggled when he was tired. Still, she was glad for the chance to be around children, since Beth’s little family were staying at the boarding house indefinitely. “He’s precious.”
“Thank you.” Tanya glanced down at him. “You wouldn’t have thought so three hours ago.”
Jessa held him for fifteen minutes, then saw her mom and Phoebe watching with longing. “Who wants him next?”
“Me,” they both said at the same time.
“You go first,” Phoebe said.
