She put her silverware down and took it from him. Opening it, she grinned at the invitation to a baby shower. Rebeca and Rachel sent her a little note.
Caroline,
We miss you! Come and have dinner with us, spend the night, and help us with the shower.
Rachel and Rebecca
“They invited me to Delaney’s baby shower. They asked me to spend the night and help them put it together. It’s a couple of weeks away,” she told Jameson.
“Let me know the day, and we’ll follow you to the ranch,” Jameson assured her. “They miss you.”
“I miss them, too,” she confessed. “We get along.”
“Why don’t you visit them sooner?” Thomas asked. “They’re welcome here.”
“I hoped if I came here, my life might feel like it did before…it seems I can’t escape it,” she faltered. “I’m working on it, Dad. Don’t worry. Finding you alive counts as my biggest blessing.”
“I know you’ll find your way back, Honeybee. Don’t ever give up. Your mother made me promise to never stop searching for you. Then, Jameson brought you to my door,” Thomas said, squeezing her hand.
“I won’t. I promise,” she vowed, turning her attention back to her food. “It’s as good as I remember.”
“How did your training go with Victoria?” Jameson asked.
“She showed me some self-defense moves, and I’m supposed to practice them tonight,” she explained.
“Then I say we forgo the card game until tomorrow. Victoria tells me it’s important for you to protect yourself,” her father said firmly.
“No. I have plenty of time. Victoria’s letting me sleep in until six tomorrow. She’s so…generous,” she said, laughing.
Thomas grinned. “Do your homework first, young lady.”
Caroline rolled her eyes. “Fine. I’ll run through them, and then we’ll play. Right after, I clean up dinner.”
“I’ll handle clean up,” Jameson volunteered. “What does she have you working on?”
“How to hurt someone if they come at me or grab me from behind,” she said, finishing her pasta.
“I’ll come out and ensure you’re doing it correctly once I’m finished. Victoria’s known for adding a punishment if you didn’t pay attention. She cut Kassie’s wrist during training because Kassie lost focus. She takes this very seriously.”
“Thanks,” she said, rising from the table. “Will you be alright until I’m done?” she asked her father.
“I’ll have you know Nancy acts like a taskmaster when you’re not here. She makes me wash my own dishes. Why don’t you two practice and get it done faster? Then I’ll relish beating both of you.”
Jameson followed her outside.“It appears your father plays to win. Where do you want to practice?”
“Out here. I don’t like the feeling of someone restricting my movement. The cool air helps me,” she told him.
“Then, let’s begin,” Jameson said. “I’ll come at you. What’s your first move?”
“First, she taught me how to do the groin kick.”
Jameson groaned. “Of course, she did. I’ll come at you fast. Show me what you got.”
He moved toward her, and she kicked out at him, holding her arms out in front of her.
“Good, don’t forget to bend your knee more,” he instructed.
She waited for him to strike again and used her knee.
