Her brows knitted together as if she missed a giant piece of the puzzle. “I lied, therefore got titled the black sheep of the family, and didn’t earn it,” he said, not allowing the bitterness to get to him. Knowing it wasn’t the situation of the house bothering him, it was the exclusion of him from the family. Some things never changed.
“How many people will be attending the shower?” she asked. “I know you have the place secured.”
“It’s only you women, and Amy, Kara’s mom. Delaney’s mom broke her leg in a fall, and she hasn’t socialized with the women in Embers. She keeps to herself here on the ranch,” Jamesoninformed her, turning into the driveway and driving toward Rebecca and Julio’s home.
“It must feel lonely. A new mom needs support,” she said, gazing at the fields.
“Delaney will have the women here, and Mac has taken an interest in her. I’m sure he’ll be hovering. All of us like babies and plan to chip in and give her breaks.”
“Even you?” she asked, surprised.
“Yes, smarty pants. I know my way around kids,” he said, feeling offended.
“Don’t be mad,” Caroline pleaded. “I’ve never seen you around kids.”
“I haven’t seen you around them either, and I think you’ll make a great mom. You like to play, though you might not want to teach them how to cheat on everything.”
Caroline punched his arm, grinning.
“Owww, you’re getting stronger. Your mosquito bite almost felt like a punch,” he said, rubbing his arm.
Caroline showed him her muscles. “Victoria said I’ll improve by the day. I feel stronger.”
“You’re getting there. Do you like your therapist? She’s one of the best,” he asked.
“Terry’s great,” she said, wincing.
“If you don’t like her, ask for someone else. Your mental health impacts you, too,” he encouraged. “Why the face?”
“She advised me not to work with kids. I have too much trauma, which might impact them if they pick up on it,” she said sadly.
Anger rushed through him. Caroline must be one of the sweetest women he’d ever met. She attended to the teens and fiercely protected them from Cain, sometimes at her own expense. Jameson hated the times he entered the bar to find Cain beating Caroline.
“She told you that?” he said, clamping his jaw shut to keep from blowing his shit.
“In a roundabout way. She suggested I find a customer service position or work from home. It’s a losing battle. No one wants to hire me.”
“Terry’s wrong,” he said firmly. “You’re great with the teens. I can’t say anything about the rest, but she’s absolutely incorrect.”
“I appreciate having you in my corner,” she said. “She’s the professional.”
They pulled into the driveway, and Rebecca opened the door. Little Megan ran out, leaping into Jameson’s arms.
“Hi, Uncle Jameson. I got a new pony. Do you want to see it?” she asked. “Daddy’s gonna help me name her.”
“How can I resist? Is it in the barn?” he asked, innocently.
“No, silly. Not a real one. Mama says I have to ride with them until I get bigger,” she explained. “She says I gotta eat more vegetables.”
“Then, I’ll buy you cans of spinach, and you can grow big muscles,” Jameson promised, tweaking her nose.
“Ewww. I don’t like spinach,” Megan said, scrunching her cute little face. “I like broccoli trees.”
“Then next time I watch you for Daddy, I’ll make you mac and cheese with broccoli trees. We’ll have dinosaur chicken nuggets, and they can gobble them down,” he said, tickling her.
Megan giggled as Jameson led her up the stairs, going into the house, and discussing pony names.
“I’mglad you made it. Welcome back,” Rebecca said, hugging her. “Uncle Jameson has a way with getting her to eat. It’s our biggest obstacle.”
