Sandpiper Way (Cedar Cove #8)(90)

Rachel shook her head, despite the fact that she’d started work at eight that morning and been on her feet nine hours before rushing home to pack.

Walking over to her, Bruce drew her into the circle of his arms. “Thank you,” he said.

“For what?”

“For loving me and Jolene. For agreeing to marry me now and not making me wait until February.”

“Trust me, Bruce, I’m not complaining.”

“Didn’t I tell you we should have our wedding over the holidays?”

She smiled and ran her fingers through his hair. “I can see you’re going to be the kind of husband who says ‘I told you so.’”

“Was I right, or was I right?” he asked, leaning back enough to look her in the eyes, then kiss the tip of her nose.

The screen door slammed shut and Jolene bounded into the house. She came to an abrupt halt, sighing loudly. “Are you two going to get all kissy-face again?”

“Probably,” Bruce said.

“Do you want me to leave?” It might have sounded like a joke but Rachel knew it wasn’t.

“Not at all.” She reluctantly broke away. Jolene wasn’t comfortable with even the lightest of kisses between her father and Rachel. Bruce didn’t seem to notice, but Rachel certainly had.

“I’m hungry,” Jolene announced.

Bruce glanced at his watch. “Well, no wonder! It’s after eight.”

They’d started loading Bruce’s truck as soon as Rachel got off work at six. She’d packed as much as she could the night before, but the salon was extra-busy so close to the holidays. Trying to adjust her schedule, pack and move in with Bruce and Jolene, get ready for Christmas and her wedding, all within a few days, plus get the rental house clean, was too much—and yet Rachel wouldn’t have changed a thing.

“Let me drive this load to the house,” Bruce suggested next. “On the way back I’ll pick up something for dinner. What would you like?”

“Chicken!” Jolene shouted.

Bruce looked at Rachel. “Chicken sounds good to me, too,” she said.

“Should I come with you or stay with Rachel?” Jolene asked.

“I could use some more help packing up my bedroom,” Rachel told her.

“Okay. Bye, Dad.” Jolene hugged Bruce, then started to gather up empty cartons.

“Do I get a kiss goodbye?” Bruce asked, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

Remembering Jolene’s response to the last kiss, Rachel said, “No.”

Bruce pouted. “Don’t tell me you’re going to be stingy.”

“I’m going to be sensible. We both have things to do.”

“Anything we can do together?” he teased.

“Bruce,” she murmured, glancing over her shoulder to confirm that Jolene had left the room. “As much as I’d like to spend the rest of the night cuddled up on that sofa with you, I can’t.”

He sighed, kissed her cheek, then sauntered out, closing the door behind him.

“Dad gone already?” Jolene asked, dragging a cardboard box into the living room.

“Yes, but he won’t be long.”

Jolene set down the box and threw herself on the sofa. “It’s kind of weird.”

“What is?”

Jolene shrugged. “You marrying my dad.”

“You’re happy about it, though, aren’t you?”

“It’s okay, I guess.”

The lack of enthusiasm caught Rachel unawares. Dropping the tablecloth she was folding, she sat beside Jolene. “Maybe we should talk about this.”

Jolene hung her head. “Okay.”

“Are you worried things will change?”

“They will,” she said, then added, “They already have.”

Rachel had to admit she was right. Everything had changed—between her and Bruce, and between her and Jolene, too. Rachel was grateful for the girl’s honesty.

“You and Dad will probably have a baby,” Jolene muttered next.

Rachel and Bruce had discussed that very subject more than once. Because she was thirty-three, Rachel wanted to get pregnant within the first year. Bruce was in full agreement.

“I thought you wanted a brother or sister,” Rachel commented.

“I do…sort of,” Jolene said. “I used to think I did, but now that it might really happen, I know everyone will pay attention to the baby and—”

“And not you,” Rachel finished for her. She placed her arm around Jolene’s shoulders and brought her close. From the time Jolene was six, Rachel had been a constant in her life. She knew this child, loved her—couldn’t imagine loving her more than she already did.

Jolene shrugged again.

“Your father loves you, Jolene.”

“I know.”

“Baby or no baby, that isn’t going to change.”

The girl sighed, staring down at her hands.

“It isn’t going to change with me, either,” Rachel told her.

After a short pause, Jolene asked, “Will I have to call you Mom?”

“What would you like to call me?”

Jolene looked at her uncertainly. “I think of you as Rachel.”

“Then call me Rachel.”