Page 41 of Hitched

“The bairn didn’t see anything, but I saw the dealer walk up to the door and make the delivery. I'd only seen him here once before.”

“Where was Peg when this happened?”

“In her bed. Gretchen wasn’t the brightest lass. She left her bedroom drapes open, and I was watching her shoot up from my yard.”

My eyes widen. “And you didn’t come over and help her?”

The scowl grows harder. “I did. But by the time I got here, it was too late. Peg woke up to answer the door and she was going to go get her mama, to tell her I was here, and I stopped her. The bairn was adamant, so I chided her; told her to go sit in the corner. That’s how come she was crying and didn’t want to go to me when the crew here arrived.”

“Can’t say I blame her. That’s a fine way to comfort a child whose mama just died.” I scold.

She lifts a finger. “Don’t you judge me, lass. I called the authorities. I called Caleb. There was nothing more that I could do. I put up with these two all the time, carrying on, making noise and such. I don’t owe them a thing.”

My voice is firm, direct. “Thank you, Glenda. You may go.”

“I’ve got to give my statement. I’ll not leave until I do.”

“Fine. Why don’t you go help yourself to some tea in the kitchen then.”

She squares her shoulders. “I’ll do that.”

My jaw muscles are working, my tears fighting to come, as I approach Peg and Caleb. His head is resting on hers. He raises it to my touch. “I’ll bring her home with me, Laney. Bring her things.” The bairn has cried herself to sleep in his arms.

“I’ll go gather what I can from her room.”

He nods, following me.

And it’s the longest night of our lives. Or so we think.

Caleb

We found the document. Under Peg’s little pyjamas in her drawer, lining the bottom, was Gretchen’s last will and testament. I had no idea she’d made one. She never told me so. If Laney hadn’t thought to gather her things, we might never have found it. Gretchen left me everything, including Peg. When I laid the little bairn down on her bed to sleep, that’s when Laney found it. We read through it, and when Laney found where Gretchen had left me Peg, I looked at her and couldn’t stop the sob from coming.

Laney grabs me and holds me tight, sobbing with me. “You are the best thing that ever happened to her, Caleb. Gretchen made a wise choice.”

As I grasp the hair on the back of her neck with my hand, I’m weeping like a bairn myself. I pull back, swallowing, searching her eyes, as she wipes the tears away from my cheeks and hers, I can’t hold back any longer. “Laney, I love you.” I gasp and draw in a deep breath, still sobbing, licking my wet lips. “I love you so much. And I want…I want us to raise her together.”

With a gasp and a sob, she nods and pulls me close. As she sighs out a puff of air, Laney says. “I love you, too, Caleb. And I love Peg.”

“I love the little bairn like she’s my own.”

“I know you do, Caleb. And I love you for it.”

I kiss her lips softly, tenderly, and then I hug her again. “This is going to be a mess, Laney.”

“That’s okay, Caleb.” She looks at me. “It’s just thank God that the goddamn murder investigation is over.”

I swallow, eyes widened. “Oh my God, yes. I’d almost forgotten about that.” Then, something occurs to me. “What am I going to tell my da?”

She shakes her head gently. “Caleb, there is no choice here. You have an obligation to this child. Your da is going to be fine. He’s going to have to be, Caleb.”

“I know.” I nod. “This will be the first time that I will have to dictate to da what is going to happen. Not sure it will go down well. I have to tell him that I've been looking after Gretchen and Peg for the last three years without his knowledge. He won’t take that well.”

“You had your reasons, Caleb. I think it’s more important here that this bairn and her mama needed you and you were there for them. What your da thinks is irrelevant. He is not going to banish you from the family for doing something decent. And if he does, then you can come work with me.” She says with a playful look in her eyes that I immediately catch.

“That’s after your da kills me first.”

“Trust me, Caleb. For doing this, you will score brownie points with my da.”

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