Page 8 of Sweet Surprise

“Listen.” He slowly reached for her hand. “There’s a lot to work out, but I promise you, everything will be all right from now on.”

Oh, she really hoped so. Not for her, but for her son. Maybe, just maybe, now Mason would have the life she’d always wanted her son to have.

Chapter Four

For the short ride to the ranch from town, Carson spent more time watching the car in his review mirror than the road. His mind played pictures of Mason drawing, eating, smiling, and playing at the park over and over on a never ending loop. Thrown in for good measures were visions of what he might have missed. Mason’s first steps, first words, first drawing pinned to the fridge with a magnet—probably holding a school picture. All the things he could not recoup. His head felt ready to explode.

Never had so many tumultuous emotions battered him at once. Joy at a son, shock at a son, sorrow at all he’d lost with that son. And Jess. The woman who’d gotten under his skin so many years ago and never quite worked her way out was back. Maybe back wasn’t the right word, but she was here, and she was no longer married, and now they shared a son.

What he needed to focus on now wasn’t how he felt or didn’t feel, but how much should—or could—he tell his mother about Jess and Mason. He had called ahead and told his mom that an old college friend was in town and they’d be staying at the ranch. His mom had been so freaked at having to straighten up and prepare two rooms for their unexpected guests in the time it took to drive from town, that she barely asked any questions, rushing off to get the house ready. Where for most people tidying up means picking up a few misplaced items and maybe tossing dirty dishes in the sink or dishwasher, he suspected his mother would be on all fours scrubbing bathrooms and mopping floors.

Turning under the gate, he glanced at the rearview mirror for the umpteenth time. So much to figure out. So much to deal with. And yet, all that was now rattling around in his brain was if Jess showing up in his life again was a gift from God or a cruel trick.

By the time he parked his car in front of the house and stood by the driver side door, waiting for Jess to park beside him, his mother and sisters were on the front porch. The only one smiling was his mother. Most likely that had something to do with his having ignored the texts and calls from both Jillian and Rachel. He knew they’d have more questions than he’d have answers for.

If Jess thought she was nervous over arriving in town and after all these years seeing Carson again, the prospect of meeting his entire family wasn’t much better. She’d been taking deep breaths for the last ten minutes and considered simply turning around and finding lodging anywhere but here. Then she’d remind herself of the stack of bills she’d been playingborrow from Peter to pay Paulwith, and free lodging was hard to turn down.

The sight before her wasn’t helping. Coming to a stop in front of the massive house, half old fashioned logs, half stone, the place looked like a cross between the Ponderosa from the old western television show she’d watch in reruns with her grandmother, and an old Scottish castle or university. If his mother and two of his sisters weren’t on the porch watching them intently, she’d take a few minutes to just sit and stare at the beautiful house. Once she parked beside Carson, he circled around the back to her door and managed to tug it open before she could exit the car on her own.

The gesture made her smile. He’d always been so good at opening doors, pulling out chairs, and helping her on with jackets and sweaters. “Still the gentleman.”

He didn’t say a word, but took her hand and waited for Mason to exit the car and come to stand beside them. “Told you my mom would be delighted with company.”

His mother was indeed sporting a smile as wide as the Rio Grande, but the two women at either side of her stood looking a bit more confused over the prospect of two strangers for houseguests.

As if able to read her mind, Carson leaned in and whispered for her ears only, “They’re going to love you—both of you. I promise.”

And just like that his mother flew off the porch and drew her into a stuffing squeezing embrace.

“Come on in and we’ll get you settled. You’ll be using my old room, and your son will stay in Kade’s room. He’s my oldest boy.”

“The one in the military?” She was surprised she remembered.

His mother’s already pleasant expression brightened even more. “You know Kade?”

“Back in school Carson might have mentioned him a time or two thousand.”

His mother looked over her shoulder and grinning at Carson, sheer joy and pride shone in her eyes. “They were always close.”

The next thing Jess knew, her small bag was unpacked and her clothes put away in a spacious room that somehow still felt cozy. Lovely views of the expansive ranch seemed to roll out before her like an immense carpet of green with distant speckles on the horizon that she suspected up close would be rather large cattle.

“Mommy.” Sitting on the bed, his attention split between watching his mother unpack and sketching a new drawing, Mason glanced up at her. “Do you think I’ll see real cows?”

“Something tells me yes. But don’t get too close. They’re large animals and you could get hurt.”

Not for the first time today, her son heaved a sigh too heavy for his young years and rolled his eyes at her. “Mom, I want to draw them, not play with them.”

“I know. But still.”

The kid just shook his head and she wondered for the umpteenth time if there wasn’t a thirty year old man hidden in her nine year old son’s body.

A rap sounded on the doorframe. Carson stood smiling at her. Had his eyes always been such a deep blue?

“Mom’s baking cookies. She sent me to tell you they’ll be ready to eat shortly.”

“Cookies?” Mason looked up.

“Chocolate chip and butter cookies.”

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