Page 98 of Before You Can Blink
Lips pressed against mine. “That’s all I can ask for.”
Here I was, thinking this parenting gig would get easier once we moved past the baby stage.
I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Chapter 23
Jett
Age 51
December
“Jett!”
Daisy’s sharp cry from deep within the house had me lifting my head on instinct, forgetting that I was beneath the sink until my head collided with a metal pipe, and pain radiated through my skull.
“Fuck,” I cursed low under my breath, bringing a hand up to rub against the spot where I would likely have a bruise later.
I was carefully maneuvering my way around the plumbing when my wife called my name again, this time with more urgency.
“What?” I yelled back, rising to my feet. The sound of my knees cracking made me cringe. Getting old was a bitch and a half, no two ways about it.
“Aspen’s on the phone, and she has something she wants to tell you!”
Daisy’s over-the-top excitement gave me pause. There was only one topic she got that animated about, and it was grandbabies.
Surely Aspen wasn’t . ..
No. She wasn’t even seeing someone.
You know damn well a relationship isn’t a prerequisite to knocking a woman up.
Sweat gathered at the back of my neck, and my heart began galloping faster than the horses on the open range. I could hardly stand the thought of my sweet girl getting pregnant as the result of a one-night stand, left to raise a child alone.
“Jett! Pick up the line in the kitchen. She’s waiting!”
Pulling in a cleansing breath, determined to support her in any way she needed, I lifted the wall-mounted receiver to my ear. “Hey there, darlin’.”
“Hi, Daddy,” came her upbeat voice in response.
“Your mama said you had something you wanted to share?” I prompted.
“I know it’s last minute . . .” Nervousness crept into her tone. “But I was wondering if it might be all right if I came home for Christmas.”
I sagged against the wall in relief. Visits from our girl were few and far between. There wasn’t a chance in hell I’d deny her request.
“Well, if that isn’t the best news I’ve heard in ages. We’d love to have you home, sweetheart.”
“And that’s not all,” Daisy chimed in. “Tell him the rest, honey.”
Aspen’s deep breath was audible. “I won’t be coming alone.”
“Oh no?” I questioned.
“My boyfriend, Mike, will be making the trip with me.”
Just like that, the chest-crushing anxiety was back.
