Page 506 of Conveniently Wed
They sat in silence for a few minutes while Franklin tried to formulate the words he wanted to say. “You’ve known me all my life, and I’ve really depended on you since I lost my parents.”
She nodded, interest sparking in her eyes.
“While I’ve been holding this baby, I’ve been mulling over an idea, and I’d like your opinion about it.” That sounded so stilted. He’d never had a problem talking to her before.
She perked up and smiled. “What kind of idea? I’m all ears.”
He wondered how to say this without giving away too many of his thoughts. “I’ve always wanted children, especially a son.Someone to inherit this ranch. It’s been in my family for two generations.”
“Of course, you have.”
He felt silly for mentioning that, because she already knew it. He’d told her before that he wanted an heir. But she didn’t know he’d promised himself not to ever let a woman past his defenses again. He couldn’t face the consequences if it didn’t work out. Just thinking about it tied his stomach in knots.
“You know how hard it’s been for me to trust anyone since Miriam and Marvin...disappointed me.” The words were hard to force through his throat. On the way, each one tore a bloody path through his heart.
“I don’t know what could have gotten into their heads to treat you so badly.” She frowned, tsked, and shook her head.
“That’s neither here nor there, but they’re both out of my life. And I’m glad.” He glanced down at the sleeping baby–so trusting, depending on him. “Since that time, I’ve shied away from any woman who set her cap for me... Also from mothers looking for husbands for their daughters.”
“I noticed that.” She laughed. “I think everyone has. And plenty of them have flocked around you at church and socials anyway.”
“That’s why I try to spend most of my time at those things talking to other men.”
This was harder to put into words than he thought it would be. He just wanted to clutch the baby in his arms and hush, but he had to get it all said before he chickened out. Thank goodness no one else was within hearing distance.
She quirked one eyebrow accompanied by a chuckle. “That you do.”
“I look at this boy who lost his father even before he was born. Maybe we were made for each other.” He stopped and hisgaze wove over the tiny features. “Do you think Lorinda would ever consider marrying me if I asked her?”
Surprise raised her eyebrows before she answered. “I know she has settled comfortably here. And I don’t think she’s in a hurry to leave.” A smile spread across Mrs. Oleson’s face. “I think it’s a great idea. I’ve mentioned plenty of times to you that I don’t like you being alone.”
“Yes, you have.”
The baby opened his eyes and started to fuss.
“Here, let me take him to his mother.” She gently lifted him from Franklin’s arms.
They felt so empty and cold with the child gone. Reluctant to let him go, he thrust his hands into his front pockets.
She headed toward the doorway, but stopped and turned back. “I think you should wait a while before you say anything to her. She needs to recover from childbirth without having serious things to think about. She’ll want to spend most of the next few days alone with her son.”
Too bad Lorinda didn’t have a husband to share all of this with. He was sure that’s what every woman wanted when she had her children. Things would’ve been different if Mike Sullivan had lived.
Mrs. Oleson hesitated. “Maybe you should go with me. You can hold the baby outside in the hallway while I check on her.”
Once more, he held the tiny boy against his chest. The pain of his own loss speared through him. Maybe he and Lorinda could settle on a way to help each other, with neither of them getting hurt again.
He certainly hoped so.
Lorinda awoke from a dreamy state where so many things mingled together without making any sense. Pain, loss, a baby’s cry, then silence, Ingrid’s soothing voice. She realized she was sore all over her body from the birth of her son.
Silence?
Why was everything so quiet? She definitely remembered her son’s first tiny cry, then the loud wailing that caused her mother-heart to leap within her. But at that time, everything connected with the birth wasn’t over, and now the house was so still. Nothing but the cool breeze ruffling the curtains.
Lorinda remembered Ingrid cooing to her son to comfort him, then thrusting him out the door to someone before she came back to finish looking after her own needs. Where was her son, and why didn’t she hear him crying?Please, God, don’t let anything happen to my baby. He’s all I have now.
What if she lost him as well as his father?I don’t think I’d ever recover from another loss so soon.Was she destined to lose everyone she loved? Mother...Mike...her unnamed son. She wouldn’t want to go on living if he was gone, too.
