Page 31 of Unexpectedly Falling
“She didn’t know how to reach me,” I say, letting the shame wash over me, “and so our daughter was placed with her cousin Nessa, who did some detective work of her own and found me.”
“Where is the baby now?” my father asks calmly, if not a little choked up.
“She’s in my living room and she’s perfect.” The last word is barely a whisper as my eyes fill with unshed tears. “Nessa is staying with me until I can get George to come down and take over as interim sheriff and I can take the time off Remi deserves.”
“Remi? Her name is Remi?” Mama’s voice is a choking sob, my father’s low timbre soothing as he comforts her.
“Remi Maeve, Mama.”
“We’ll be on the next plane.”
“That wouldn’t be fair to Indie, Dottie,” my father says gently. “Jensen and Nessa have things well in hand, don’t you, son?”
“Yes, sir.”
“We’ll let you and Nessa get Remi settled, finish our visit with Indie, and then we’ll be on home, all right?” I appreciate my father’s ability to reason with Mama, and I nod even though he can’t see me.
“Thanks, Dad.”
“It’s a big adjustment but we’ll help however we can,” he says then asks, “Nessa, huh? She the one over at the university?”
“Yes,” I answer cautiously, wondering how he would know that considering he’s been in Montana the last couple of weeks.
Letting out a low whistle, my father chuckles. “Professional soccer player—that’s big news in Blackstone Falls. I’m surprised you’ve been able to keep this private as long as you have.”
“I have my suspicions.”
“Miss Thelma?”
“Most likely.”
“Makes sense, she always did have a soft spot for you,” my father says gruffly but he’s not wrong. She’s a cornerstone in our neck of the woods with a lifetime of stories to tell.
The only thing I couldn’t figure out is why she hadn’t come to see me yet.
“Jensen Wayne Kade,”—Mama’s use of my full name makes me wince but it brings me back to the present—“this conversation isnotover. You kept ababyfrom your mama! Oh that sweet little girl. My heart just breaks for her but don’t you worry, we’ll love her twice as much. You tell her that her Mimiand PawPaw love her, okay? And how is Nessa? This must be such a big change for her too. I’ll cook for everyone when I get home and?—”
“Mama, take a breath,” I say on a chuckle, the tension finally dissipating a little.
“I know, I just didn’t get time to prepare and?—”
“Neither did he, Dottie. Jensen is doin’ the best he can. Let’s let the man get back to his daughter, and you can fuss over him when we get home, all right?”
Mama grumbles but ultimately agrees, sneaking one final request in before finally hanging up. With the call ended, I send a couple of pictures to her and then set my phone on the table, ignoring the onslaught of messages that follow.
“How’d it go?” Nessa asks as I scoop Remi into my arms and inhale her sweet baby scent.
“As well as it could have under the circumstances,” I say as I watch her little eyelids flutter shut before popping open again. “Mama will be ripping through here like a hurricane when she gets home though.”
“So worse than today?”
“Not even close.”
15
JENSEN
“Sheriff, Miss Thelma is here to see you,” my receptionist, Amanda, says with barely disguised amusement over the intercom in my office. I donothave time for this woman today, but apparently, I conjured her after talkin’ with my parents last night.
