Page 51 of The Cowboy Who Looked Again

“Obviously I don’t.” Finn settled his weight onto one foot. “Telling my mama is a bad idea, Edith.”

“Telling your mama is how we bond even more,” Edith said. “I could totally ask JoJo. I probably still will. But I really think your mom will be so excited and so helpful.” She glanced over to him, her raw, makeup-less face so beautiful, so open, and so vulnerable. “My mom isn’t here. I’m going to need help after the baby is born, and that’s going to come from your mom.”

She drew a breath. “I won’t tell her tonight if you don’t want me to, but I’d like to, and I want to ask her about a good doctor.”

“She hasn’t had a baby in ages,” he said.

“She knows everyone in town.” Edith started applying her makeup again, and since she didn’t wear a lot, she could definitely get it done before his mama showed up.

Finn turned away from her, his brain whirring now. His beautiful wife was so good, always looking out for others even when she should be celebrated. Lord, he thought, starting a back-and-forth conversation with himself. Does it really matter if my mama knows?

She would like it.

No, she’ll love it.

And she always wants to be included, as much as we want to include her.

He sighed and turned back to Edith. “All right. You’re right.”

She smiled at him. “Wish I had my video rolling for that one.”

“I say you’re right all the time.”

She smiled and kept working on her face.

“Finn,” his mama called from the front of the house. “Edith. I’m walking in.”

“Go say hello,” Edith said. “I’ll be out in five minutes, and we’ll tell her together.”

“All right,” he said. “I want to pick out of the two mini dachshunds.”

Edith met his eyes in the mirror, clear surprise there. She blinked; it disappeared. “Fine.”

Finn grinned at her and kissed the side of her neck. “I can’t believe you’re going to make me a father.” He turned before his own emotions could rear up and choke him, and he jogged through the bedroom saying, “Mama, I’m comin’.”

His mother had brought something, of course. “Cupcakes for tonight,” she said.

“Edith made a cake, Mama.” He stepped into her and hugged her, fighting for control again.

“Then cupcakes for breakfast. You’re within a week of your birthday.”

As if he couldn’t have cupcakes any day of the year, whenever he wanted. He was an adult after all. A hard-working, tax-paying adult who owned his own ranch.

“Thank you,” he murmured.

His mama wasn’t one to miss things, and she pulled out of his embrace and looked at him with her shrewd eagle-eyes. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing.” Finn ducked his head and side-stepped her. “We have friends coming over in a little bit. We have to go get the food soon.”

“I know,” his mama said. “I’m not going to ruin your game night.”

Finn didn’t know what to say that wasn’t Edith’s pregnant! so he opened the fridge and looked inside. “Want something to drink?” he asked, a prayer starting deep in his soul.

“Kelly,” Edith said. “Thank you for stopping by.”

Finn turned to watch his wife hug his mother, and Edith’s smile stayed stitched in place as her eyes closed. She moved back, immediately reaching for him, and Finn instantly went to her side. They joined hands, and his mama took them both in.

“You guys…you know what? I’m not going to ask.”

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