Page 63 of Call It Home

Her hand held my cheek as she gazed into my eyes, and I felt like years of maternal instinct and wisdom saw past all the layers I’d put into place to protect young Mackenzie Caldwell. “When you’re ready.”

Then she placed herself in the middle of Cam and me and wrapped her arms around ours. “Now. Help an old lady back to the house, would you?”

I snorted. There had been nothing old about the way she’d come rushing out to greet us. But it was as if she was creating a safe space to get past Chase, who’d yet to say a word until we reached him.

“Hello, brother dear,” Cam greeted him. “What’s for dinner? I’m starving. I’ve missed Marta’s cooking.”

His expression softened. “I’d say the same, but I’ve enjoyed the relative quiet with one less woman around here talking so much.” He glanced up at me.

Raelyn winked at him. “That’s just because you’re still waiting for that one voice to be here. Then it won’t sound like noise to you.”

I wasn’t sure what she meant, but Chase winced before he schooled his features.

“Welcome, Mac.” He held out his hand. “Glad to have a little more testosterone around here.”

Cam nudged me.“See?”she mouthed to me.

Maybe everything would work out after all.

* * *

“Dinner was delicious, as usual,” Reid commented.

Marta, Chase’s housekeeper, beamed. “I love cooking for so many. And you all have better manners than all those workers who just come in, wolf something down, and then belch and leave.” She rolled her eyes and shook her head before her grimace turned down even further at the corners of her mouth. “It makes me sad knowing I won’t be doing this much longer.”

Cam’s head shot up from where she was playing with Olivia, who was giggling in a little bouncy chair between her mother and Cam. “What? Why not? Are you sick? What don’t I know?”

No one else seemed as surprised at Marta’s statement, but they, too, had downcast expressions.

Marta waved her hand. “Oh, no, honey. I’m just getting too old to keep up with this group anymore.”

“Life is going to suck here,” Chase added, an annoyed look on his face. “I don’t know why I can’t just hire you some help, and you can relax more around here. You know you’d love to boss someone else around like you try to do with me. Only this time, you could get away with it.”

“I get away with it now,” Marta shot back, her dark eyes sparkling with amusement as Chase pretended to scowl at her.

“She can’t stay. She’s going to move to Texas to be with her daughter,” Iain piped up from his chair.

Cam’s eyes swung back and forth between each speaker. “You’re really leaving? You’ve been here since we were little!”

“Aw, honey. While all of you have grown up, I’ve grown old. I loved Mr. James, and I love this family like you’re my own. And all your beautiful babies that keep appearing.” She looked fondly at Olivia and her older brother, Iain, and then over to Lexi, who stood with her arms wrapped around Bristol. “Mr. Chase, he needed me when he took over. But now, he needs to find himself a wife to run this farm. Maybe this will be the kick in the pants he needs.”

Chase glared at her while everyone else, including me, snorted or made a choking sound behind their hands.

Cam got up and walked over to Marta. “I’m going to miss you. You’re such a fixture around here; it’s hard to imagine you not being here.”

Marta’s eyes welled up as she drew Cam into her arms for a long hug. “Well, I’m not leaving yet. And with all that computer Facelook stuff that can be done now, I’ll stay in touch. My daughter says she’ll help me with it.”

“It’s called FaceTime.” Cam’s smile quavered as she corrected the older woman.

“Maybe I’ll just lock you in your room until you come to your senses,” Chase growled.

“You can’t do that, Uncle Chase.” Iain’s expression was serious. “Then Uncle Reid would have to arrest you, then Auntie Bristol would be mad at him, and you know that won’t be good!”

His words made everyone, including Chase, laugh.

Marta dusted her hands. “Now, let’s clean up. Girls, you put away the leftovers, and you men clear the table.”

“See what I mean?” Chase questioned. “Bossy.”

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