Page 68 of Sweet Escape
“Alright.” I flip half the omelet over after sprinkling on the extra cheese for Liv. Her pregnancy cravings are pretty mundane so far, but that could change once we get further along. I’m just glad she’s starting to keep her food down.“Here’s my advice: tell Pops how you feel. He’s never been one to push us to do something we don't want. You’re not doing yourself any favors by pussyfooting around.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
“Good. Now get outta here.” I point the spatula toward the front entrance, spearing him with a glare. “I have to feed my baby mama and take her to pack her shit.”
“Pack? You movin’ in?” he asks.
She gives him a flat smile and a jerky nod. “Just for a little while. The apartment flooded last night, so I’m moving here temporarily.”
“Temporarily, huh?” Jaxon throws a smirk in my direction. “Well, it’ll be nice to have a pretty face around here. Other than mine, of course.”
I roll my eyes. “Get the fuck outta here with that shit.”
Jaxon chuckles and snags his hat off the island. “See you around, gorgeous,” he says, goading me one last time as he saunters out with a backward wave.
After breakfast, we stop by the big house to pick up Emmy Lou, who spends the whole drive talking Liv’s ear off. I’m certain only some of what she says is English; the rest is in some secret language only the two of them seem to understand. When we pull up outside the diner, Emmy squeals.
“Cupcake?” Emmy asks, her eyes alight with anticipation.
Liv twists in her seat, her expression apologetic as she reaches backto pat Emmy’s lap. “I’m sorry, sweetie. I didn’t get a chance to make any yesterday.”
Emmy slumps back in her seat, defeated.
“But you know what? I’m coming to your house today. Maybe we could make some together. What do you say?”
“Pleeeeeease.” Emmy gives me her best puppy dog eyes, and when I glance over at Liv, she’s doing the same with a barely contained smile.
I chuckle softly. “You two are gonna be the death of me,” I grumble. “Let’s head inside so we can get everything packed up. The sooner we get back to the ranch, the sooner you two can make a mess of my kitchen.”
Liv opens the back passenger door and takes Emmy into her arms. Emmy clings to her like she’s her favorite person in the whole world. I get it—she might be one of my favorite people, too.
“Why don't you two wait down here, and I’ll be right back with my things?” She sets Emmy on her feet, and I reach out, grasping her tiny hand in mine.
“Are you sure? We can come up and help.”
“I’ll be fine. Have a seat.”
I nod, watching her back as she disappears through the swinging doors to the kitchen.
“Wilder?”
At the sound of my name, I turn, coming face to face with Jess’s mom. “Caroline, it’s good to see you.”
She crouches down in front of Emmy, wrapping her in a tight hug.
“Hey, sweet girl,” she says, her voice slightly choked. “Boy, have I missed you.”She stands, holding Emmy Lou in her arms. “How have you been? Settling in okay?”
“We’re doing well. Are you back for good?”
“We are. Jess is here. Our memories are here, and if you’ll have us, we’d like to be a part of Emmy’s life, too.”
“We’d love nothing more, Caroline. Jess would want that.Iwant that.”
Jess’s parents moved out to Colorado when we found out she was pregnant. When she passed, they weren’t sure where they wanted to be, but we buried her here in Oak Ridge next to her grandparents. I always suspected they’d make their way back, too.
Emmy yawns, resting her cheek on her grandmother’s shoulder. A small smile forms on Caroline’s face, but there’s a sadness behind her eyes that’s hard to miss. I gesture for her to slide into the nearest booth, then seat myself across from her.
Rosie stops by the table, notepad in hand. “Hi, Caroline. It’s good to see you back in town. How have you been?”
