Page 92 of Fourth Heartwarmers Trilogy
“Yes.”
“Cause my Maman broke her word, and she loved us a lot.”
Jaq brought him around to face her, making him look into her eyes. “You’re right. Your mom loved you a lot, but being ill, she wasn’t thinking clearly. All she did was try to protect you.”
“She lied. And she left us.” His small voice hardened.
“I know you’re angry with her, and that’s okay. But one day I hope you’ll understand how sick she really was. And living in that fog of pain day after day affected her decisions. I truly believe she refused to let you feel her fear to shield you. A mom who loves her kids will do that, Charlie. Us women can’t help ourselves.”
He stiffened, his voice muffled. “Do you love us?”
She didn’t hesitate. “More than I thought possible.”
“Remember, you promised.”
“Yes, honey. I remember.”
Sliding in closer, he laid his head on her chest and within minutes was sound asleep. Knowing she couldn’t leave him, Jaq settled down herself and let her mind revisit the one important detail that couldn’t be ignored… Colin Jones. Reviewing their night before and how she’d snuggled into him when the cold seeped into the room had to be revisited.
Remembering the warmth of his gaze and the tenderness of his arms, a tingle traveled her whole body. That man had begun to live in her thoughts a lot more than any other, and if truth were told, he’d begun to seep into her heart as well. The promise she’d just made Charlie meant she must include Colin in her future. That thought made her smile.
***
About an hour later, waking up with the kids, Jaq made an announcement. She’d heard the children stirring after their nap and knew they were too excited to settle again. Instead, shedecided to keep them busy. “Let’s surprise Colin when he gets home. Okay?”
Maisie, refreshed from her nap, jumped up. “Yay. What should we do?”
“Let’s bake Christmas cookies.”
“Yesss!” The little girl’s excitement was contagious, and soon Charlie pitched in too. In no time, Jaq had all the ingredients for shortbread lined up and the recipe she’d had Google find her ready on her iPad.
She let Maisie help in filling the measuring cup with flour while Charlie took the other measuring cup to get the icing sugar. In no time, they took turns stirring the mixture before they all rolled the dough into balls and then into the sugar crystals. Both kids had fun using a spoon to push the cookie dough down in the center before adding pieces of glazed cherries. According to Charlie, his Maman made them this way and so Jaq happily followed the recipe.
By the time they had the cookies out of the oven, Jaq realized the rest of the house had become dark other then the kitchen where they’d spent the better part of an hour. Before she could rectify that, a worried voice shouted for them. “Jaq, kids, where are you?”
Chapter Nineteen
With his heart slowing back into a normal rhythm, Colin headed to where he heard voices. The old house wasn’t only drafty, but boxy as well,. Each small room was enclosed from the other, not like the modern way of living where one could see into an open area.
As he walked through to the kitchen, not only did delicious smells hit him at once, but seeing his excited, soon-to-be family waiting expectantly warmed his heart so he stopped dead to soak in the unexpected thrill.
“Hi.” His voice came out sounding husky from the sudden emotion.
The kids beamed at him, and Masie all but threw herself into his arms. “Look Cowin. We baked cookies.”
“That you did, princess.” He lifted her close. “They smell divine.” Reaching over, he brushed his hand over Charlie’s hair, mussing it gently. “I see you helped the ladies, lad. Good job.” His eyes finally settled on the woman who drew him towards herlike a moth to a flame. The magnetism he felt lit his expression with tenderness. “Thanks, Jaq. Wonderful idea. Can I try one?” He saw her eyes widen with answering attraction before she blushed. “Of course. We baked them for you.”
Looking away, she bustled around the room adding water to the kettle and tidying the mess off the table. “We waited to have afternoon tea with you.”
“Great, because I’m thirsty and those cookies are calling to me. We need our strength to decorate that tree, right?”
Two voices bellowed in agreement as they placed the mugs Jaq passed them onto the table.
Taking his first bite from the still slightly warm treat, Colin groaned his appreciation. “Mmm, so good.”
After their snack, they were all in the living room helping to decorate the tree. Once the kids were happily working together, Jaq couldn’t contain her curiosity any longer. “What happened with Ms. Lather?”
“The police were called in and ended up taking Josh home. His father had grabbed the bag of pills, bolted, and left his son there. It wasn’t pleasant. Poor Ms. Lather. Now she is forced to find homes for all the children she’d left with those people and during this time of year, she has very little hope.”
