Page 19 of I Want Crazy (Loco, Texas 3)

Suddenly, Jessie realized she was making a scene in his home and snapped her mouth closed.

“Oh no, please don’t stop!” Tabby begged, meeting her brother’s dark look with her tongue sticking out.

Her savior came in the form of Red’s mother, who took her hand and led her into the kitchen. “Come along, Jessie, I’ve made you a plate. You can tell me all about yourself.”

“What about me?” Red called behind them.

His mother sniffed. “You go outside and come back in when you’ve learned some manners.”

Jessie heard a round of giggles and fought a smile as Red cursed and stomped out the front door.

“Albert, when he comes back, tell him to go back outside and think about the way he talks to women.”

Her husband didn’t say anything, just nodded, but Jessie got the feeling he wasn’t listening.

“So, Jessie, are you married?” Red’s mother asked casually as she led her into the kitchen.

Jessie stiffened at the personal question. “No, I’ve never been married.”

“How about children?” Hannah asked, waving her to sit down at the table.

The older woman was bent over with her head in the oven, so she couldn’t see Jessie’s expression of horror. Who just jumps into a conversation with a question like that? “Do I have them or do I want them?”

“Both.” His mother was smiling at her sweetly as she set a plate down in front of her, but Jessie got the feeling there was something more going on in Hannah Calhoun’s mind.

“Um, I’m not sure.” Jessie watched Hannah suspiciously as she sat across from her.

“Hmm…don’t you like kids?”

Jessie was aware of MJ, hanging by the door, and cleared her throat. “To be honest, I haven’t thought about it. I suppose if I met the right man—”

“Oh, good. For a minute there, I thought you were one of those girls who never wanted children, and that just wouldn’t do.”

Wouldn’t do for what?

Red came back in and stood in the doorway, frowning. “Okay, Mom, I’m sorry for my rude behavior.”

“And?”

“And what?”

“And for being late for dinner.”

His sigh was heavy. “I’m sorry.”

“Fine.” Hannah waved him toward the stove like a benevolent queen. “Dish up your own plate. Everything is in the fridge. You just need to pop it in the microwave.”

“What happened to my plate?” Red asked.

“I gave it to Jessie.” Smiling at Jessie with a definite look of conspiracy, she got up from the table. “I’m going to see what your father is watching.”

Jessie got the distinct impression she just wanted to leave Jessie alone with her son.

Red made up his plate and finally sat down next to her. “So, what did I miss?”

“Oh, nothing much. Your mother was just asking me about my plans to reproduce.”

Red spewed a mouthful of food across the table, and Jessie whacked him on the back.

---