Page 14 of Harvest Moon (Riverbend 3)

Chapter6

Laurel’s eyes fluttered open to the play of early morning light on the gray walls. Upon the sight of the unfamiliar bedding and furniture, the previous day rushed over her like a rogue wave.

Mallory. Mike.Emma.

Her throat thickened with all the emotion she’d pushed back yesterday. And all the terrible things in store for today. She wished she could just close her eyes and go back to sleep. Wished she could sink into oblivion until everything went back to the way it was before. The feeling was as familiar as a pair of worn-in jeans.

A clanking sound came from downstairs. She wasn’t alone with the child. It was barely seven o’clock, and she’d slept restlessly for all the obvious reasons. And also because she’d never thought she’d have to face Gavin again, much less under these conditions.

The quiet sounds of a child playing came from the nursery. Her heart gave a tight squeeze, and she closed her eyes.Oh, God,You’vegot to help us here. Give us the words.

Part of her wanted to stay here and let the girl enjoy a few extra minutes of normalcy. But Emma would soon tire of playing alone and begin crying. Best Laurel caught her before that happened.

She crawled from bed and exited the room, only to nearly run into Gavin, obviously headed to the nursery too. Sunny was on his heels.

Gavin’s hair was tousled in that familiar boyish way, and a pillow crease marked his stubbled cheek. “Morning.”

She smoothed her hair. “Morning. Ready for this?”

“No.”

“Me neither.” But there was no sense putting it off. She swept past him, opened the nursery door, and flipped on the light.

Emma glanced up from where she sat in the crib with Bunny. Her blonde curls were a riot around her cherub face. Her green eyes lit up. “Waurel!”

Laurel’s smile quivered. “Hi, sweet angel. Did you sleep well?”

“Gabin!” Upon sight of Gavin, Emma pulled to her feet and held out her chubby arms. “Gabin, take.”

Laurel stepped aside and let Gavin lift Emma from the crib. He kissed her cheek, then Emma held Bunny out for a kiss. When Gavin accommodated with a loudsmack, Emma giggled.

Gavin peered at Laurel, his eyes asking “What now?”

“Time to change your diaper,” Laurel said, “and then we’ll have breakfast, okay?”

“Gabin do.”

Laurel’s gaze met Gavin’s. “You heard the girl.”

Gavin laid Emma on the changing table while Laurel grabbed a Pull-Ups from the shelf. Emma played with Bunny while he changed her.

“We might as well get her out of her jammies.” Laurel withdrew a pair of shorts and matching shirt from a drawer and set it on the table. She leaned against the wall and watched him change the child with the competence of a man who’d done it many times before.

Watching him now, Laurel could almost imagine the clock had rolled back five years and he was changing Jesse. Once he’d gotten past the fear he’d somehow break the newborn, he didn’t seem to mind the less glamorous side of childcare. When he’d been around to do it.

She watched those nimble hands working now and noticed a slight tremble. Was Gavin thinking of their son too? Or was he just nervous about facing Emma’s questions?

“All right, Emma Bear. All clean.” Gavin picked her up.

As they left the room Laurel flipped off the light and followed them downstairs. Sunny led the way, her fluffy tail swishing back and forth.

The question came as they entered the empty living room.

Emma peered at Gavin with wide, innocent eyes. “Mama? Dada?”

He stopped in his tracks.

Laurel’s gaze flickered to Gavin, just long enough to see the panic crouching in his eyes. “Let’s sit down a minute, sweetie.”

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