“She didn’t know your ma would take so long,” Austin explained. “And Aunt Loree looks mighty tired to me.”
“We could play Go Fish,” Maggie suggested.
“It’s a little late to go fishing,” Austin said.
Maggie laughed. “You’re so silly, Uncle Austin. It’s a game.”
Loree sat in the rocking chair, watching her husband play a card game with his nieces. They sat in a circle, drawing cards, laying down cards. She suspected he was cheating because tiny A. J. who sat in his lap while he held her cards, as well as his own, was winning several hands while Austin was repeatedly ending up with no cards to his credit. It was a strange moment to come to the realization that she had fallen in love with him.
Her father had cheated as well—but it was always to his benefit … and she had yet to see Austin do anything that put him ahead at anyone else’s expense.
As night wore on, he carried each sleeping girl to the bed. Near midnight, a knock finally sounded on the door. Looking exhausted Houston stepped into the house.
“It’s a girl. Gracie.”
“How’s Amelia?” Austin asked.
“She had a hard time of it. Dr. Freeman says this will probably be the last one. Let me gather up the girls—”
“Why don’t you let them stay?” Loree said quietly. “They’re already asleep. I’ll bring them over in the morning.”
“If you’re sure?”
“We’re sure.”
“If Maggie turns up the lamp after you’ve gone to sleep, will you ignore it? I know she slipped into the house and got her journal earlier. She likes to write in it after everyone else is asleep. We’re not supposed to know.”
Austin patted his brother’s shoulder. “Go on. You look like you’re ready to collapse.”
Houston walked out the door. Austin turned to Loree. “Lie with me by the fire for a little while.”
He stretched out on the sofa, and she curled against his side, watching the flames dance within the hearth.
“I’m almost out of sugar,” Loree said quietly.
“I’ll pick up another ten pounds tomorrow.”
“I’m not that bad,” she said, knowing he was teasing her.
“You’re not bad at all.”
Silence wove around them. Reaching down, Austin splayed his fingers over her swollen stomach. “You’re tinier than Amelia.”
“My mother was tiny. She didn’t have any problems.”
“Dallas wanted to be a father. Houston wanted to be a father. It’s not that I don’t want to be a father, but the thought of this little fella coming into the world scares the hell out of me.”
“Scares me, too,” she admitted.
He wrapped his hand around hers. “I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life, Loree. I want you to know that I don’t consider this child to be one of them.”
She met his gaze, the love she held for him deepening. “I never thought that you did.”
Chapter 13
Austin stood against the wall in Dallas’s dining area and watched the bustling activity with interest. Christmas had always been his favorite time of year.
Beside him, Loree jostled Gracie. Six weeks had passed since her birth, and it was evident that Houston had finally fathered a daughter who resembled him, with black hair and dark eyes. Austin enjoyed watching Loree care for the children.
