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And his motherin-law never outstayed her welcome—not that they ever wanted to run her off. She always breezed in and visited for a day or two and then left again before it could begin feeling like too much. Sometimes, he literally wanted her to stay longer because he got so much more alone time with Janet when her mother was there to help with the kids.
But of course, that was selfish on his part.
On this particular visit, she’d already been on the ranch for two days and he knew she was about to pack and leave, probably the next morning.
It was getting late, the kids were already in bed and he’d been working outside in the barn’s office, trying to give the women a little time to visit without him or the kids to distract or interrupt.
Now, as he walked through from the kitchen, he heard their voices from the living room and the conversation made him stop short. “Have you heard anything from them at all?” Barbara Cullman asked his wife.
“No. Not a word,” Janet said.
“Do you worry about them?” her mom asked in such a concerned tone that he frowned, trying to figure out what he was hearing.
“I don’t have time to worry about them,” he heard Janet say.
“Hannah’s birthday is so close, I feel like it could be a trigger for them. People get sentimental, sweetie. They lost their only child and the anniversary of his death could push them off the deep end. They might want Hannah. I don’t trust them,” Barbara continued, making Jeff’s heart damn near stop as he listened, realizing in that moment they were talking about Hannah’s other grandparents. “Trying to buy Hannah like that, because that’s exactly what they were doing, Janet. Don’t you think otherwise.”
Buy Hannah? What the fuck? Somebody wanted to buy his kid? Stand down, McIntyre. Get a grip and keep your ears open.
“Mom, I know. They’re horrible people. But seriously, I’m not worried about it anymore and neither should you.”
“Have you told Jeff?” her mother asked.
“No, I’ve never mentioned it.”
“Well, it’s not like he’s ever going to ask a question like that. So don’t you think he should know?” the older woman asked.
Yeah. He knew there was a reason he liked Janet’s mom. Woman had a damn sound mind.
“It’s kind of late to tell him now,” Janet answered.
“You could have done it when y’all got married.”
“No—no way. I wasn’t prepared to spill all my dirty laundry.”
Dirty laundry? Fuck, this just kept getting better and better. His fucking head was about to split in two. And how the hell was he restraining himself from walking in there and making a scene, demanding to know what the hell they were talking about?
“Why don’t you tell him now?”
There was silence for a moment while Jeff imagined Janet thinking about it.
“Why are you so worried about it, Mom?”
“Because they’re evil, conniving people. And they’re richer than sin. And I think you should tell your husband.”
“I haven’t heard from them since Hannah was born. They wouldn’t dare try anything now—it’s been too long.”
“What if they start feeling guilty? What if one of them dies and the other is left alone and decides they need a grandchild?”
Fuck.
“Mom, I’m not going to live my life worrying about this. I don’t think this is something Jeff needs to worry about, he has so much on his plate as it is. But if it makes you feel better, I promise that I’ll tell him if I hear from them again.”
“Dear Lord, you’d better, child. I’m sorry, but I can’t help but be worried,” Barbara said.
“Well, if it makes you feel better, think about this. If they tried again, you don’t seriously think Jeff would stand by and let it happen, do you? He’s my husband. He’s Hannah’s father. He loves her. And he’s rich as well—richer than they are, so he could take them on. I swear to you, he would never let anybody take Hannah away from us. I promise you that. He loves her. Just like he loves Zach.”
“Whatever you say, sweetie. I know he loves her and that’s why I think he should know. I believe he has the right to know, but I’m going to mind my own business now. I just wanted you to know where I stand on the matter.”
“Yes, I do, I know where you stand,” his wife replied with a delicate snort of laughter. “I get it! You think Jeff is the greatest thing since sliced bread and that he can slay all my dragons.”
Barbara laughed in return. “Yep. That’s it in a nutshell. I can’t deny it. I adore that man and his son. You did good, boo.”
****
As the women’s conversation turned to more mundane matters, Jeff had no fucking clue how he managed to hold his tongue. Slipping into his study, he shut the door and immediately opened a bottle of Crown. He didn’t drink often, but what he’d heard pissed him off to such a degree that he felt like he wanted to commit murder.
And it wasn’t Janet he was angry with. Hell no. Even though she hadn’t confided in him, every damn thing she’d said to her mother had only made him feel good. Yes, he loved Hannah as his own and would do anything for her and he was so glad that his wife recognized that fact. He’d never let anything happen to Hannah and Janet knew that. He wasn’t completely thrilled that she wasn’t telling him everything, but whatever, he supposed he understood—she’d said she didn’t want to worry him needlessly.
But there was no question that he was pissed at the people who’d tried to buy their baby. How the hell could you even justify something like that? And where the hell were these people now?
He didn’t want to wake up the entire household and he knew that he couldn’t go to their room until Janet was asleep, to avoid having this discussion this night. Even though he wasn’t angry with her, he wanted answers, he was going to get answers, and he was afraid that their discussion might get loud. No, he had to wait until the next day.
He’d have to ask Barbara to watch Hannah for a while before she left for Shreveport. She’d do it for him, no question. After Zach went to school, that was his answer. He needed Janet alone where he could have her undivided attention. He needed to say his piece and she was damn well going to listen.
****
The next morning, after the school bus left and Janet was tidying up the kitchen, Jeff paced into the room. Janet smiled at him, wondering what had kept him in his study so late the night before. “What time did you finally come to bed?”
“Late. Past midnight, I think.”
“Is something wrong?” she asked, noticing his tension.
“You could say that,” he replied in such an abrupt way that she got a bad feeling in her stomach—he was never short with her anymore, and hadn’t been for a long, long time.
“I’ve already spoken to your mom. She’s going to watch Hannah while you and I take a drive.”
She swallowed hard. There was no question that he was upset, and the way he was looking at her was making her feel horrible. She hated it when they argued. They so rarely argued. What had she done?
And then, as if it crystalized in her mind, she figured it out in a flash.
He knew. She didn’t think her mother would have told him, so he must have overheard their conversation the night before. And that’s why he’d stayed in his study, because he was pissed. Shit.
“Are you mad at me?”
“No, but we’re not doing this here. Come on. We’re going for a drive and I’m ready now.”
She knew Jeff when he was in this mood and there wasn’t anything she could do to calm him down except to follow him. So she did.
She walked outside with him and as he held the door, she climbed into the truck. Within minutes, he’d eased out of the driveway and driven a couple of miles onto a part of the property that was lush with greenery, dotted with Angus cattle, a beautiful scene, no question.
But her stomach was tied in knots and she couldn’t appreciate the scenery.
