“True,” she said. “My father can be a little remote sometimes, but he’s as solid as they come. After I had Piper, both my parents insisted I come back here to live with them.” A slice of guilt cut through her. “I just wish I could give Piper what I had growing up.” She felt the surprising threat of moisture in her eyes and blinked furiously. “It just wasn’t meant to be.”
Colton squeezed her arm. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. From where I sit, it looks as if you’re doing a dang good job. That baby is surrounded by people who love her. That’s more than a lot of kids can say.”
The tight feeling in her chest eased just a little from his words of encouragement. “Thanks. I have my share of doubts.”
“Well, stop your doubting. You’ve got a healthy baby, and she’s doing great,” he said. “Besides that, you’ve got a slice of Olive Foster’s famous apple pie in your future tonight.”
“The only way I’ll get a slice is if I hide it until after the meal,” she said.
“Well, that’s a no-brainer,” he said, and leaned toward her in a way that seemed much sexier than it should. “Hide the pie. Indulge yourself.”
Stacey’s heart raced at Colton’s instruction. A naughty image of how she could indulge herself with Colton raced through her mind, but she immediately slammed the door on her thoughts. After all, the last time she’d indulged herself she’d gotten pregnant.
“I’m sorry I can’t go with you,” Rachel said to Stacey on her cell phone. “My friend Abby called me at the last minute to babysit, and it’s her anniversary.”
“I understand. You and I can catch up later,” Stacey said, even though she dreaded attending Ella Mae Jergen’s baby shower. Ella Mae was married to a hotshot surgeon, and the couple owned houses in both Lubbock and in the next town past Horseback Hollow. Ella Mae was pregnant with her first baby. The shower was a big deal for Horseback Hollow because Ella Mae had been born and raised there and her parents still lived in town. The shower was being held in the Jergen’s mansion in the next town. Stacey couldn’t help feeling intimidated.
Ella Mae, however, had been supportive of Stacey and had attended the shower for Piper, so Stacey was determined to return the favor.
“What’s wrong?” her mother asked as Stacey put a pot of beans on for dinner while she held Piper on her hip.
“Nothing,” Stacey said.
“Doesn’t sound like nothing to me,” Jeanne said, and put a lid on the beans. “Let me hold my grandbaby.”
All Stacey had to do was lean toward her mother, and Piper extended her chubby little arms to her Gabby. Stacey checked the chicken and vegetables. “Looking good,” she murmured.
“You don’t have to cook every night,” her mother said as she clucked over Piper.
“I’m not contributing to the household with green stuff, so I want to contribute in other ways,” Stacey said.
“I don’t want you overdoing it,” her mother said.
“I’m not. I’m young and healthy,” she said.
“That sounds like something I said when I was younger,” her mother said. “You still didn’t answer my question about your conversation with Rachel.”
Stacey sighed. “Ella Mae’s baby shower is tonight.”
A brief silence followed.
“Oh,” her mother said, because she knew that the Jergens were wealthy and anything they did had to be, oh, so perfect. “Do you want me to go with you?”
Her mother’s offer was so sweet that it brought tears to her eyes. Stacey put down her spoon and went to her mother to hug her. “You’re the best mother in the world. You know that, don’t you?”
Jeanne gave Stacey a big squeeze, then pulled back with a soft chuckle. “What makes you say that?”
“Because you always do the right thing. I wonder if I can do half as many right things as you have,” Stacey said, looking into her mother’s eyes and wishing that just by looking, she could receive all of her mother’s wisdom.
Her mother slid her hand around Stacey’s shoulders and gave her another squeeze. “You’re already doing the right thing. Look at this gorgeous, healthy baby. You’re a wonderful mother.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Stacey said, feeling as if she’d just received the highest praise possible.
“You don’t have to go to Ella Mae’s baby shower. Just drop off a gift,” her mother said.
“No,” Stacey said with a firm shake of her head. “She came to my shower. I should go to hers.”
Jeanne pressed her lips together. “If you’re sure...”
“I am,” Stacey said. “And you already said you don’t mind watching Piper. Right?”
“Not at all,” her mother said. “You don’t ask me often enough. I love my little Piper girl.”
Stacey’s heart swelled with emotion. “I’m so blessed,” she said.
“Yes, you are,” her mother said. “Now go get ready for Ella Mae’s shower. You hold your head high. Don’t forget it. You’ve done the right thing, and you’re a good mother. Just make sure you’re the second one out the door.”
Stacey looked at her mother in confusion. “Second one out the door?”
“I never told you this before, but if you ever go to a party that you don’t want to attend, then you can be the second one to leave. You don’t want to be the first, but being the second is fine,” her mother said.
Another word of wisdom Stacey swore to remember. “I’ll be watching for who leaves first.”
“And if anyone starts making insinuating comments about Joe, then pull out Piper’s baby pictures. That should shut them up right away.”
Stacey smiled at her mother. “Thanks, Mom.”
Stacey raced to her room to pull on a black dress and boots. She put on some lip gloss and concealer, then threw on a colorful scarf and her peacoat.
“See you later, Mom,” she called, then headed for her Toyota. Thank goodness snow and sleet had stayed away from Horseback Hollow during the past week. She started her car and got to the end of the driveway before she realized she had forgotten the gift for Ella Mae’s baby.
Stacey backtracked and collected the gift, then returned to her trusty car. She headed out of Horseback Hollow toward the next town, then took several turns down several back roads until she reached the gated driveway for Ella Mae’s house. The gate lifted to allow her entrance, and Stacey rode down the paved drive to the front of the Jergen mansion. The windows of the house were lit, and the front door was open. Stacey knew what she would find inside. A crystal chandelier and exquisite high-profile designer furniture and decor.
Stacey was accustomed to homemade decorations and freshly painted rooms. Mama Jeanne decorated her home with family photos and mementos. The Joneses’ home was warm and welcoming, but furniture had been chosen for durability, not how pretty it was.
A man approached Stacey as she paused in the driveway. “May I park your car, ma’am?”
Stacey blinked. “Excuse me?”
“Yes, ma’am. I’m the valet for the evening,” he said.
Stacey blinked again. Heaven help her. Valet? Don’t fight it, she told herself. Let him park the car. She would have to park her own all the nights thereafter, and that was okay.
Stacey