Beverly Barton: Grace Under Fire

Looking back-which she seldom did these days-she thought about those weeks and months following her kidnapping and Booth Fortier's death. Jed and she had married a few weeks later and he'd been at her side, sharing his strength with her, during the dark days that followed. Governor Lew Miller had been impeached, arrested and found guilty of numerous crimes. It was doubtful he'd ever be released from prison. The crime syndicate in Louisiana had taken a nearly fatal blow, but even she knew that nothing would totally eradicate the Southern Mafia. What had been the most difficult for Grace was accepting the fact that Hudson Prentice had been an accomplice in Dean's and her father's murders. She had trusted him, believed him to be a true friend, and he had betrayed her in the worst way possible. He had written to her from prison, begging for forgiveness. She had burned his letters and never responded. Hudson, who had confessed everything, was serving a life sentence, as was Oliver Neville.

Grace watched Jed romping in the backyard with their sons. Their firstborn, five-year-old Byram was tall and lean, with his father's hazel-brown eyes and the same white-blond hair Grace had as a child. Dark-haired, three-year-old Lance squealed with boyish laughter as Jed scooped him up in his arms and sat him on his shoulders. He waved at his mother, his big blue eyes sparkling with mischief.

During the past six years, Grace had spent a great deal of time on maternity leave and whenever she returned to work-even part-time-Lois, their nanny, accompanied her to Sheffield Media, Inc. headquarters with both boys in tow. Byram would start kindergarten in the fall, but by that time, Elizabeth Ann would be spending a great deal of time with her mommy at work. Of course, Grace never could have managed juggling motherhood with her CEO responsibilities without Jed's support. After a year of training at her side, shortly before Byram was born, she had nominated Jed for the presidency of Sheffield Media, Inc. and the board had wholeheartedly and unanimously approved.

With Lance on his shoulders and Byram holding his hand, Jed marched Grace's men toward her, all three smiling as they approached.

"Daddy says we can make ice cream tonight," Byram said. "Can we, Mommy? Please, please, please."

"Please, Mommy," Lance added, not to be ignored.

Jed swung Lance around as he sat down in the wicker chair beside Grace, then planted his younger son in his lap. "Yeah, Mommy, we all want ice cream."

"Byram, go tell Nolan to get out the ice cream freezer," Grace told her elder son. "And ask Laverna to prepare the recipe for vanilla-" She paused when she noted Byram's frown. "Let's make that strawberry. I believe we have fresh berries, don't we?"

"Yea!" Byram jumped up and down. "Strawberry is my favorite!" He raced up the back veranda and inside through the kitchen door.

Jed leaned over and kissed Grace. Caught between them, Lance squirmed, then when they parted, he held out his arms to Grace, who grabbed him and hauled him over into her lap. His fat little hand patted her swollen stomach.

"Baby," Lance said.

"Baby sister," Grace replied and placed her hand over his.

With Byram at his side, Nolan brought out the old crank-style ice cream freezer and put it on the edge of the porch. "Go get your brother," Nolan said, "and you boys can help me bring out the ice and salt."

Lance scooted down off Grace's lap and ran to Nolan, who took the child's hand and headed back inside, with both boys in tow. He stopped in the doorway and said, "Miss Joy just telephoned. She's back from her shopping trip to New Orleans and said she's got a ton of baby clothes she wants to bring by. Wanted to know if tonight was all right."

"I'll phone her in a few minutes," Grace said.

Jed stood, held out his hands and lifted a rather awkward Grace to her feet, then he sat back down and pulled Grace onto his lap. "Have I told you today how much I love you and how happy I am being your husband?"

Grace draped her arm around his shoulders. He laid his open palm over her belly.

"That works both ways, you know. I love you. And I love being your wife."

"Who would have ever believed that you and I would be so perfect for each other?"

"We, my darling, were a match made in heaven. I've always believed that Daddy and Dean and Emma Lynn sent you to me." She kissed Jed. "I love you. You and the boys and this little girl-" Grace laid her hand over Jed's where it rested on her stomach "-are my life."

Jed cupped her chin in the valley between his thumb and forefinger. "It's all right, you know, that you still love Dean and Emma Lynn. Your loving them doesn't take anything away from me and our children. You have such a big heart that you have more than enough love for all of us."

Tears gathered in Grace's eyes. "Jed Tyree, see what you've done-you've made me cry." She laid her head on his shoulder and cuddled against him. "Have I told you lately what a wonderful man you are? The absolutely best husband and father in the world."

"Ah, Blondie…" Jed kissed her. Passionately.

A couple of minutes later, Byram and Lance came racing out of the house, then skidded to a halt beside the wicker chair.

"Shelby Lou Perkins, who's in my Sunday school class, says that's how babies get here," Byram said. "When mommies and daddies do all that kissing and hugging and stuff."

"We're getting a baby sister," Lance said proudly.

"Yeah, I know," Byram replied. "That's because our Mommy and Daddy do a lot of that stuff. I guess we're going to wind up with a whole bunch of baby brothers and sisters."

It was all Jed and Grace could do not to laugh out loud. With two little Mr. Know-it-alls, life was never dull at Belle Foret. As a matter of fact, Grace thought, life was just about perfect.

Born and bred southern belle Beverly Barton is the author of the New York Times and USA Today bestseller, The Fifth Victim, the USA Today The Last To Die, After Dark, As Good as Dead, Every Move She Makes, and What She Doesn't Know. She writes in the hottest segment of the genre-romantic suspense-for Kensington Publishing's Zebra Books imprint.