Deb Kastner - The Cowboy's Forever Family

Laney heard another thud in the waiting room and Delia excused herself to go investigate. Moments later, Slade appeared in the doorway, his hat clutched in his hand.

“Is everything all right? You’re okay? The kid’s doing well?”

If he hadn’t sounded so sincere—worried, even—Laney would have rolled her eyes. As it was, she reluctantly answered his question. “I’m fine. We’re fine.”

To Laney’s surprise, he sagged in relief. As if he really cared.

“Did you think there’d be a problem?”

He shook his head and then, as if changing his mind, he shrugged. “Maybe. Didn’t know all the particulars. Just wanted to get you checked out.”

“Well, consider me checked. Baby is good to go.” When Slade’s eyes widened, she added, “But not for two months yet.”

He smiled. It was the first time she’d ever seen him smile—at least the genuine article and not the catching-the-eye-of-the-ladies grin he usually sported. Twin dimples carved deeply into his cheeks. On any other guy the dimples would have made him look boyish, but Slade was all man. Which, to Laney, at least, was one of his biggest shortcomings—among many.

“What were you doing that made so much noise out there?”

He shook his head. “Just pacing. The waiting room is too small for comfort.”

Or he was too large.

“He’s kicking right now,” she said, laying a hand against the rib Baby Beckett was currently using as soccer practice and wondering if she should even make this small concession. She suspected Brody would have wanted it, which was the only reason she continued. “Would you like to feel?”

“It’s a boy?”

“Oh, no. I mean, I don’t actually know—I’ve chosen not to find out the gender until I give birth. Saying he/she every time I refer to the baby is getting to be too much of a tongue twister. I should probably just stick with Baby Beckett. It’s easier to say.”

“Yeah,” Slade agreed, his voice unusually deep and thick. “You know Brody wouldn’t have cared if Baby Beckett was a boy or a girl. He would have loved the baby just the same, no matter what.”

“He would have been a good father.” Her throat clogged with emotion. Their eyes met, and just for a moment they mutually shared the one thing they had in common.

Grief.

“The best.” The corner of Slade’s mouth ticked, a tell Laney now recognized as reaction to stress.

“Come here,” she urged, holding out her hands.

He looked reticent, almost shy, as he stepped forward and offered her his hand.

She laid his palm where the baby was moving and the child responded with a swift kick, then another.

Slade’s brilliant blue eyes filled with wonder. “Well, I’ll be.”

“Amazing, right?”

“Amazing doesn’t even begin to cover it.” He shook his head. “It’s hard to believe Brody’s kid is in there, just waiting to come out and say, ‘Hey.’”

Laney chuckled. “I’m not sure that’s the first thing Baby Beckett will say. You never know, though. Could be.”

One side of his mouth kicked up. “Close enough. Two months, huh?”

“More or less. You do know babies don’t necessarily come right on their due dates, right?” She had a clear mental picture of Slade hustling her off to the hospital just because the calendar said the time was right. That was just exactly the sort of thing he would do, exasperating man.

“On their own time, huh?”

“And in their own way. Each baby is different. Their own little person, with a unique personality. One of God’s greatest blessings.”

She half expected Slade to scoff at her for her beliefs, but he nodded fervently and curled the brim of his hat in his fist. “The very best of them. Especially this one.”

“I wish Brody was here.”

Slade’s gaze clouded with pain. He might not be the nicest of men, but there was no doubt he’d cared for Brody.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t keep bringing that up.” She couldn’t believe she was apologizing to him, but she couldn’t seem to help herself.

“No. You’re right. Of course Brody should be here.” He turned away from her and punched at the air. “He should be here. Not me.”

What did that even mean? She understood the sentiment but not the anger.

“I’m sure we’ll both do our best to honor Brody’s memory.”

Slade turned back and shoved out a breath. “For Brody. We’ll give the baby the best of everything. Enroll him in football. Baseball.”

“Ballet lessons,” Laney added with a chuckle, feeling a crazy mixture of joy and sorrow. Grief was impossible to understand.

Slade looked surprised, but then he nodded. “Right. If it’s a girl. No way are we enrolling any boy of Brody’s in dance class.”

She didn’t know why they were discussing what they would do for Baby Beckett as if these were decisions the two of them would make together. Slade sounded awfully determined to be a part of her child’s life.

“Maybe he’ll want to take dance.”

Slade scoffed. “Let’s hope not. Of course, you do realize Brody would have taught his little girls how to throw a football, not to mention rope and ride every bit as well as his sons.”

Laney chuckled. “I’d expect no less from him. I’ll be spending the rest of my life in Serendipity. I would hope if Baby Beckett is a girl she’ll know her way around the ranch.”

“I could do it.” Slade’s statement was made so low she could barely understand the words.

“I beg your pardon?”

“Roping and riding. I could teach the kid how to do that stuff. Boy or girl. Either way. If you wanted me to, I mean.”

That was probably the nicest thing Laney had ever heard Slade say. He’d actually asked. Kind of. Or maybe her emotions were overwhelming her. Either way, her answer was the same. It had to be. “I’d like that, and I’m sure Baby Beckett will, as well.”

“Good, then. It’s settled.” His nod was no more than a quick jerk of his chin, his jaw tight and his lips pressed together.

Great. So she’d just sealed the deal. Slade was going to be a part of her child’s life for an extended period of time. Maybe always. Which by default meant she’d have to interact with him, as well. How had this conversation gotten so turned around?

“Brody had planned to reconcile with you, you know. Right after the rodeo was finished.”

Laney was so startled by the statement she gripped a nearby table for support. She was afraid she’d heard Slade wrong, but when she met his gaze, she knew he’d said just what she’d heard, and for whatever reason was sharing it with her now.

Brody had planned to come home to her.

And then that chance had been taken away from them both.

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