He removed his hand from hers and draped an arm around her shoulders. “It’s all been a bit of a shock. I’ll admit that, but darlin’, I’m ready. She’s part of the bargain if we’re going to get involved, and besides, I already love that kid. I didn’t realize how much until tonight. Hearing her say that she was glad I was her father—I can’t begin to tell you how that made me feel.”
Addy laid her head on his shoulder. “I’m glad we told her tonight, but I think we were talking about us when she barged in and scared the hell out of me with that news of a pregnancy test.”
“We could have been discussing dinosaurs or ice cream for all I remember,” Jesse admitted. “I feel like we just jumped over a hurdle, but we haven’t landed on solid ground yet.”
“Me, too,” Addy agreed. “I need to talk about something unrelated to drama.”
“With our background, we’re not drama?” Jesse made lazy circles with his thumb on the soft spot on her neck.
“What’s between us is nothing compared to everything we’ve been through. Do you think we should get in to breakfast earlier than usual and tell Sonny and Pearl that she knows?” The adrenaline was leaving Addy’s body. That combined with Jesse’s gentle touch on her neck made her drowsy. “I can’t believe that I’m sleepy.”
“No, we don’t need to get up that early,” Jesse said. “We’ll tell them at breakfast if she hasn’t already, and, honey, we’re both worn out emotionally.”
One minute, Addy was resting her eyes, the next her face was warm from the sun pouring in from what she figured was her bedroom window. Her eyes snapped open when she realized that she’d overslept. That’s when she realized that Jesse was spooned up against her back and his arm was slung around her to keep her from falling off the swing.
“Good Lord!” She moved her arm and sat up so fast, she got dizzy. “It’s daylight and—”
“Good morning, beautiful,” he said. “I slept better than I have in years. How about you?”
“Yes, but we’ve got to go inside, and I hear rattling in the kitchen, so the folks are already up,” she answered.
“Don’t be in such a rush. Mama and Dad already know we have a daughter together. We just slept in the swing. It isn’t a big deal.” He sat up and stretched.
“It’s a big deal this morning. We should have been there when Mia came out of her room”—she tapped her phone, which was lying on the porch—“it’s seven thirty. She will have been up for an hour.”
“Betcha five bucks we have to knock on her door and wake her.” Jesse headed across the porch with her right behind him.
“You look like you slept in your clothes,” he teased.
“That’s because I did,” she responded. “At least if anyone sees me, they’ll know we weren’t in here getting naked.”
“We can remedy that anytime you want.” He winked.
“Slow down, cowboy.” She went into the house when he opened the door for her. “Remember, we decided to take it slow.”
“I can go slow, or I can go fast.” His eyes twinkled as he took her hand in his and led her to the kitchen.
Sonny looked up from his coffee. “Good mornin’. Y’all already been out feedin’ the alpacas and checkin’ cattle?”
“No, we both fell asleep on the porch swing last night,” Addy answered.
Pearl raised an eyebrow, but before she could respond, Mia padded barefoot into the kitchen. “Good mornin’. Blueberry muffins! My favorite breakfast.” She went to the refrigerator and brought out the milk, poured a glassful, and carried it to the table. “I guess we should talk about things, right?”
“What things?” Sonny asked.
“That I’m your real granddaughter, that I was afraid I was pregnant but I’m not, that I’ve been a real brat, and that I still don’t know how to feel about Jesse being my father.” She slathered butter on a muffin as she talked. “But Poppa, you should say grace before we talk about anything at all.”
Pearl looked like she’d just won the lottery. Sucking on a lemon couldn’t have erased the grin on Sonny’s face. Jesse laid his hand over Addy’s and gave it a gentle squeeze.
Mia had sure enough put all the information in a nutshell, and, suddenly, it didn’t seem as much of a crisis as it did the night before.
Sonny bowed his head and thanked God for the food, the hands that prepared it, and asked for strength for the day’s battles. When he opened his eyes, he focused on Mia, who was busy taking the first bite of her muffin. “Okay, Mia, what on earth is going on?”
“All right. Last night, Mama and Jesse told me that he is my father.”
Sonny looked like he was trying to hide a smile. “And how did you feel about that?”
“To be honest, I’m still in shock. I couldn’t get to sleep for hours last night, and I still don’t know how to feel.” She looked at Jesse. “I’m sorry.”
“No need to be sorry,” he assured her. “It’s a lot to take in, and I know it will be an adjustment.”
“I am glad you didn’t marry some other woman, at least.” She took a bite of her muffin.
Addy was glad about that, too.
Mia took a sip of milk and looked to Pearl. “I’m also glad to know that you and Poppa are really my grandparents. You’ve always treated me like one of your own, but, somehow, it’s different to know it’s true.”
Pearl wiped tears away from her cheeks with the tail of her apron. “We had our suspicions that you might have been Jesse’s daughter, but we never wanted to say anything out of respect for your mother. And even if it hadn’t been true, you know you’re always part of our family.”
Addy struggled to hold back her own tears. Would things have been different if she’d told the Ryans sooner? Had she robbed them of time with their grandchild, times when Sonny was stronger and could have taken Mia out on the four-wheelers or hiking through the pastures?
Mia pushed back her chair and stood up. She hugged Sonny first and then Pearl. “I’m glad y’all are my real grandparents, and…” She stopped short of hugging Jesse. “And I’m glad that my father is here now and someone I can get to know.”
Addy glanced across the table and locked gazes with Jesse. His eyes were swimming with tears, but he blinked them away.
“Thank you for that much,” Jesse said. “We’ll work on that getting to know each other, starting this morning. After we clean the watering troughs, I thought we would unload a new trough in the pasture, fill it, and see how the alpacas do with a little more space to run and play.”
“What’s that got to do with getting to know someone?” Mia asked.
“Working together is the—” Jesse started.
“Best way to get to know a person for who they really are,” Addy finished for him.
“Seems like Nana told me that same thing.” Mia smiled. “Now, I have the right to call you that, don’t I? It’s really my right.”
“Yes, darlin’, it is,” Pearl answered.