Lost Love (Cowboys & Angels 1)

The doorbell rang. Clearing the frog from my throat, I stated, “That would be my second surprise.”

Peeking at Paxton, she winked.

“Who…who is it, Daddy?” Chloe asked, wiping the snot from her nose on her shirt.

I held up my finger and said, “Hold on. Everyone hold that thought!”

Rushing out of the formal dining room, I opened the front door. I put my finger to my mouth, but my sister Waylynn tackle-hugged me.

“I’ve missed you so much,” she said against my neck.

Squeezing her tight, I picked her up and spun her before putting her back down. “I’ve missed you. Come on. Mom is going to freak the fuck out.”

With her hand in mine, I led her to the dining room. “Look who I found at the door.”

Everyone turned and shocked expressions spread over their faces, except for Paxton’s. She’d been in on the plan to get Waylynn here.

My mother stood. She covered her mouth and shook her head.

Next to stand was my father. “Waylynn?” he said with his voice shaking.

“Fucking hell! You’re home!” Amelia cried out as she ran up and threw herself at Waylynn.

Chloe finally realized it was Waylynn and jumped off the chair and rushed over. I stepped back and let everyone take their turn giving our oldest sibling a welcome home hug and kiss.

Making my way to Paxton, she grinned. “When something amazing happens, I say it’s the best day of my life. At this rate, I’m going to have hundreds of best days!”

“I had no idea Chloe was going to break down like that.”

Paxton looked at me warmly. “It was beautiful. Raw and real. I don’t think I’ve ever been so moved.”

Leaning in, I whispered, “Wait until she finds out about the baby!”

I walked around the classroom and glanced at all the pictures the kids were coloring. The assignment was to draw one of their Christmas wishes. I was supposed to call it “winter break,” but I couldn’t bring myself to be politically correct right now. I was too happy.

As I strolled through the classroom I smiled. If Christmas break was anything like Thanksgiving break, there would be lots of laughter and a few tears of joy.

Waylynn had stayed only two days, much to her family’s disappointment. She needed to return back to New York to be with her husband for some charity event that Saturday night. Waylynn, Chloe, Amelia, and I all spent Friday in San Antonio. Shopping and getting our nails and toes done. It had been a blast, and Chloe had fallen in love with her Aunt Waylynn, but there was something in Waylynn’s eyes, the false smile she wore, that had me talking to Steed about it. She didn’t seem happy and even Amelia had noticed it.

One of the kids coughing pulled me from my thoughts.

Stopping at Timmy’s desk, I glanced at his drawing and attempted to keep my chuckle in. It was a picture of him holding Chloe’s hand. My heart warmed. Poor kid. He had no clue Steed would never let that wish come true.

I had to cover my mouth to keep from laughing at what he was going to do when I told him about this.

Walking around the room, I stopped and glanced over Chloe’s shoulder. She was deep in thought as her crayon moved over the paper. It was a picture of an open field. The ranch, I was guessing.

Chloe was on a horse with a huge smile on her face and Steed and I were off to the side. My breath caught in my throat. She had drawn me with a bigger belly and Steed’s hand over the small round bump. My belly was colored half pink and half blue. I took a few steps back before I regained my composure.

There is no way she knows.

Steed and I hadn’t told anyone I was pregnant. Except for Amelia, Cord, and our mothers. And we hadn’t actually told our mothers officially. No one else knew. On Christmas day we were going to make the announcement.

I took another step and peeked at the drawing. Yep, I looked pregnant in it. Why was it half pink and half blue? Then it hit me.

Oh. Lord. She was hoping for twins.

Twins.

I spun around and tried to keep my body from shaking. Why hadn’t I thought about twins? My breathing picked up and I closed my eyes.

Deep breath in. Deep breath out. In. Out.

Twins? Oh, Lord.

“Ms. Monroe, are you okay?”

Snapping my eyes open, I looked at little Ricky. “Um…yes. I’m fine.”

My classroom phone started to ring. I made my way over to it and pushed the thought of twins far from my mind. Very far.

“This is kinder!” I said with a cheerful voice.

“Um…Paxton, I’m sending Mrs. Haas to your classroom. I need you to come down to the office.”

Mrs. Haas, the vice principal? That couldn’t be good.