Love Again (Cowboys & Angels 4)

“Wanda and Mick called. They were contacted by a friend of theirs. He is trying to set up a private adoption and asked if they knew anyone who would be willing to adopt the baby, as well as pay for the delivery. The girl is only twenty, and she is not going to be able to provide for the baby. The father has given up all rights and wants nothing to do with her or the baby.”

I sucked in a breath. “That poor thing.”

“She didn’t want to go through an adoption agency because she’s due in the next few weeks. She thought she would be able to manage the money, but when she got the call from the hospital and they told her how much the delivery was, she knew it was beyond her means.”

Jonathon closed his eyes before looking at me and then Amelia. “So, you mean this poor girl is giving up her child because she can’t afford to pay for the delivery?”

“Among other things. She’s trying to get through college and she has no support at home. Her parents aren’t in the picture. She loves the baby and feels like in order to give her a better chance at life, she needs to let her go.”

I covered my mouth, tears pooling. I blinked several times to keep them at bay.

“It’s a girl?” Jonathon asked.

“Oh, she doesn’t know. She calls the baby ‘she’ but she hasn’t found out the sex yet.”

Spinning around, I pushed the door to the truck open and got out. I started to pace, and before I knew it, Jonathon was standing in front of me, gripping my arms.

“Talk to me, baby.”

Lifting my head, I captured his gaze with mine.

Amelia went on. “I know this is soon after everything happened, but Wanda said when their friend called, she told him she thought she knew a couple who might be interested. Strings will have to be pulled to get the adoption to go through fast, but Mick said they could make it work.”

“Waylynn, please. Say something.”

My head should have been spinning. My heart should have been aching, but instead, I was making plans in my head to prepare for a baby. Which was insane. The girl might not even like us. Jonathon probably wasn’t ready for this step yet.

“Do you want this? Now? I mean, we’re not even married, and we’d have to put a few things on hold, like the wedding and the honeymoon. I mean, this might not even work, and we could have our hearts broken if things didn’t work out.”

Cupping my face in his hands, he looked deep into my eyes. “I’m ready. The question is…are you ready to take this leap with the knowledge that it might not work in our favor?”

A tear slipped from behind my lashes as I nodded. “I want to try. If it doesn’t work out, we keep moving on. Our situation would be no different than it is right now if it falls through. It’s just part of the journey.”

His lips pressed against mine.

“Umm…not to interrupt this amazing moment, but Wanda is waiting to hear back from us, and I need a cell phone.”

Jonathon broke our kiss and handed Amelia his phone. “Shit! Yes. Call her back.”

Amelia took the phone and stared at it.

“Meli, what’s wrong?”

Chewing on her lip, she looked over at us. “I don’t remember their number. It was programmed into my phone.”

“The goat ate your phone,” I groaned and pushed her toward Jonathon’s truck. “We need to get to Wade. Where is he, anyway?”

“Chasing Patches. I told him I had to leave and come find you.”

We piled into the truck, and Jonathon started down the driveway driving like a bat out of hell. “Jonathon, why don’t you have Wade’s number?” Amelia shouted.

“That’s my work phone! My regular cell is at my house. I forgot it.”

“Christ Almighty! Who forgets their phone!” Amelia cried out as she tried to remember Wade’s number.

“Wait, you don’t know your own husband’s phone number?” I asked.

“No! Do you know Jonathon’s?”

“Of course, I do.”

“Screw you, Waylynn. He’s in my favorites and I just tell Siri to call him!”

Jonathon snapped his fingers. “Cord! Call Cord, he’s on that phone.”

“Oh! Good!” Amelia said as she looked for Cord’s number. “Found it!”

Punching Jonathon on the arm, I yelled, “Go faster!”

“I’m trying! Do you not see all the cows up ahead?”

“Answer, damn it! Answer!” Amelia shouted.

“Why are we freaking out?” Jonathon asked. “Surely they understand we would need a bit of time to think about this?”

“I want that baby, Jonathon Turner!” Amelia shouted. “I mean, I want that baby for y’all.”

Jonathon looked at me with wide eyes, and I couldn’t help but giggle.

“Cord!” Amelia shouted. “Find Wade! I need to talk to him. No, I don’t care that he and Daddy are setting up a game. I need to talk to him now!”