“There are as many for him as there are for Caden and Willow. I just want to spread them out over the weekend.”
“Aren’t you going to be here for Christmas?” Blythe looked as though she might cry.
“Of course I am,” answered Bree. “These are Thanksgiving presents.”
Tucker put his arm around Bree’s shoulders and kissed her cheek. “What are we going to do with you?”
“Let me be. Isn’t that what you told Blythe to do?”
“Can I put these in the truck?”
“Yes, please, and I’ve got a bag in the car. I’ll follow you out.”
Tucker held out his hand for her keys. “I’ve got it,” she heard him say as he walked out the back door and closed it behind him.
“I have news,” Blythe said when Bree turned back around.
“Yeah? What’s that?”
“Jace is coming.”
Bree took a deep breath. This wasn’t unexpected news. She was glad he was. She hated to think he might not spend Thanksgiving with his family. Especially if his not doing so had anything to do with her. That would’ve broken her heart.
“There’s more…”
Oh, no. Was he bringing someone with him? Why hadn’t she thought of that possibility? And she was here already; it wasn’t as though she could suddenly change her mind about going.
“I just thought you should know, since you’re going to be in the car with us for five hours, and we might have to stop a lot.”
“What?” She hadn’t been listening. What was Blythe talking about?
“It’s early, but I took a test this morning, and it’s official. I’m pregnant again.”
Bree let out a cry of glee and put her arms around her sister. “Oh, Blythe, that’s wonderful. I’m so happy for you. And for me—another baby to spoil!”
Bree looked away, hoping that, when she looked back, the look of pity on Blythe’s face would be gone. If this was her destiny, to be the world’s greatest aunt instead of a mother herself, so be it. No amount of pity would change the cards she was dealt.
14
Bree sat in Liv and Ben’s kitchen and looked out at the view of the ranch. Everyone had something to do but her. Until their mamas put them down for naps, Bree had had the babies to play with, but now that they were sleeping, she didn’t know what to do with herself.
Blythe was resting. The five-hour drive from Monument to Crested Butte wore her out. Tucker and Ben were out in the barn, tending to the livestock. She had no idea where Liv and Renie had disappeared to, and didn’t know when her parents were arriving.
She pulled her iPad out of her bag and opened an e-book, but she couldn’t focus enough to read. No one had said when Jace and his parents would be arriving, and she didn’t want to ask. The thought that they might be driving into the ranch at any moment was an inescapable distraction.
“There you are,” said Liv, joining her in the kitchen.
“Where was I supposed to be?”
“Nowhere. It was so quiet I thought maybe you were resting too.”
“No,” Bree answered wistfully. “I have more time to rest than you all do.”
“Be careful what you wish for,” Liv winked.
“Was I wishing for something?”
“Have you talked to Jace?”