Lilac Wedding in Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad

Author:Janet Tronstad [Tronstad, Janet]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2011-11-05T13:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Jake stepped into the kitchen and saw that his mother had filled the dog’s dish with water and given it to Lara. He wished he had a camera so he could take a picture of the two of them with their heads together, one with her black hair pulled back and the other with golden curls falling all over her neck and shoulders.

“Just put it outside by the door,” his mother instructed the little girl as she helped her put her hands far enough under the bowl so she could carry it. “And don’t worry about spilling some. It’s only water and that’s what I have a mop for. Just take your time. Walk slow and you can do it. It’s the first step in learning how to take care of a pet.”

Lara let out an impatient sigh. “I need a doggie like Honey.”

“I know you do,” his mother assured her as she patted the top of the girl’s head.

“Don’t let Cat hear you say that,” Jake cautioned with a grin as he walked farther into the room. Lara had already spilled a drop or two on the linoleum floor. “There’s no pets allowed in their apartment in Minneapolis.”

At his words, his mother straightened up and faced him. “A child needs something to love.”

Lara interrupted her slow journey to the door by turning to beam at his mother.

“I need a doggie,” she agreed, before continuing on her way.

His mother waited for Lara to go through the door before saying anything, but he could tell by her indignant stance that the words were forming in her mind while her lips were pressed together.

“That is one precious child,” his mother said finally, her voice low and intense. “I just met her and I already feel like I’ve known her forever. You can’t be sending her and her mother back to that place.”

He wasn’t sure if it was a question or a command.

And then his mother added, “Not when Cat might be pregnant.”

“She says she isn’t, Mom,” Jake answered. He needed to put that hope to rest. “She’s not expecting.”

“I know a fainting woman when I see one,” his mother retorted as she leaned forward on her cane. “She might not have taken a test yet, but—”

Jake shook his head as he walked over to the sink. “She says she hasn’t been with anyone. And now that she’s so much into God and prayer, I believe her. Well, I would believe her anyway. Cat has never lied to me.”

“Oh.” His mother’s shoulders slumped at little. “I know it’s not right when two people aren’t married, but I guess I was just hoping that you and she—well, a woman can’t be blamed for wanting her sons to have babies she can spoil.”

Jake didn’t trust himself to answer that. His mother had a granddaughter; she just didn’t know it.

“I better get some water for Cat,” he said instead as he reached up to grab a glass and started filling it from the tap.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.