Her Valentine Family by Renee Andrews

Author:Renee Andrews
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2011-03-25T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Chad’s mother was only forty-seven, but her hair had been solid white for as long as he could remember. In Chad’s mind, her premature gray occurred approximately the same year that his father had left them. However, though she’d often been exhausted and definitely stressed at trying to make ends meet on her own with two children, Mae Martin never complained. And she never let her children believe that there wasn’t anything they couldn’t accomplish.

She entered Chad’s house with her tan overnight bag draped across her shoulder and a red teddy bear in her hand. “Hey, sorry I’m late. They were putting out the Valentine’s display at work, and I wanted to get Lainey something.” She indicated the bear. “Isn’t it precious?”

The bear held a white heart with Too Cute embroidered across the center.

“Very precious, just like our little lady,” Chad said, holding the little lady and kissing her cheek. “Look what Grandma brought you, Lainey.”

Lainey’s smile stretched into her cheeks, and she reached out, not so much for the bear, but for her grandma. “Gamma.”

Chad’s mother dropped her overnight case on the couch and took Lainey. “How’s my little angel?”

“She’s great,” Chad said. “And she’s been pretty excited all afternoon. I told her you were coming to spend the night.”

Lainey accepted her teddy bear and snuggled her nose against his face. “Tank oo.”

“You’re welcome, darling,” his mother said. “I’m glad you asked me to stay here tonight. Lainey does seem to do better when she sleeps in her own bed, and I didn’t want you rushing to get home early to pick her up from my place. This way, if you and Jessica want to go to a late movie, you don’t have to worry.”

“I appreciate that, Mom.”

“No, I appreciate the chance to spend time with her.”

“I’ve got her dinner ready and was just about to put her in the high chair,” he said.

“I could’ve done that,” his mother said, frowning a bit.

“I know, but you’ve worked all day, and I didn’t want you to have to worry about cooking, either. I fixed enough for you, too. Nothing special, chicken fingers and mashed potatoes.”

“Lainey’s favorite,” his mom said, following him into the kitchen and locating one of Lainey’s oversize dinner bibs on the counter. She snapped the pink bib in place and then put Lainey in her chair.

Lainey clapped when she saw her plate, then scooped up her sippy cup and started working on her juice.

“Okay, you’ll probably need to head out, right?” his mother said. “Don’t worry about us. We’ll be fine.”

“I know,” Chad said, kissing the top of Lainey’s head and inhaling the sweet scent of her baby shampoo. “Love you, sweetie.”

Lainey’s lips smacked as she released the sippy cup. “Wuv oo.”

“I didn’t mention it before, but I wanted to let you know that I’ll probably need to leave early in the morning. That’s okay, right?” she said, turning away from him and busying herself with the dishwasher.

Chad knew why she hadn’t mentioned it, and he also knew why she was avoiding looking at him.

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