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Chapter Nineteen






 

Lex angrily slammed her door after she got into the SUV. “We had to pay how much to hear that shit? Hell, I could have saved us money, time and aggravation by staying at home, ” she growled.

It was mid-afternoon on Monday, Lex's mood not helped by the hour and a half doctor's visit. “I tried telling that quack that my leg doesn't hurt anymore, so I don't understand why he insisted on twisting me like a demented pretzel.”

“Honey, please. No one was happier than me, when you woke up yesterday pain-free. But we already had the appointment and didn't have time to cancel.” Amanda bit her lip to keep from smiling at her spouse's pout. “Besides, wasn't it worth it to hear that you're going to be okay without surgery? ”

Lex sighed, but didn't comment. She glared through the windshield, focusing on nothing in particular.

Amanda started the engine and backed out of the parking space. “I know you want to go back to work, but another couple of weeks of taking it easy won't kill you.”

“Hrumph.”

“Is there really that much to do around the ranch right now? ”

Lex turned her head toward Amanda. “That's not the point.”

Fed up with her wife's attitude, Amanda slammed her hands down on the steering wheel. “That's exactly the point! You've got well-trained men working for you, and nothing but your damned stubborn pride is the problem.” So mad she could barely think, Amanda immediately parked in the nearest lot. Once she put the Expedition in park, she unbuckled her seatbelt and turned toward Lex. “I know it's been hard for you, being cooped up in the house. But do you have any idea what the alternative would have been? I've researched it, so I do. And the last thing I wanted to do is see my wife having surgery on her back.”

“Amanda—”

“Shut up.” Amanda took a deep breath. “When that horse kicked you, it could have been so much worse. Paralysis, to start with. Did you hear me? ” Amanda's voice continued to rise. “Paralysis! And if that damned beast had hit you higher, it could have fucking killed you! And you're upset because you have to rest for a few weeks? Get over it.”

Lex blinked a few times. It had been a long time since she'd Amanda so angry. “Um, sweetheart? ”

“What? ” Amanda yelled.

“I'm sorry.”

“You, but, ” Amanda stammered. “Why do you do that? ”

“What? ”

Holding out her hand, Amanda waited until Lex took it. “Ruin a perfectly good pissed off.”

Lex laughed and tugged Amanda across the console and into her lap. “Self-defense.” She nibbled on her wife's neck. “We've got some time to kill before we can pick the girls up at school. You want to go park someplace secluded and fool around? ”

“Probably a better idea than getting caught here in the parking lot of the Baptist Church.” Amanda stole a quick kiss and moved to her side of the SUV.

 

#

Lorrie opened the door for Melanie, and waited patiently while her younger sister got in. She heard Melanie exclaim happily and hurried in behind her to see what caused the outburst. “Momma! Are you not grounded no more? ”

“She still has to behave herself, ” Amanda clarified. “No riding for a few more weeks and no lifting or too much bending. But Momma's going to be fine.”

“That's awesome.” Lorrie fastened her seatbelt and squirmed to get comfortable. “Where's Eddie? ”

Lex flipped her visor down and looked in the mirror at Lorrie. “You mean he's not back there with you? ”

Melanie's eyes grew large. “Did you lose him? ”

“Behave, ” Amanda chastised, slapping Lex on the arm. “Your Aunt Ramona and Uncle Hubert wanted to keep him, while we went to the doctor.”

Lorrie put her hands on her hips in an uncanny impression of Amanda. “I don't want them to go home tomorrow. Why can't they stay? ”

“They have their own home to go to, honey. But they promised to come back and visit.” Amanda pulled away from the curb. “Should we take pizza home tonight? ”

Both girls cheered their agreement.

After a stop at the local pizza shop, the grocery store for everyone's chosen ice cream and Lex's new prescription, the family headed for the ranch.

Melanie took her favorite book out of her backpack and read quietly to herself, while Lorrie stared solemnly out the window.

Although she enjoyed the silence, Amanda couldn't help but be worried about their oldest. “Lorrie, is something wrong? ”

Lorrie shrugged, but kept quiet.

“Just what we need, ” Amanda said softly, so only Lex could hear, “another you.”

Lex shook her head, but grinned. “Lorrie? ”

“Yes, ma'am? ”

“What's bothering you? ”

“Jerry's back in school, ” Lorrie grumbled.

Lex started to turn around, but the twinge in her back stopped her. “Is he picking on you again? ”

“No. He's kinda quiet, ‘cause he said his gramma won't tol'rate him gettin' into trouble no more.” She sighed. “But I still don't like him.”

Amanda glanced in the rear view mirror. “His grandmother? What about his parents? ”

“I dunno. He told Joey that he had to live with his gramma now.”

Amanda didn't want to discount her daughter's feelings, but also didn't want her harboring bad thoughts. “Lorrie, I know you've had trouble with Jerry in the past, but try and be nice, okay? Maybe he's lonely and needs a friend.”

Lorrie frowned and wrinkled her nose, but wisely kept silent.

Melanie put down her book. “Can Uncle Hubert and Aunt Ramona live with us? ”

The subject change caused both parents to do a double-take. Lex was the first to recover. “No, sweetheart. They live in Oklahoma.”

“But, maybe they live there ‘cause they don't live here.”

Lex looked at Amanda, who shrugged. “Okay, what? ”

Melanie shook her head as if her parents were idiots. “I asked Uncle Hubert, and he said they have to live in Okleyhome ‘cause that's where their house is. But if they had a house here, they could live here. Can't they stay in our house? I'll share my room with them.”

Amanda bit her lip to withhold her laughter. “Go ahead, Momma.”

“Thanks a lot.” Lex scratched the back of her neck in a nervous gesture. “Um, okay. Do you like spending the night at your grandparent's house? ”

“Uh-huh. It's a lot of fun.”

“How would you feel if they wanted you to stay there all the time? ” Lex asked.

Melanie frowned. “But I live with you.”

Lex nodded. “Why wouldn't you want to stay with them? ”

“'cause I'd miss you and Mommy.” Melanie pointed to Lorrie. “And Lorrie, and Eddie and all my toys.”

“Yep. At home is where all your stuff is, and everyone else who loves you, right? ”

Lorrie rolled her eyes. “Aunt Ramona would miss her daddy, and Uncle Hubert has a job in Oklahoma. Right, Momma? ”

“That's right. Just like you don't want to be without your family, neither does Aunt Ramona and Uncle Hubert.” Lex felt proud of herself until Melanie asked one final question.

“But aren't we their family, too? ”

Amanda snickered. “She's got you there.”

“Shh, ” Lex ordered. She turned her head so she could see Melanie, who sat in the seat behind Amanda. “Let's just say that they like where they live, and leave it at that, okay? Maybe someday they'll change their mind.”

“Cheater, ” Amanda whispered.

“Brat, ” Lex retorted, just as quietly. She felt like cheering when Amanda turned onto the familiar graveled road. “Thank god.”

“Bwawk, bwawk, ” Amanda teased.

Lex pointed her finger at her. “Keep it up, woman.”

Amanda checked the rearview mirror, pleased to see the girls' attention elsewhere. She stuck her tongue out at Lex.

“That's so mature.” But Lex was smiling. “Wait ‘til we get home.”

 

#

Hubert hummed a lullaby as he gently rocked a fussy Eddie in his arms. They were alone in the living room, since Hubert had convinced Ramona to spend the afternoon drinking coffee at Martha's. “Sssh, little man. Don't cry.” He tried to get the baby to take his pacifier. After a moment, Eddie accepted the pacifier and settled down. “See? Daddy made it all right.”

“Daddy? ” Ramona asked, as she stepped into the living room and sat next to Hubert. “Are you having second thoughts? ”

“No, of course not. It was just a slip of the tongue.”

Ramona edged closer and caressed the baby's head. “It's a little late, anyway. We turned in the signed papers last week.” She smiled when Hubert passed Eddie over to her.

“I know. Really, I'm fine with him being here.” But Hubert couldn't take his eyes off his son.

“Honey, if you truly want a child, ” Ramona started, quietly.

Hubert cut her off. “No. We've discussed this, and you're right. Neither one of us is really up to the task of raising a kid. He's a lot better off here, with two loving parents and a pair of sisters who adore him.”

“But you're going to miss him, aren't you? ”

“Yeah. More than I ever expected.” Hubert cleared his throat. “I'm going to miss those two crazy girls, too. I never thought I'd enjoy being Uncle Hubert.”

Ramona leaned into him and put her head on his shoulder. “I know what you mean. All three of these kids quickly worked their way into my heart, and I didn't even like kids before.”

He laughed. As tough as Ramona talked, Hubert knew she was a softy. “I wish I still had my old place here. Then we'd have somewhere to stay when we visited.”

“Have you ever thought about going back to bookkeeping? ”

“Nah. Who wants an ex-con as an accountant? ” Hubert sighed. “But I do miss it.”

The back door opened, and two pairs of feet ran down the hall.

“No running in the house, ” Amanda yelled after them.

Ramona turned her head and saw the two girls. “How was school today? ”

Melanie was the first to come around the sofa. “Hi! We made Christmas trees out of tree cones, ” she related proudly.

“Tree cones? ” Hubert asked.

Lorrie sat beside Hubert. “Pine cones, ” she corrected knowingly.

“Ah.” Hubert smiled when Melanie crawled up into his lap. “What else did you do today? ”

“Me and Ray kicked the ball, but then we had to line up for cal, cala, um, jumping jacks and stuff. And when we all yelled, it was loud inside.” She placed her head over Hubert's heart and relaxed. “You smell nice, Uncle Hubert.”

He blushed and chuckled. “Thanks. Aunt Ramona picked out my cologne. Why were you yelling inside? Didn't you get into trouble? ”

“Nope. We was in the gym, ‘cause it's too cold to go outside and play. The older kids to get to play basketball, but we're too small.”

Lorrie sat on the arm of the sofa beside Ramona and looked at the sleeping Eddie. “And if you come over where we're playing basketball, you little kids always get hurt. I'd let you play, though.”

Melanie looked at Lorrie with something akin to hero worship. “You'd help me win? ”

“I'd show you how to throw the basketball right, ” Lorrie promised. “Maybe when it gets warmer, we can put a basketball goal on the barn.”

Lex came slowly into the room, relying only on a cane. “Maybe on the garage. Not the barn.” She sat in the overstuffed loveseat perpendicular to the sofa. “Does this mean you're giving up softball? ”

“Uh-uh. Softball's in the spring, basketball's when it's too cold to play outside.”

Ramona laughed. “What do you do in the summer, Lorrie? ”

“Everything, ” the girl stated emphatically. “Right, Momma? ”

Amanda joined the family and sat beside Lex. “That's the truth. I like the slower pace of winter, myself.”

“I don't blame you in the least, ” Ramona agreed.

Lorrie's one-track mind would not be deterred. “Momma? Since it's cold outside, can we put a basketball goal in the hay barn? It's big enough.”

“Where would we put the hay, lil' bit? ”

“Um, upstairs in the barn? ”

Lex shook her head. “You want me to go upstairs every time I need a bale of hay, just so you can play basketball inside? ”

“Yes? ” Lorrie gave her a hopeful look.

“Sorry, kiddo. That's not going to happen. But we'll see about pouring a concrete pad this spring beside the garage, how's that? ”

Lorrie grinned and moved to sit on the arm of the loveseat next to Lex. “Awesome.” She carefully put her arm around Lex's neck. “Is this okay, Momma? ”

“It's perfect.”

Hubert watched as Lorrie snuggled as close to Lex as she could. He exchanged looks with Ramona and gave her a slight nod, acknowledging once and for all that his son was in the best hands.

“Uncle Hubert? ” Melanie queried, “Will you ever change your mind about living here? ”

Not used to the lightning fast way a child's mind worked, Hubert was caught off-guard. “Um, what? ”

“Momma said that you live in Okleyhome ‘cause that's where your house is. Did you ever have a house here? ”

“Uh—”

“If you had a house here, you'd live here, right? And you said the other day you had a house here before. So why did you move away? ” Melanie didn't see the panicked look on her uncle's face.

But Lex did. “Mel, that's enough. Uncle Hubert and Aunt Ramona live in Oklahoma, and that's that.”

Hubert held up his hand. “It's okay, Lex.” He shifted on his knee Melanie so that he could see her face. “A few years ago I did some stupid things.” He silently conveyed his regrets to Lex and Amanda with his eyes. “I had a house here, but because I was selfish and mean, I lost it. Then I traveled to Oklahoma. For once I was innocent, but couldn't prove it. So I spent a few years in jail to pay for someone else's mistake.”

“You were in jail? ” Lorrie asked, surprised.

“Yes, I was. And even though I didn't do what they said I did, I pretty much deserved it, anyway. When I got out, I met your Aunt Ramona and she helped me start my life over.”

“Wow, ” Lorrie mused. “Did you kill someone? ”

“No. The police found a packet of drugs in my car. Someone had tossed them in when I wasn't looking. I have been a bad man, but I'd never done drugs.”

Melanie got off his lap and went to sit by Amanda. “Why were you bad? ”

Hubert sighed. “I don't know. I used to think it was because I was jealous. But I think that's just an excuse.” He brushed his hand over his beard. “I thought people would respect me if I acted a certain way, but they didn't.” He lowered his gaze, unable to look anyone in the eyes.

Ramona put her hand on Hubert's leg in an attempt to console him. “You've changed, sweetheart. Being here is proof of that.”

“Hey, girls, ” Amanda stood. “How about helping me set the table for dinner? We brought pizza, remember? ”

“Yay! ” Melanie started to follow her mother and sister, but stopped and walked over to Hubert. “I don't think you're a bad man, Uncle Hubert.” She crawled onto the sofa and kissed him on the cheek. “I love you.”

Hubert blinked in surprise. “Love you too, sweetheart.” His voice broke on the last word, but his smile was bright.

Once Amanda and the girls left, Lex cleared her throat. “You didn't lose your house, ” she said quietly.

“What? ” Hubert asked, his own voice still hoarse from emotion.

“I said, you didn't lose your house.” Lex got up and went into the office. A moment later, she returned with an envelope, which she handed to Hubert.

He opened the envelope and stared at the papers in his hand. “I don't understand.”

“When I first found out that you'd left me your house with two mortgages, I told the bank to go ahead and foreclose. But after Amanda and I talked about it, I made an arrangement with them and paid the house off.” Lex lowered herself onto the loveseat again. “God, it's been a long day.”

“That's right. How did the doctor's visit go? ” Ramona asked.

Lex sighed. “After being poked, prodded and twisted, the brilliant, ” her voice dripped with sarcasm, “surgeon decided that all I needed was more rest, and my back should heal okay on its own.”

Hubert put the papers back in the envelope. “That's great news, sis.” He waved the envelope. “Now, about this.”

“Don't argue with me, Hubert. I don't even know what kind of condition the house is in. It's been vacant since you left town. We pay a guy to go over once a month and mow the yard, but that's about it.”

“But, Lex. I can't accept this. Not after everything.”

Lex shook her head. “Well, I sure as hell don't want it.”

“Then why did you keep it? ”

She shrugged, looking a lot like one of her kids. “I honestly don't know.”

When Hubert opened his mouth, Ramona patted his leg. “The proper response is ‘thank you, Lex, '” she said gently.

Hubert blushed. “Uh, yeah. Thank you, Lex.” He waggled a finger at her. “You should be more careful, though. Leave us a house and we might make good use of it, someday.”

“Why do you think I gave you the key? ” Lex asked.

He had no answer for that. Hubert looked at his fiancé e. “So, do you feel like taking a little drive? ”

“I'd love to, ” Ramona answered.

 

#

With the house finally quiet for the night and Eddie tucked away in his crib across the room, Amanda curled up in bed beside Lex. “God, I love this time of night.”

“Me, too.” Lex raised her left arm so Amanda could snuggle closer. “Ahhh. This is perfect.”

“Yeah.” Amanda closed her eyes. “Do you really think Hubert could move back and start up his old business again? ”

Lex was quiet for a moment as she thought about the question.

“I mean, Somerville already had an accountant. And it's not like he's going to welcome Hubert back with open arms.”

“Well, old Ted's getting up there in age. The last time I talked to him, he mentioned something about wanting to retire and raise a few head of cattle.”

Amanda rolled so she could prop her head on her raised arm. “Really? And when was this? ”

“Oh, I don't know. Maybe six months ago.” Lex's mouth slowly curled up into a smile. “Why? ”

“But, didn't you buy most of Ted's land a few years ago, when he was having financial trouble? ”

“Yep.”

The implications all came together for Amanda. “Do you think, if the right terms presented themselves, Ted would say, consider retiring and turning his accounting business over to someone else? ”

“Hmm. You know, when you put it that way, it makes a certain sense. I wish I would have thought about that.” Lex grunted when Amanda pinched her arm. “Hey.”

“You are so busted, Ms. Smartypants.” Amanda poked Lex in the ribs for good measure.

Lex captured Amanda's hand and held it close to her chest. “You keep poking me like that, you're gonna end up regretting it.”

“Oh, yeah? ”

“Yep.” Lex brought Amanda's hand up to her lips and began to lightly kiss her knuckles and fingers.

Amanda moaned. “Lex.”

“Uh-huh? ”

“You'd better not, ” she gasped as soft lips hit a very sensitive spot on her wrist. “Oh, god.”

Lex continued her careful assault. “Hmm? ”

“What about your back? ”

With a growl, Lex pulled Amanda over onto her. “What back? ” She started to nip a path down Amanda's throat.

“Um, oh, yeah.” Amanda raised her head as Lex ripped open her pajama top, causing buttons to scatter all over the bed. “Never mind.”

 






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