A Marriage Made in Texas (The Brothers Kincaid) (15 page)

Even with both the girls helping it took them a while. Finally, Jay decided it wouldn’t get any better. The ruined shoes were in the trash, the closet and bedroom carpet cleaned and vacuumed, and a generous dose of air deodorizer followed by cologne had neutralized the smell.

“What’s your mom’s favorite meal?” he asked the girls as they left the room, carefully shutting the door behind them. “Something I can pick up, not cook.”

“Uncle Wang’s,” they said in unison.

“She likes the chicken in black bean sauce,” Roxy added. “But you have to go to Corpus to get it.”

“Why don’t we run over there?” He thought about what else Gail liked. “And while we’re out, let’s pick up some Rocky Road ice cream.”

“Are you trying to bribe Mommy?” Roxy asked, her eyes big.

“Not bribe. Just trying to do something nice for her.” To soften her up. Not a bribe, exactly.

On the way to the car, Roxy slipped her hand into his. “Thank you, Jay.”

“You’re welcome.” He ruffled her hair with his other hand. “But you know, your mom would have forgiven you. She loves you and Mel a lot.”

“I know. And she loves you, too, so she’ll forgive you. Right?”

“Sure,” he said, though he wasn’t certain of any such thing. Oh, he knew Gail would forgive him. But love him? That he didn’t know.

W
HEN
G
AIL WALKED IN
that evening, she thought she’d entered the wrong house. The kitchen was spotless and dimly lit. A delicious smell, that of her favorite Chinese dish, permeated the air. Curious, she dropped the shopping bag and her keys and followed the low hum of music into the other room.

The dining room table was set for two with her good china and crystal. A huge vase of yellow roses dominated the center of the mahogany table, flanked by a pair of crystal candelabras with white candles burning in each arm. Her lips twitched as she recognized the music—the same song she and Jay had danced to the night they made love for the first time.

“I had the devil of a time finding that CD.” She turned to see Jay standing in the doorway, a champagne glass in one hand and a single red rose in the other. “I thought about a white flag, but I figured you’d like flowers better.”

Not quite ready to let him off the hook, she clamped down on her lips to keep from smiling. “What’s in the glass?” she asked when she had control.

“The grocery store’s best brand of sparkling grape juice. Four bucks a bottle.” He handed her the glass, along with the rose.

She took a sip. “Where are the kids?”

“In Roxy’s room. They’ve already eaten and have promised to play a game and go to bed early.”

“How did you manage that?” she asked, taking another sip. “This is good, by the way.”

He spread his hands. “I bribed them.”

“You do that well, I see. Is that smell what I think it is?”

He nodded. “Chicken with black bean sauce from Uncle Wang’s.”

Gail sighed. “You’re making it really difficult for me to stay mad at you.”

He smiled, his dimples deepening. “That’s the idea. We have Rocky Road ice cream for dessert. A lot of ice cream. It’s what I used with the girls.”

“You’re a wicked man, Jay.”

“A guy’s gotta do what a guy’s gotta do.” He set her glass on the table, and the rose beside it. Then he put his arms around her and tugged her close. “Your
closet is as spotless as I could get it. I don’t think it smells anymore, but if it does, I’ll switch with you, and I’ll move everything.” He nuzzled her neck, then kissed it. “Am I forgiven or am I still in the doghouse?”

“Speaking of dogs—”

He raised his head and looked at her. “Fudge and Fluffy have been severely chastised and are now contemplating their sins in the back yard. Roxy and Mel are taking them to obedience classes starting Monday.”

“I like a man who thinks of everything,” she said, her lips curving upward.

“Not quite everything,” he said and kissed her mouth slowly and thoroughly.

His arms tightened around her. She let herself relax and return his kiss. Her knees had started to turn boneless when he released her. “Let’s eat. Can’t have a perfectly good bribe going to waste.”

They fed each other bites of chicken, vegetables and rice, and sipped the sparkling grape juice from the same glass while the candles gutted and the music wailed a sexy saxophone. They talked, of everything and nothing. Gail had to clutch her stomach from laughing so hard when he described how both girls had run shrieking from the room and refused to help until he cleaned up the smelly part of the mess.

“I’ll explode if I eat another bite,” Gail said finally some time later, taking a last lick of ice cream. She put her spoon down, crossed her arms on the table, and looked at Jay. “You worry me.”

Jay lounged back in his chair, long legs stretched before him, a smile curving that perfect mouth. “Why’s that?”

He wore a green dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up over his forearms. Her eyes traced the by-now familiar features, the honey-blond hair, strong jaw, straight nose. The deep green eyes, now shaded by candlelight. She wanted to lick her lips. He looked, she thought, every bit as delicious as the meal they’d just consumed. “No man should know how to get around a woman so easily.”

The smile deepened, as did the dimples. “I’ll tell you a secret. It wasn’t easy.”

“Mommy?”

Roxy and Mel stood in the doorway. Mel was holding a piece of paper. Roxy looked scared, but determined. Gail had an inkling of what had really happened earlier.

“Here, Mommy,” Mel said, handing her what turned out to be a crayon drawing. “It’s Fudge and Fluffy,” she explained. Two brown and white blobs were holding a banner in their mouths that read: We’re sorry. We love you Mommy.

“It’s beautiful, honey. Thank you,” she said and kissed her.

“You’re not gonna make us get rid of the puppies, are you, Mommy?” Mel asked anxiously.

“No, I wouldn’t do that.”

Mel smiled sunnily and ran off. Gail looked at her oldest daughter and held out her arms. Roxy ran into them and immediately burst into tears.

“I’m sorry, Mommy,” she said when she’d mastered her tears. “It’s all my fault. I let Fudge and Fluffy in by accident. Jay told you he did it so you wouldn’t be mad with me.”

“Oh, honey, I wish you’d told me.” Swamped with love, and remorse, she patted her daughter’s back. “I know I was angry, but I would have forgiven you.”

Roxy nodded against Gail’s chest, her arms clinging around her mother’s neck. “That’s what Jay said. ’Cause you love me. And he said you’d forgive him, ’cause you love him, too.”

She glanced at Jay, who looked a little alarmed at that statement. Wonderful. It made him nervous to think she might love him.

“Ah, that wasn’t exactly how the conversation went,” Jay said after Roxy left. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

Gail got up, sniffling. “I need a tissue.”

He jumped up, taking her arms to detain her. “You’re crying. Why are you crying?”

“Because you were so sweet to me.” She waved a hand at the table, and wiped at her cheeks. “And you took the blame for Roxy,” she said, struggling to quit crying.

“Oh, that.” He relaxed and slipped his arms around her. “I had to. She was looking at me with those big baby blues, scared to death, and I didn’t have the heart to let her take the heat.”

“I’m a monster to have scared her so badly. And over shoes. Something so unimportant.”

“Imelda Marcos would argue that.”

Gail laughed, her tears drying. “Yes, I would have, too, earlier. But I shouldn’t have lost my temper.”

“Look at it this way, if Roxy thought you were such a terrible mother, she’d never have confessed.”

“That still doesn’t make it right. And I was awful to you. I yelled at you.”

“Yeah, you sure did.” He grinned. “As long as we’re coming clean, I have a confession to make.”

“What?” she asked suspiciously.

“You know when you were so mad, standing there just furious and ripping my head off?” Gail nodded. “You looked so damn sexy, I thought my heart was going to stop beating.”

She stared at him. “It turned you on? Me being mad?”

“Oh, yeah. Big time.”

“Is this like the strawberries? A guy thing?”

He laughed. “Yeah, it’s a guy thing.” His arms tightened around her and he bent to murmur in her ear. “If you’re really sorry, you can make it up to me.”

His lips laid a trail of liquid heat along her neck. Her heart rate sped up, her breathing quickened. “How?”

His hand slipped down to caress her rear. “Model your new shoes for me. The ones with those skinny high heels.”

“How do you know what I bought.”

“I’ve seen the kind of shoes you wear.”

“Okay, you’re right. I did buy a couple of pairs like that. Is that it?”

“Not quite.” He put both hands on her rear and looked at her, smiling as he brought her closer against him. “I want you to wear the shoes, and those thigh-high hose you have. And nothing else.”

Her lips curved. “And then we’ll be even?”

“You’ll be even. I’ll be in heaven.”

Gail laughed. “You are so easy. When did you want this to happen?”

“Now seems like a good time to me.”

“I think that could be arranged,” she said, and kissed him.

G
AIL WOKE
in the night, still wrapped in Jay’s arms. She got out of bed to take care of business, smiling as she passed the trail of hose and shoes leading to the bed. He’d taken them off her, but not until after he’d made spectacular, mind-blowing love to her.

Chilled, she pulled on a nightgown before she crawled back into bed. “Are you okay?” Jay asked.

“I’m fine. Just cold. I thought you were asleep.”

“Was. Now I’m awake.” He smiled at her, his eyes at half mast. “Come here and I’ll keep you warm,” he offered, his voice thick with sleep.

So she let him wrap her in his arms again. Sighing, she snuggled against him and kissed his chest, listening to his breathing even out.

She’d fallen in love with her husband. And she had no idea if he was in love with her, or was only staying with her for the baby’s sake.

O
NE EVENING
,
Gail took Mel with her grocery shopping, while Jay stayed home with Roxy, who was supposed to be doing her homework. While Jay sat on the couch reading the newspaper, Roxy lay on her stomach on the floor in front of the TV, staring at a piece of paper, desultorily flipping it over, and then back. It only took three deep, bone-rattling sighs before he realized something was up and she wanted his attention.

“Need some help?” he asked, laying aside the paper.

She sat up and crossed her legs, tailor fashion. “It’s spelling. Mommy always asks me the words, and then I spell them.”

“Do you want me to ask you the words?” Although their relationship had greatly improved since the puppy incident, Jay still never knew if his offers of help would be rejected or accepted.

“’Kay,” she said morosely, holding the paper out.

Jay took it from her and looked it over. “These are fifth-grade words?” He’d be depressed, too. They looked hard to him. Too hard for a ten-year-old, but what did he know?

Roxy nodded, a smile now tugging at her mouth. “They’re for the spelling bee. My teacher says if I study hard, I can win. She thinks I’m the best speller in my grade.”

“Spelling bee, huh? Sounds exciting. When is it?”

“Tomorrow night.” Her head bobbed and she grew more animated. “It’s gonna be in the auditorium, and Mrs. Beasley said we’ll be
famous,
’cause even the newspaper will be there.”

“Wow, sounds like a big deal.”

“Uh-huh.” She played with her shoelace and shot Jay a look beneath her lashes. “Mommy’s coming. And Daddy said he’d come. And maybe Gramma Randolph, too.” She paused, fiddled with her shoelace again. “My teacher said we could ask whoever we wanted. And um, well…” Earnest eyes lifted to fix on his. “Will you come, Jay?”

His breath clogged in his throat as he stared at her. She wanted him to come to her spelling bee? Funny how a little girl could take your heart and wrap it around her finger. He cleared his throat and managed to speak. “I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”

If he hadn’t been choked up before, the way her face lit up when he answered would have done it.

“So, will you ask me my words?” she said.

“Yeah.” He cleared his throat. “I’ll be glad to.”

Some time later, they finished. While Roxy had been letter perfect on the words, she still seemed a little unhappy. “Is something else wrong, Rox?”

She shook her head, then sent him a calculating look. “Mommy said I wasn’t supposed to bother you
about it.” Legs crossed, she sat up straighter. “But if I just
tell
you, because you
asked
me, that’s not the same as bothering you. Is it?” she added innocently.

“No,” he said, thinking he might be on slippery ground.

Clasping her arms around her drawn-up knees, she sighed dramatically. “Dance lessons,” she breathed, starry-eyed.

“Dance lessons?” he echoed, confused.

Roxy nodded vigorously. “Mommy said I could have them. Well, she promised we’d try, this year, and that means yes,” she explained with perfect seriousness. “But then she said she couldn’t afford it. She said me and Mel are already doin’ lots of things, and she can’t add one more.” Her expression clouded. “All my friends are taking them, and they want me to come, too.” Her lower lip trembled. “So then I asked Daddy. And he said it was silly, and he couldn’t afford it, neither.”

So now she was asking him. Why the hell hadn’t Gail come to him? But he knew the answer to that. Gail wouldn’t ask him for anything, least of all money for her daughters’ activities. Hell, she hadn’t even mentioned the spelling bee, and that cost nothing.

“Let me talk to your mom, Roxy. Maybe we can work something out.” He knew better than to promise anything, before he talked to Gail. But that didn’t stop him wanting to ruffle Roxy’s hair and promise her anything her little heart desired.

“You’re not gonna tell Mommy I bothered you, are you?”

“You didn’t bother me. You talked to me, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”

“Thanks, Jay.” The back door slammed and she got up. “There’s Mommy! Can you talk to her now?”

He smiled. “I think I can manage that. Hey, Rox,” he said, before she left the room. “I want you to know, you can talk to me whenever you need to. Don’t ever think you’re bothering me. Okay?”

“Okay.” She flashed him a brilliant smile and left the room skipping.

Jay only wished he felt as good.

G
AIL DIDN’T MIND
the shopping part, but she hated to unload groceries. It always surprised her when Jay helped her. Barry never had, of course, but Jay seemed to take it for granted that if he were around, he should help. He did that with the laundry, too, she thought smiling. Though he’d been known to get confused with some of the girly things a time or two.

“You’re awfully quiet,” she said, stuffing the meat in the freezer. “Did something happen with Roxy while I was gone?”

“Nothing bad.” He put the milk in the refrigerator. “Roxy tells me she’s going to be in a spelling bee tomorrow night.”

Gail went to the pantry, stretching to put up a can of soup. “Oh, that’s right. I meant to mention it.” She glanced at him over her shoulder and smiled. “I hope you didn’t have plans for the two of us, because I need to be there. But don’t worry, you don’t have to go.”

His expression blank, he stared at her a minute. “Roxy asked me to come.”

“Oh.” A bit surprised, she opened the refrigerator and began putting away vegetables. “Well, I’m sure we can think of a way to explain it if you don’t want to come.”

“Why wouldn’t I want to be there?”

Baffled, she glanced at him. He’d quit putting away groceries and leaned against the counter, staring at her. She shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s a spelling bee. Not the most exciting thing on earth.”

“Roxy specifically asked me to be there. Do you think I’d say no?”

Becoming a little exasperated by his attitude, she said, “Not if she made such a point of asking you. I didn’t realize she had.”

“Even if she hadn’t, has it occurred to you that I might be interested in what the girls are doing?”

What bug has gotten up his nose?
Gail wondered. Hands on hips, she tilted her head and considered him. “I’m not sure why I’m the bad guy here. For heaven’s sake, Jay, it’s a spelling bee. I forgot to mention it. What’s the big deal?”

He shook his head, put his hands in his pockets. “Nothing. Absolutely nothing.”

Gail returned to putting away the groceries. What was going on with him? What had she missed?

Long moments later, Jay spoke, breaking the silence. “My father left us on my eighth birthday. I doubt he knew it was my birthday.” He gave a humorless laugh. “If he had, he wouldn’t have cared.”

Gail stopped and waited for him to go on. He’d never told her about his father. He talked about his mother occasionally, but never, ever his father.

“I was only in second grade, but I remember things. I remember him. He never came to any school play, or program, or even a lousy open house. Never came to the Little League games, or showed up at anything I can remember.” His gaze, grim and decisive, locked on hers. “I’m not going to be that kind of a father.”

Her heart aching for him, she walked over to him and put her hand on his arm. “Of course you’re not. You’ll be a wonderful father.”

“Yeah, to the baby.” His eyes lifted to hers. “But what about Mel and Roxy? I’m not their father, am I? I’m only a stepfather, and one you obviously aren’t interested in including.”

“Don’t you think you’re overreacting? I haven’t not included you. Not purposely, at any rate.” Or did he have a point? Perhaps she had been hesitant to ask him to do things with them. She didn’t want the girls hurt, and she wasn’t sure of Jay’s willingness to be involved.

“If this was the first time I’d been excluded I’d agree you have a point. But it’s far from the first. Before Roxy asked me, I thought they didn’t want me there. I can deal with that, with them making an adjustment. I know it’s going to take time. But tonight made me wonder if maybe you’re the one who doesn’t want me there.”

Guilt and temper fought for dominance. “Jay,
that’s ridiculous. I didn’t realize you’d be interested. I have to beg Barry to come to these things, so it just doesn’t ever occur to me—”

“That I’m not like your goddamn ex-husband?” The words cracked like a whip.

Again, she struggled with temper. “I don’t think you’re like Barry. And you’re blowing this situation way out of proportion.”

“Am I?” He moved away from her, to pace the length of the kitchen. “Maybe you’re right. But I intend to be involved in my child’s life. How are Roxy and Mel going to feel if I can find time for my own child, but never any for them?”

Oh, God, she’d never really thought about it that way. She felt like a total heel. “You’re right. They’d feel terrible. I hadn’t even considered that.” Or that she’d obviously hurt Jay by excluding him. “I’m sorry. I hurt you, and I didn’t mean to.”

He rolled his shoulders. “I know. Forget it.”

He didn’t look as if he would forget it any time soon, though.

A few minutes after that, Roxy came in, asking for a cookie. Gail opened the package of chocolate sandwich cookies, noticing that Jay and Roxy seemed to be having some kind of wordless conversation. “How many?” Gail asked.

Roxy looked away from Jay to her mother. “Can I take them to my room?”

“No food in your room. You know that, Rox.”

“’Kay. I just want one.”

Now she knew something was going on. Roxy
could eat a dozen cookies if given the chance. However, Gail gave her the cookie, watched her stuff it in her mouth, and then run out.

“That was weird. What was that about?” Absentmindedly, she took a cookie herself and munched on it.

“Roxy mentioned something else tonight.”

“What’s that?’

“She told me about wanting to take dance lessons.”

Frowning, Gail finished the cookie and dusted off her hands. “I specifically told her not to pester you about that.”

“Yeah, I know. She told me that, too. I asked her what was wrong. She shouldn’t get in trouble for telling me.”

He still had his hands in his pockets, still leaning back against the counter as if relaxed. But she felt the tension between them wind tighter and tighter.

“So, Gail, what are you going to do about the dance lessons?”

To busy her hands, she stuffed the open package into a plastic sack. “Obviously, she told you both Barry and I said no.”

He nodded. “She said neither of you could afford it.”

“That’s right. Did she happen to mention that both girls are in Brownies, both of them are taking art lessons, and she’s also been asking me about joining the soccer league?”

“She mentioned something about other activities.
But knowing you, Gail, I don’t think that’s the end of it. When your daughters want something that badly, you’ll move heaven and earth to get it for them. And Roxy’s a hundred percent set on this. You got her the lessons, didn’t you?”

Her heart sinking, she nodded.

“How did you get the money?”

He said it so quietly, so calmly, and she knew the storm would hit like a hurricane when she told him. Bracing herself, she spoke. “I borrowed it from my mother.”

His eyes flashed, sharp green and angry, but he spoke calmly enough. “You didn’t consider asking me? You knew I’d be happy to pay for the lessons, didn’t you, Gail?”

How to explain it to him? Especially with him looking at her as if she were some kind of criminal? “I—well—I didn’t—I didn’t think it was your responsibility. And I’ve borrowed money from my mother before. It’s not a problem, even though I don’t like to do it unless—” Horrified at what she’d nearly said, she broke off.

“Unless you have no other choice,” he finished for her, his voice devoid of emotion. “I wasn’t an option. You couldn’t ask me. Your husband.”

“Jay, I didn’t think about it that way,” she said, beginning to feel desperate. “It’s just a habit, to go to my mother. I should have asked you, but I didn’t— I simply didn’t think about it.”

“Bull.” He straightened and took a step toward her.

Shocked, she put her hands on her hips. “What do you mean, bull?”

“Just what I said. That’s bullshit. You thought about it. And you decided you didn’t want me involved. You don’t want me to be involved in your daughters’ lives. Not monetarily, or in any other way.”

He turned his back and started toward the door.

“Jay, wait! That isn’t true.”

He halted, turned around and looked at her. “Yes, it is. What I don’t really understand is why. If you thought I’d interfere with how you’re raising them, I could see it. But hell, I haven’t said a word, and don’t intend to unless I’m asked. And it’s clear as crystal I’m the last person you’d ask. For anything.”

He jerked open the back door. The look he sent her was as cold as she’d ever seen from him. “I’m going for a drive.”

“Don’t go. Can’t we talk about this?”

“No,” he said, and shut the door behind him.

Her heart in her throat, Gail stared after him, listened to the roar of his engine, and the squeal of tires as he left the driveway. She pulled out a chair, sat down at the kitchen table, buried her face in her arms and wept.

J
AY DIDN’T HAVE
a destination in mind when he left, but he wound up at the beach. It was cold, windy and deserted, which suited his mood perfectly.

He grabbed a jacket from his car and began walking, stuffing his hands in his pockets. Maybe Gail was
right and he’d blown the whole situation out of proportion. But he didn’t believe he had. Damn it, they were never going to make it as a family if Gail refused to allow him to share in her daughters’ lives. And whether she meant to or not, she cut him out of the equation continually. He didn’t enjoy feeling like an outsider, especially not in his own home.

But if a home meant a family, working together, then it wasn’t much of a home. And apparently, he and Gail didn’t have much of a marriage.

He halted and stared out at the ocean, watching the crash of waves against the sand, smelling the salt tang of the air. Usually, the ocean soothed him, but tonight it seemed as moody as he was. He stooped to pick up a shell, gleaming white in the moonlight. It reminded him of his and Gail’s honeymoon, when they’d walked the beach and talked for hours. They weren’t talking any longer. Depressed, he tossed the shell aside.