Lottery (21 page)

Jenee ignored his comment. “Baileigh is picking out a book for you to read before she goes to bed.”

“Already? It’s not even seven.”

“I know.” She took out the only two wine goblets in the cupboard. “But I need to talk to you.”

“Uh, oh,” Justin said, coming out of the bathroom and into the kitchen. “I must’ve done something wrong.”

After Justin went up the stairs to find Baileigh, Jenee took out two placemats and matching napkins. There was so much to do before she and Justin left for San Francisco. Her mother would take Baileigh, but they’d be gone for almost two weeks: a week in San Francisco, and another few days in China. She still couldn’t believe this was happening.

She took the steaming pasta out of the oven. “So, what’s going on?” Justin asked.

She put the hot casserole on the stove and took the insulated gloves off her hands. If she waited a second longer, she was going to burst. “What you did wrong was impress Ling.” She walked to him and put her arms around his waist. “We’re going to have another child.”

Justin’s eyes grew wide. “You mean—”

“Yep.” She nodded, shivers going down her back. “Ling chose us to go to China.”

“Oh, man.” Justin cupped her face in the palms of his rough callused hands. “Gonna have to get that bedroom upstairs ready for a baby.” The twinkle in his eyes told her everything she needed to know.

“It almost feels as if I’m pregnant. It’s that kind of feeling.”

“Except I don’t have to go get ice cream at two in the morning.”

“Who says?” Jenee teased, pouring wine into the glasses. “Ling wants us to stay with her and her husband for a week before we leave for China.”

Justin pulled out a chair and sat down at the table, stretching his long lanky legs out on the tile. “Then how long after that?”

“Before we’ll be able to bring the child home?” Jenee handed him a wine glass. “A few months. There’s lots of red tape to go through.” She sat down across from Justin and leaned back in her chair. Nothing like this had ever happened to her before. Jenee felt like dancing, or running down the street shouting the news.

Justin combed his fingers through his hair. “I can’t be gone that long. Maybe you could go first and I’ll join you after a couple of days. Ken will have to take over while I’m gone.”

“I don’t think that’s a problem.”

“What about Baileigh?”

“She’ll stay with Mom.” Jenee stared into his eyes. “Can you believe this is really happening?”

He took her hand, and laced his fingers through hers. “What I can’t believe is I’m going to be on a plane.” He shivered dramatically. “We haven’t really discussed anything about adopting a child who isn’t … well, you know.”

“Perfect?” She paused. “I know.”

“I figure that we’ll know when we find our next little munchkin.”

She squeezed his fingers. “It feels like this is all a dream.” When the back door flew open, Jenee gasped. “God, Brit,” she said when she saw Brittany, “I thought you were a burglar. What the heck’s going on?”

“Come on, everyone.” Brittany opened the door wide and Jenee and Justin’s friends marched single file into the small kitchen.

“Congratulations,” the gang shouted together, holding packages wrapped in blue and pink ribbons.

Jenee stood, her eyes narrowed. “You told.” She glared at Brittany.

“I told,” Brittany boasted confidently.

Jenee turned and looked at Justin. “Did you know, too?”

Justin looked at Brittany sheepishly. “Well … I—”

“You told Justin before I did?” Jenee slapped a hand over her hip. “I hate you, you know that, don’t you?”

“I hate you more,” Brittany said, starting for the door that went into the living room. “Hope you have enough food for everyone as that stuff smells damn good.” She knew Jenee always made enough food for a crowd.

Jenee turned and looked at Justin, his cheeks a burnished red.

“You mad?” he asked Jenee.

“Naw.” She waved a hand. “Brittany is the best.” She turned to the group crowded together in the kitchen. “Come on in, everyone.” Jenee waved an arm toward the living room.

“Know what the best thing is about adopting a child instead of being pregnant?” Brittany asked, her voice trailing behind her. “You can still drink.”

Their friends, most of whom they had hung out with since high school, all piled into the small living room. Some carried appetizers or a bottle of wine, while others held armloads of pink and blue balloons.

Justin took out paper plates from the pantry. “I’m not doing the dishes.”

Jenee smiled. “Me neither.”

Sitting on the fluffy sage green area rug that covered part of the wood floor with her friends crowded around her, Jenee started opening the shower gifts.

“Oh, my gosh,” she said when she opened one of the presents. “I love this book.” She ran her hand over the smooth cover of Dr. Seuss’s
Cat in the Hat.
“Baileigh has destroyed the first one we got because we read it so much.”

“Well,” someone said, “since you don’t know if it’s a boy or a girl, we couldn’t pick out something pink or blue.”

“Mommy.” Jenee looked up and saw Baileigh standing on the second step of the stairs. The child rubbed one sleepy eye with a tiny fist. “I wanna open presents.”

Justin walked to her and scooped her up in his arms. “Come on, pumpkin, you can help Mommy.”

“Hey, Baileigh,” Brittany said. “I knew we were missing somebody.”

Justin nestled the child in between Jenee’s legs, just as Jenee’s phone rang.

“It’s Ling.” She picked up Baileigh and handed her to Justin. “I’ll be right back.” Jenee made her way around the bows, balloons, and wrapping paper.

“Ling,” Jenee said, making her way into the kitchen to get away from the noise.

“Sounds like you’re having a party there,” Ling said cheerfully.

“My friends threw a surprise shower.”

“Just one more thing I love about Kansas people,” Ling said. “That and country western dancing.”

Jenee giggled. “Right.”

“I’m going to e-mail your tickets so you have all the flight times, so wanted to let you know.”

Jenee felt goose bumps rising. “I’m so excited.”

“Me too, I—”

“Ling.” Jenee heard a male voice in the background. “Will you please get off the phone?”

“Just a sec, Caleb,” she said. “Sorry.” Ling paused. “Long week.”

“Do you want to call me tomorrow?” Jenee didn’t have a good feeling about Ling’s husband. If she shared her thoughts with Justin, however, he would have concerns about her going to San Francisco.

“No … I’ll send the tickets tonight to your e-mail.”

“Okay. But Justin can’t come until Friday. Work’s really busy right now.” Jenee said, still hearing Caleb’s voice in the background.

“No problem. I’ll book you on separate flights. A driver will be waiting for you at the baggage claim. He’ll be holding a sign with your name on it,” Ling said quickly.

“I won’t be able to sleep.”

“See you soon,” Ling said and hung up.

Jenee kept her hand on the phone. Maybe she should have her friend Anthony do a background check on Caleb O’Toole. Being a police officer for over five years, he would have access to records. But if he found something, he’d tell Justin and—”

“Everything okay?” Justin interrupted Jenee’s thoughts.

She closed her cell phone. “Perfect.”

ing had tossed and turned all night, the booze oozing out of Caleb’s pores was upsetting. Finally giving up on getting any sleep, she snuck down the stairs and into the kitchen.

She flipped on the light over the sink and pushed the start button on the coffee pot that was ready to brew.

“Morning,” Caleb said a few minutes later.

“You’re up early.” Ling yawned and took out two mugs from the cupboard.

“You okay?” Caleb asked, when she handed him his coffee.

She brought the cup to her lips.

“What’s going on?” He walked around to the other side of the center island, pulled out a stool, and sat down. “Couldn’t you sleep?”

She set her mug down, the steam circling above. “You were rude the other night when I was talking to Jenee.” She laid her forearms on the island and leaned toward him.

“Really?” Caleb knitted his eyebrows together. “I didn’t mean to be.”

His eyes bloodshot, his puffy face looked like he hadn’t slept in days. “You’re drinking too much and I—”

“Don’t start.” He put a defensive hand up in front of his chest. “I’m fine.”

“Is it the money?” Ling prayed he would talk to her. “Are we spending too much?”

Caleb stood and walked to the coffee pot, and filled his cup again. “Just want everything to go well when the Ragers or Rogers or whatever the hell their name is getting here.”

She whipped around toward him. “Caleb, I am not going to let you talk that—”

“Look,” he said, his voice edgy, “stop nagging me.”

“Sooner or later we’re going to have to talk about what’s going on.”

He slammed his mug down on the counter, the hot coffee erupting over the top. “Not now!”

She jumped back, her heart racing. Caleb had never talked to her this way.

He rubbed his forehead with his fingers. “I’m sorry, okay? I just have a lot on my mind.”

Ling picked up a dishrag and wiped up the coffee spill.

“Let’s just get through the next couple of weeks.”

She was so angry she couldn’t look at him. “Jenee gets here this afternoon.”

“Anything you want me to do?”

“I want you to stop drinking,” she blurted, and immediately regretted it.

“God damn it,” Caleb said, enraged, “I told you to get off me.”

She pointed an accusing finger at him. “Don’t you ever talk to me like that again, or I’ll—”

“You’ll what?” He tossed his arms out and smirked. “Leave me?”

Ling set her jaw. “Yes, Caleb, I’ll leave you.”

He glanced around the room. “And leave all this? Ha! Not a chance.”

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Ling hurried across the kitchen toward the doorway. “I don’t even know who you are anymore.” Caleb caught her by the arm.

“Stop it.” She writhed out of his grip.

“Wait,” he pleaded, his tone softening. “I’m … I’m just not used to sharing you with anyone.”

“Oh, grow up,” she spat.

He grasped her shoulders loosely and looked into her eyes. “I’ll do better. I promise.”

“Something has to change.” Ling was fuming inside.

“It will.” He brought her close.

She pushed him away and glared into his eyes. “I’m serious, Caleb.”

“I know.” He turned, walked back to the island, and sat down. “When is Jenee getting in?”

She leaned against the frame of the door. “Today at four. I have a driver picking her up.” She strolled slowly back to the coffee pot and re-filled her cup.

“How about I go down to the market and pick up some fresh fish and we’ll welcome her San Francisco-style.”

She knew he was trying to change the subject, but with Jenee coming this afternoon, Ling didn’t want to continue to quarrel. “That would be nice,” she said coolly.

He walked to her, put his hand under her chin, and lifted her head. “Let’s put this behind us, okay?

She nodded reluctantly.

After Caleb left, Ling plopped down into one of the recliners in front of the fireplace in the kitchen and brought her legs up. Staring out the corner window of the kitchen, her eyes filled with tears. Caleb had changed. Something was wrong. Maybe he was jealous, but he would have to get used to sharing her. She’d told
him that much of her time would be spent trying to find adoptive parents. He’d agreed and said he was on board. What had happened since then?

Although her parents hadn’t said anything, she could tell they were concerned, as they had been quiet lately when Caleb was around. Caleb’s one or two glasses of wine before dinner had turned into pitchers of martinis and shots of whiskey. And the slightest thing would set him off. He’d lost weight and had let himself go. Was Ling doing something wrong? Hopefully he would talk to her soon, before it was too late to save their marriage.

She stood, walked out of the kitchen, and started for the stairs. Noticing the modern art picture she and Caleb had picked out together at the open market was slightly askew, she gently pushed the corner with her fingertips until it hung straight. Her eyes moved over the perfect furniture and perfect accessories. She didn’t need a fancy home or furnishings like this. What she needed was the Caleb back who she’d married. Why couldn’t he just use the winnings from the lottery ticket to help others? When they got back from Shanghai, she’d talk to him about putting the house up for sale. Besides, she missed Chinatown.