Her heart fluttered. He hadn’t left her again, had he? They couldn’t have shared such an incredible night together if he meant to leave her again,right?
Alarmed, she swung her legs over the side of the bed. She opened his dresser and grabbed a fresh shirt. She could shower later, after she’dfoundhim.
As she padded down the hall, she passed her mom’s room. She carefully opened the door and found her mom sitting on the edge of the bed reading a book toJimmy.
“Have you seenBrady?”
“Not since this morning. He said I should let you sleep. He has some business he needed to take care ofintown.”
“Oh.” She couldn’t hide herdisappointment.
“Did everything go okay lastnight?”
“Ithoughtso.”
“I’m sure he’ll bebacksoon.”
“If you’re okay with Jimmy, I’d like to go check the front of thehouse.”
“Mommy, Namma’s reading the monkey bookagain.”
Rachel smiled. “I know shelovesthat story as much asyoudo.”
Her mom smirked. “Lovingit.”
Rachel chuckled. A couple of days earlier, her mom had told her that she really needed to buy him some new books. Apparently she was sick of reading the same book over and over. But, it was his favorite, so they’d agreed toendureit.
“I’ll bebacksoon.”
“Did Santa come last night?” Jimmyasked.
“Not yet. Not until the night beforeChristmas.”
Jimmy frowned. “I hope he doesn’tgetlost.”
“He’ll be able to find you wherever he is,” shepromised.
He seemed satisfied with that answer and returned his attention to the book. As she backed out of the room, she couldn’t help but smile. He was growing up so fast. She was glad there wouldn’t be a time when he couldn’t remember his father. After making love all night, she’d asked Brady when they should tell Jimmy. Brady had said that today would be perfect. She couldn’t understand why he wasn’t in bed when she’dwokenup.
She padded down the hall into the living room. Mack sat on the sofa reading the morning newspaper. He set it on the coffee table when shewalkedin.
“Hey, you’re upearly.”
“What time is it?” sheasked.
“A little afterseven.”
“It’s not thatearly.”
He grinned slyly. “Brady said you two had a latenight.”
Heat rushed into her cheeks. She wanted to die fromembarrassment.
Mack chuckled. “Don’t worry, we’re all adults here. Brady can do whatever hewants.”
“Do you know wherehewent?”
“Not sure. He took off about an hour ago but said he’d berightback.”
