Read Jessie Belle: The Women of Merryton - Book One for Free Online

and
cookies and homework help to any kid that needed it. It was the one thing I
felt like I did that was worthwhile anymore.
    Sunday
night I spent in my bed, alone. I used the time to write out some possible
recipes for a graham cookie and a cannoli shell. When Monday dawned I actually
felt a little anticipation. I was looking forward to getting back into the
kitchen at Jessie Belle’s and creating. I was also planning to hit the gym.
Apparently, per Cheyenne’s intel, there was a new Zumba instructor and he was
amazing. I didn’t need to lose any weight; I just needed to feel alive.
    I
ran into Blake and stumbled some as I came out of the bedroom. I was more than
surprised—I thought he would have been long gone. I didn’t have to go into the
café early anymore, so I rarely saw him in the mornings. I had hired an amazing
manager last year in anticipation of staying home with the baby, and though
that didn’t happen, I still kept Aaron on. I should probably let him do more of
my job, and maybe I would someday, but sometimes Jessie Belle’s was my
lifeline.
    “Jessica,”
he said as he steadied me. “Can I talk to you?”
    “Sure.”
    He
cautiously took my hand and led me to the couch in the great room. It was kind
of sweet, but odd. We sat down next to each other and he continued to hold my
hand with his thumb gently gliding across it. I looked into his gray eyes and
they were still troubled and tired. It looked like he hadn’t bothered to shave
either, but I liked it that way. I almost reached up and touched his rough
cheek, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I don’t know why I was having
problems showing him physical affection. When we were first married, I couldn’t
keep my hands off him. Maybe I was afraid of rejection, or maybe I was looking
for a deeper emotional connection first. I wasn’t sure, but this I did know: I
missed it.
    “Jess,
I know how hard all of this is on you and I’m sorry for that. I don’t want to
cause you any pain, but I want to be above board with you about what’s going on
with Madeline.”
    I
looked up briefly at the ceiling. I had been trying not to think about it.
    He
lightly ran his finger down my cheek. “I know. I’m sorry.”
    I
took a deep breath and tried to be a big girl about it. “Do you think she’s
yours?”
    He
let go of my hand and reached into his pocket to retrieve his phone. He pulled
up a picture and showed it to me.
    I
did my best not to cry as I looked at the beautiful girl with dark blond hair
and gray eyes like my husband, and a nose to match his, too. My best wasn’t
good enough. Tears trailed down my cheeks.
    He
quickly put the phone away and took up my hand again. “Sabrina’s lawyer is
having a lab send me a paternity test kit.”
    We
both knew that was just a formality. That girl was his.
    “Is
she suing you for child support?”
    “No,
but when paternity is determined, I’m sure she will request it. I’ve already
offered it if she’s mine.”
    “Of
course. You should.”
    “Don’t
worry about the money. I have it covered.”
    “Money
is the very least of my concerns in this situation.”
    He
leaned in and rested his forehead against mine. “Don’t you know how much I wish
she was ours?” he whispered.
    “That
doesn’t change the fact that she isn’t.”
    He
sighed heavily. I could smell his minty breath.
    “Why
did she wait so long to tell you?”
    “I’m
not sure. I’m not even sure she would have told me if it weren’t for the fact
she was so sick. I think she’s scared and wants to make sure Madeline is taken
care of, just in case.”
    I
pulled back so I could look at him more clearly. “Just in case what?”
    “I
got the feeling they don’t have any other family support and her diagnosis
isn’t promising.”
    “Are
you saying that Madeline might come live with you?”
    “Us,”
he corrected.
    I
stood up, not sure how to process that information. I don’t know why that
didn’t cross my mind as a