Christmas With The Houstons (Acceptance #4) (19 page)

“Well, that’s new.” I laugh as she moves up to sit next to me.

“Maybe I should feed him something and he’ll kindly dislodge from under my ribs.”

“Maybe.”

“Jake, thank you for coming home last night.”

“This is the only place I wanted to be and I’m glad I came home. You were a mess, April. I’ve never seen you so worked up like that. I don’t care how bad we’re fighting or how much of an ass I’m being, if there’s ever a next time you
need
to call me. It was the worst thing in the world seeing I hurt you as much as I did.”

“It’s the hormones,” she says after swallowing her food. “I’m not an emotional woman but I couldn’t stop thinking about why you wouldn’t keep your word about fixing things with Connor. I convinced myself it meant you didn’t want me, and then I convinced myself you didn’t want
us
.”

“That’s never going to happen. As long as I’m breathing, I’m always going to want my family.”

“I’m sorry I freaked out.”

“I’m sorry I gave you a reason to.”

As we eat our breakfast, she’s still pensive. Maybe I can break the ice.

“So… I’m sort of unemployed.”

Her fork drops and clatters on her plate, the look of surprise evident on her face.

“What do you mean?”

“Houston Financial Inc. has been sold.”

“Just like that? Brian sold the company out from under you guys? Is he in trouble financially? Are
we
in trouble financially?”

After putting our trays on the floor, I scoot next to her and wrap my arm around her.

“No, everyone is fine. Dad is retiring. My parents want to enjoy their golden years. They want to travel and spend time with their grandkids.”

“Okay, but why sell?”

“Well, he came and talked to me and Connor yesterday and left the choice up to us.”

“
You
chose to sell?”

“Yeah, I guess I did. Connor was willing to stay on and help me run the company but my dad spent all day talking to us about life, love, and passion. He pointed out my passion seems to be my family,
not
my work. And Connor’s passion is his family and working for Kate.”

“Well, the Connor part is true but what about you, Jake?”

“I’m not sure. I was definitely thrown for a loop and when we got back to their house, I had a few shots, napped, ate way too many tacos, and made sure I put Connor’s happiness before mine. I don’t think at this stage in my life I want to run a company, but I also don’t think it’s going to be easy to give that up, either.”

“Did you give up because of Mia and Hannah? If so, it’s not too late to change our minds and think of some other way. I don’t want you giving up what makes you happy to make me happy.”

“That’s just it, babe, Dad was right. What makes me happy is you, Jaxson, Mia, Hannah, and everyone else I hold close. Work was just that, it was a job. What made it special was being with Dad and Connor. With Dad leaving, it wouldn’t have been the same.”

“What about your proposal? Would that have worked?”

“Yeah, I think so, but Connor and I would have still been commuting at least one if not two days a week. With Dad gone, working from here anytime in the immediate future would have been out.”

“So what now?” she asks as she lightly runs her hand over my chest, finally landing on my heart.

“I was thinking maybe I could invest in Marc’s sex clubs. It could be pretty hot to go try out the rooms.”

“Jake Houston!”

I fucking love messing with her.

“Just kidding… well, maybe. Over the next few weeks, I’m transitioning out of the company and the new CFO is starting Monday. He’ll work with me getting to know everyone and see how we run things. The best part is everyone keeps their jobs if they want them. Dad and Connor want me with you as soon as possible since Jaxson will be here soon. Connor is going to pick up all of the slack until the end of the year when he is officially out, too.”

“Are you really okay with this? It’s a huge change, Jake, and we don’t have any kind of fallback plan for something like this.”

“I’ll need time to adjust and to figure out what’s next, but I think I want to do something different. Something good. Maybe volunteer in some way or start our own foundation.”

“Well, it’s not like we don’t have the money for it,” she remarks dryly.

“About that…”

“Please don’t tell me we’re broke, Jake. Not after I just quit my job.”

Laughing, I place a kiss on her forehead and then cup her chin and tip her head up so her eyes meet mine.

“Hardly. If we weren’t set before, we are now. Dad split the sale with us. Connor and I are worth triple what we were before.”

“Triple?” she squeaks.

“Yup, now you see why I want to do something good with the money?”

Her eyes soften and a smile plays across her lips.

“You’ve always been meant to do something good, Jake. You’re one of the first people to offer help to someone when they’re in need. It’s exactly why you couldn’t look the other way when Hannah wanted to chat you up. Lots of potential foster parents only pay attention to the child they’re taking. Instead, you gave
her
your attention. It’s probably a good thing they were the only kids there or we might need a much bigger house.”

“I don’t know about that.”

She places her finger over my lips to hush me. “You’ve got a heart of gold, Jake Houston, and it’s my favorite part of you so don’t pretend it doesn’t exist.”

“I thought your favorite part of me was my co—”

“Don’t finish that sentence or you’re going to ruin this moment,” she commands.

Commanding April is sexy as fuck.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Much better,” she says, kissing me again.

“So what do you want to do today?”

“Can we please figure out what to do about the girls’ bedrooms?”

“Nothing. I know you’re excited, babe, but we need to ride this out and make sure they’re really ours and then let them pick everything their hearts desire. In the meantime, since you completely vetoed the idea of a baby shower, how about we finish shopping for Jaxson and his nursery instead?”

“You’re right. I’m just excited and I don’t want to accept there’s a chance we won’t get them. Those girls are ours, Jake, I can feel it. Shopping for Jaxson sounds good. Let’s get ready and go.”

“I feel it, too, babe. We just have to wait it out.”

I’m as anxious as she is to finally have the girls here with us but at the same time, maybe it’s not a bad thing it’s taking so long. With the way things are going at work and how busy I’ll be the next few weeks, it would be hard for me to give them the attention they deserve right now.

“By the way, my dad was eavesdropping on me and Connor. He knows about the girls, so you need to tell your parents.”

“No worries,” she says, popping a kiss on my cheek. “I was going to tell them tonight at dinner, anyway.”

April

The day before Thanksgiving

Yesterday was Jake’s last day of work and he’s been pouting ever since he came home. The only time he lightened up at all was when we finished our last Lamaze class. We still haven’t received the okay to foster Mia and Hannah and I’m getting anxious.

I wanted so much to have time to bond with them before Jaxson makes his entrance, which according to my doctor, could be any day now. I’m dilated at one but she says it’s not uncommon to be that way for a few weeks. She cautioned it’s also not uncommon to go from one to ten in a few hours.

When I first found out I was pregnant, they thought my due date would be Christmas Day. Jaxson would have made a great gift but I really wasn’t looking forward to spending Christmas in the hospital. About a month later, they adjusted my due date to December tenth—today is November twenty-fifth. It’s hard to believe I could give birth at any time, but I’m still holding on to hope he’ll stay in a bit longer so we can get his sisters settled first.

“You’re making pies?” Jake asks, and a smile finally lights up his face.

“I wanted to do something to make you happy. Besides, since your parents are hosting tomorrow for everyone, including my entire family, I figured it was the least I could do.”

Jake stalks over to the cinnamon-sugar mixture I use to coat the pumpkin pie crusts and pulls me close. He leans close and licks my neck then sprinkles some of the sugar on me. Warmth floods my body as he sucks it off with his tongue.

“Mmm,” he whispers in my ear, “I’d rather eat you and I know exactly where I want to spread some more of this sugar. Come on.” He pulls my hand and grabs the plate when the phone rings.

“Let it go to voicemail,” he demands, but I pull back.

“Sorry, it will just take a minute. I’m supposed to watch Haven and Lucas for Kate and Daniel so they can go Christmas shopping. I’ll tell them to give me a few minutes.”

“Tell them to give you an hour. I want to take my time with you.”

I grab the phone and spin around to turn off the oven as I answer. No need to pre-heat it just yet.

“Hey, Kate.”

“I’m sorry, is this Mrs. Houston?” a voice asks from the other end of the phone. Shit, I just assumed it was Kate; I didn’t even look at the caller ID.

“Yes, it is. Can I help you?”

“Oh, good. I’m so glad I was able to reach you before the holiday. Mrs. Houston, this is Mrs. Bass from the Department of Children and Family Services. I wanted to let you know your application has been approved and you can pick up Mia Ramos and Hannah Smith from Denise Robinson today. I’m available to meet you there in an hour or later this afternoon to talk to the girls about their placement with you and have you and your husband sign the rest of the paperwork.”

Oh my God.

It’s really happening.

“Yes, one hour works fine. Thank you, Mrs. Bass. Thank you very much.”

“You’re welcome, see you soon.”

When I turn around with a massive smile on my face, Jake immediately knows.

“We’re getting them today?”

Nodding emphatically. “Yes, we’re getting them today!”

“Come on, we only have an hour, let’s go. I’ll call Kate from the car.”

“Not so fast,” he says as he pulls me into his embrace.

“Jake, come on, we have to go.”

“No, take a minute and soak this in because in an hour, we’re going to be parents. You’re going to be a mom.”

“And you’re going to be a dad, Jake, the best one ever.”

“Feel like doing some shopping today?” he asks with a shit-eating grin on his face.

“Feel like helping me bake all those pies when we’re done?” He looks to the kitchen and at all the supplies spread out over the counter and then back to me.

“Uh, no. You’ll be too tired after the day we’re going to have to bake pies for forty people, April. As much as I love you, tonight needs to be spent spoiling and loving our girls.”

“Good point, but they could help?”

I’m grasping at straws because I don’t want to let everyone down tomorrow. Thanksgiving pies are a
big
deal.

“How about we go to as many restaurants or stores as it takes and let the girls pick out all the pies for tomorrow? I’m sure they’ll be excited about it and it will save you the trouble.”

“That sounds like a great idea.”

“Good.”

“Jake?”

“Yes, my love?” He kisses me softly and my heart flutters.

“Can we please go get our girls now?”

“Absolutely, let’s go.”

Once we’re in the car, I call Kate. I feel bad for not being able to watch the kids but this isn’t something I could help.

“Hey, April! Ready to watch my monsters?” Daniel questions with a laugh.

“Actually, I’m sorry, but I have to cancel.”

“No problem, I’ll just ask Mike. Is something wrong? Are you in labor?”

“What? April’s in labor?” Kate calls out from somewhere in the background and it makes me laugh. Everyone is on baby watch all of a sudden.

“No, I’m not in labor. We got the call, Daniel.”

“You’re picking up the girls? Today?”

“They’re getting the girls today? Oh my God!” Kate squeals and I can just picture her doing a happy dance.

“Yeah, so we’ll see you guys tomorrow at Thanksgiving, okay?”

“No problem. Congratulations, you guys.”

“Thanks.”

After I hang up the phone, Jake laughs. “I could hear Kate squealing from here and I wasn’t even on the phone.”

“Neither was she,” I tell him, and he laughs even harder.

“Do you think they’ll be surprised?”

“I think they will be. We’ve been careful not to get their hopes up.”  His reply is diplomatic but I want more.

“Do you think they’ll be happy?”

Please say yes.

“I hope so,” he whispers as he takes my hand in his.

There’s absolutely no traffic today so we arrive a few minutes early. Both girls are sitting on the porch with Denise, looking cute as can be. When we get out of the car, they come running up to us.

“Jake!” Mia calls out as Hannah screams loudly, “April, did you hear we’re moving today? Someone wants to pre-adopt us!”