Mark lay on her a moment, and she let her fingers linger on his lower back, drawing little circles. Having him still connected to her really made her feel as though they were one. She had never experienced the connection she had with Mark with anyone else. But did he feel the same for her, or was he just getting from her what he’d lost?
He seemed to sense her mood change, rolled off of her, and pulled her to him.
“You okay?” he asked.
“I’m great.” She smiled.
“You sure?”
“Yes, Mark.” She rolled to her side and let her hands rub through his hair. “I am absolutely wonderful. You have made my day in more than one way. And I hope I have shown you how thankful I am.”
Leaning forward, he kissed her. “Oh, you have. You just being here is all the thanks I need.”
Sitting up for a moment, she reached down and pulled the blanket up around them. “How about a short nap before dinner?”
“Sounds perfect.”
Julie snuggled into his side, where she seemed to fit perfectly. With all the emotions she had experienced today, she was exhausted. Now, with his arms wrapped tightly around her, she felt at home and safe.
* * *
The next morning, as Julie sat alone at the kitchen table reading over the local paper, she found herself having a hard time focusing. She wondered if what she was feeling for Mark was real. It felt real. When she saw him, she wanted to be near him, and when he was away, she missed him. When they’d been together yesterday, it had been more than just sex. There’d been a lot of love from both of them.
They had moved into a regular ritual with one another, and she enjoyed it. He always made sure her needs were met. When he looked at her, he made her feel not only special but desirable. He knew she carried another man’s child, and it didn’t really seem to bother him. But that was a whole other concern on its own.
Did he have true feelings for her or, when he looked at her, did he see what he’d lost? Did he think he could get it back with her and her baby? She knew he was still grieving. And the way he’d watched the baby on the monitor yesterday with such love… It somewhat freaked her out. If she was on the market for a father, he would be perfect, but she wasn’t. She needed to figure this all out. And there was no way she could do that here. She was going to have to return to New York. She had no idea where she was going to stay there, but it wasn’t like she could stay here either and keep playing house. She had to get her life together and figure it all out. And she only had five months.
She closed the paper, realizing there was no reason to continue staring at words that weren’t even registering. She headed outside and jogged toward the mailbox. She’d forgotten to check it yesterday, and it had been two weeks since the last postcard. Her mom had to be somewhere, and she needed some insight. She was in luck. In the mailbox, mixed with the bills, with a glossy card.
She flipped it over and saw her mother had just left Atlanta, Georgia. She assumed now her mom was going to keep heading south and maybe stop in Florida. On the back, though, there was a different message than her typical one. It was made out to her.
Love you, Julie. Hope you enjoyed the snow while I basked in the heat of Georgia.
So her mother knew she was here and just hadn’t called her back. Why? Well, she intended to do her best to find out.
Julie stomped back inside, taking care not to slip on the ice. She made a mental note to let Mark know they needed more salt out here. Neither of them needed to risk falling.
Once she was safely inside, she continued her angry march straight to the phone and dialed her mother. Just as she expected, the voicemail picked up. Rolling her eyes, she left a message. “I’m sorry I missed you on my trip home, but I have to go back to New York soon. Maybe you’ll call me then. Love you, and enjoy your trip.”
Mark would be home for lunch before long. Might as well get cleaned up and get something started for them to eat.
* * *
“Mark, your work is magnificent,” Seth Hampton, the town’s sheriff, said. “You just have a way with wood. This new entertainment stand just might outshine my TV.”
Mark laughed. “I doubt that. That’s a pretty impressive TV you got there. Hope you’re expecting me for Super Bowl Sunday.”
“Of course. Party’s at my place.” Seth arranged a more serious look on his face. “So tell me about Julie. What’s she doing home?”
“Just came to see her mama.”
“But Mama ain’t here, and you are. Rumor has it you two were snowed in together.”
Mark ran his hands through his hair. “Guess I just got lucky.”
“Lucky. Yeah, I’d say so. She’s a hot piece of action. Wish she was sticking around.”
Mark’s blood burned. He was always known for being jealous, but it was best to watch his tongue. He didn’t want to say anything he’d regret. “Yeah, pretty hot.”
“Did you guys … you know?”
Was he serious? Mark shook his head.
“I wouldn’t blame you if you had.” Mark clenched his fists. Seth noticed and took a step back. “Sorry, man. That was really rude of me. I should know better.”
“Listen, you need me to send some of the guys out to help you load this up in your pick-up?”
“That would be great actually. Looking forward to you seeing it all set up. See ya, man.”
Mark nodded. He knew Seth’s talk was innocent. It was just typical guy talk. Everyone in town was curious as to why Julie was here, why she hadn’t known her mom was gone, and what had happened between them during the blizzard. If there was one thing his parents had taught him, though, it was to respect your and others’ private lives. He had never been one to kiss and tell. Sure, Julie was someone he’d love to shout to the world he had kissed, but it wouldn’t be fair to her. Especially since he really had no idea what her plans were.
She’d let on a few times that she was returning to New York—which was the last thing he wanted. He wanted her to stay. He could help her with the baby, support her until she was ready to get back to work.
A light bulb then seemed to literally light up above his head. He knew exactly what she could do for work. He had no doubt she would be successful with it. Thank God it was lunchtime. He was going to hurry home now and tell her.
He hollered he was leaving then went to his truck and took the short drive back to what was starting to feel like Heaven. He loved returning everyday to the house and seeing Julie there. It was something he knew he’d never tire of.
Pulling into the driveway, he saw the smoke coming from the fireplace. She must have been piddling around again with mastering how to build a fire. It was cute and, each time she did it, she did the best little dance he had ever seen.
As he came through the front door, that was exactly what he saw. Today, though, she was dressed in cotton pants, but her hair and make-up were done. He sure would have loved to see that fine ass in jeans as she wiggled.
“Hey!” She jogged over and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Lunch is done and waiting on you. Sloppy Joes.”
“Sounds good.”
Mark followed her to the kitchen, and she told him to have a seat while she put the finishing touches together. Once she was done, she placed a plate in front of him packed with two sandwiches and tater tots. This was the unhealthiest thing he had seen her make yet. Maybe she was getting over whatever health kick she had been on and realized meat was good.
“I need to head to town later,” she said as she sat down. “It happened. My belly popped. I can’t button my jeans any longer.”
“It was bound to happen.” He couldn’t wait to see the tiny bump.
“Yes, I guess you’re right about that. I actually think I felt a light flutter today. It kind of felt like someone was scraping me with a fingernail lightly on the inside of my belly. Strange really.”
“Really? That’s great. It’s getting so much more real now, I bet.”
“It is.” She took a bite of a tater tot. “Got a postcard from Mom. She just left Atlanta. She knows I’m here. The card was addressed to me.”
“Why hasn’t she called then?”
“Your guess is as good as mine.”
“Maybe soon.”
They finished eating, and Mark told her to sit while he cleaned up. Since he had most of his work done, he figured he could take a longer lunch break than usual. There was just one piece he needed to add a first layer of polish to, and he would be done with all he could do for the day.
“So let me see this bump.” He dried his hands.
A big grin crossed her face, and she pulled her shirt up for him to have a little peek. He’d just been down there last night and, sure enough, there was a little bit more of a bump there than before. He walked over and placed his hand on it. She gazed up into his eyes. He was in love with this girl, and there was no way he could let her leave. He leaned down to kiss her, but the doorbell sounded followed by pounding.
“Who the hell is that?” He went to find out as the person kept pounding on the door. Whoever it was, it had to be an emergency with all that racket.
Mark opened the door and had no idea who the man standing there dressed in a suit was. A glance around the guy showed a Mercedes sitting in the driveway. He had a good idea now. He knew just who it was.
“I’m here to see Julie,” the man said.
“Mark, who is it?” Julie asked as she came up behind him. “Jeremy, what are you doing here?”
Jeremy tried to enter the house, but Mark stood firmly in the doorway.
“It’s cold out here. Can I please come in?” Jeremy snapped. “Julie, tell this brute to get out of my way.”
She placed her hand on his forearm. “It’s okay, Mark.”
He spun his head around and looked at her. Was she crazy? This man had just threatened her, and now she wanted to just let him into the house. Whatever. He took a step back and let the man inside.
“Thanks,” Jeremy said as he came in and shut the door behind him. “Could you give us some privacy?”
“No.” Mark was not backing down. There was no way he was leaving Julie alone with him.
“What I have to discuss with Julie does not concern you.”
“Jeremy, it’s fine. Just say whatever you have to say,” Julie said.
“Are you seeing this guy?” Jeremy pointed at him.
“What do you want, Jeremy?” Julie asked, obviously as irritated as Mark was that Jeremy was here.
Jeremy studied Mark some more. “I’m sorry for the other day. I shouldn’t have said those things I did. I was just making a point. I don’t want the baby.”
Julie walked over to her purse and dug through it. She handed a picture to Jeremy. Mark was certain he knew what the photo was of.
“That’s
my
baby. In two weeks, I will know if
my
baby is a boy or girl.
You
don’t have a baby.”
Jeremy only glanced at the picture before handing it right back to her. “It’s too late for the abortion, isn’t it?”
“It was never an option.”
“Do you really want to raise a baby on your own in New York City? Because I’m signing away my rights, so you can’t get a dime from me.”
“I’ll make it somehow,” she said.
“If you put it up for adoption, you can come home after to me.”
Mark couldn’t believe this man. Did he think he was that damn special? “She’ll never come back to you.”
Jeremy looked him up and down again. “Julie, are you involved with this man?”
Mark stepped forward. “I happen to care about that woman and
her
child. I would like you to get out of my house before you disrespect her anymore. She isn’t coming home to you ever.”
Jeremy started to laugh. “This is classic. Julie comes home to find some hick to be the father of that bastard.”
That was it. He couldn’t hold himself back anymore. His fist shot out and found itself a new home right across the mouth of that punk.
“Mark!” Julie screamed.
Jeremy held his mouth and stared back at Mark. “You will be hearing from my attorney. Both of you. Good God, Julie, you are something.”
“Leave.
Now
,” Mark demanded.
Jeremy didn’t think twice, and he left, making sure to slam the door on his way out. Mark could not have been more relieved that was over. He turned to comfort Julie, who was crying
“Don’t touch me!” she yelped. “What the hell is your problem?”
Now he was really confused. She was mad at him? “Did you expect me to just let him talk to you like that?”
“You didn’t have to hit him. I can only imagine what he’s going to do now.” She crossed her arms and started to pace. “I have to go back there. I have a job to return to. I have this kid to take care of, and I can’t do that here in Brookfield.”
“Why?” he asked.
“What would I do for work?”
“I have an idea. It came to me today, and I think it’s perfect.”
She sat on the couch. “Let me hear it.”
“Everyone has e-readers now. You’re a known editor, one of the best. Start your own e-publisher. You could easily do that from Brookfield.”