Second Chance Mom. Mary Holder Kate
was a large swing set that combined aspects of a jungle gym, as well. “You put sand around the bottom of the play set.”
“James did. I swear they were the most safety-conscious parents of all time.” Annie heard the pride in his statement.
“The chicken coop is past the vegetable garden. We let them roam free every day and they get housed at night.”
Annie smiled. “Free range eggs.”
“They’re the best.” He walked a few more steps. “That row of coops over there houses what my mother calls ‘the critters.’”
“Should I ask?”
“Remember the rabbits and guinea pigs I mentioned before?” She nodded. “James put a lot of work into their living quarters.”
“I’ll bet the boys love their guinea pigs.”
“Actually the boys have the rabbits. The guinea pigs belong to Caroline. Now she’s bugging me for a ferret.”
Annie stopped. “Aren’t they dangerous?”
“They are if they get near the rabbits.”
“Is she getting one?”
“I might be able to divert her. She wants a scarecrow now…and she mentioned ducks a few weeks ago.” He walked a little farther. “The flower beds need to be replanted in places and the seasonal vegetables are going to be ready in a month of so.”
In twenty minutes, Annie’s life had changed. This was where she was meant to be. It didn’t matter what reasons had brought her here, what events had transpired to bring her into Jared’s life.
“I could make a home here,” she said honestly, taking in a deep breath of clean country air.
Jared turned and looked at her, a satisfied expression on his face. “I’m glad you think so.”
Annie wasn’t about to rush over any bridges only to have them burn behind her. “We’ll see how things go in the next few days.”
Jared nodded. “Come on. We don’t want to be late for dinner.”
The ride to his parents’ farm took her past stretches of road and landmarks she remembered.
“You look nervous.”
She nodded reluctantly. “I am a little…okay, a lot.”
“You know my parents already.”
“Do they know you’re thinking of marrying me…to keep the children together?”
“Yes.”
Annie felt even more nervous now. His parents were good, kind people who in recent years had been through their share of struggles. But for them to know their son was marrying and not for love…
“Annie, they will support me in any decision I make if it’s what I want.” He slowed the vehicle and smiled. “Besides, it’s too late to back out now. We’re here.”
The Campbell farm was as she remembered. The house was small and neatly kept, the gardens just as tidy, though now they were full of what would probably be the last blooms of the season.
This is where the circle of love had started. The Campbells, unable to have children of their own, had adopted Sara and Jared. And so had begun the events that had brought Annie here today. She took a deep breath as they pulled to a stop and got out as the front door of the house opened.
“You’re just in time for dinner.”
Eve Campbell looked a little older but was still a petite, casually dressed farmer’s wife. Annie felt a little of her anxiety ease as the smiling woman came toward her and enveloped her in a hug the likes of which Annie hadn’t felt in a long time.
“Welcome home.” She looked at Annie just like a mother hen checking her chick. “We’ve missed you.”
Annie had been waiting to say something to this woman for a long time. “I’ve never forgotten how kind you were to me, the dinners I had here and the gifts you bought me,” she said, squeezing the woman’s hand. “I want to say thank you.”
Eve blinked back moisture in her eyes. “Your smile told me that a million times over.” She took a good look at Annie. “You’ve grown into a very beautiful young woman.”
Annie blushed, not even trying to stop the heat that surged into her cheeks. She touched the end of her ponytail where it lay over one shoulder.
“I never did get the blonde hair I longed for as a girl, or the brown eyes…and the freckles didn’t go away.”
“Child, your beauty is natural. Your skin is so smooth and flawless and those green eyes…just striking.”
“I’ll try to remember that.”
“And freckles?” She scoffed as if it were a minor concern. “It’s features like that which make people truly interesting…make them stand out from the crowd.”
Jared came around the truck and hugged his mother. “What’s for dinner?”
“A lamb roast, with vegetables and homemade damper.”
He laughed. “I should bring company home more often.”
“I haven’t had a home-cooked lamb roast since I left Guthrie. And I’ve forgotten how damper tastes.”
“Your taste buds are about to get a refresher course. Mum makes the best bread.”
Eve led the way into the house and before Annie even walked into the homey, aroma-filled kitchen she could hear the laughter of children—a boy and a girl—and the voice of an older man.
Suddenly her palms were sweating and her heart felt as if it were lodged somewhere in her throat. It was pounding so loud she was afraid it would just stop beating.
On legs that were threatening to go numb, as the realization of what lay ahead tonight hit her, Annie followed Eve into the kitchen, Jared behind her.
“Toby got hungry and after I fed him he just went out like a light,” said Eve. “He’ll be awake soon, I expect.”
Another reprieve—or torture—Annie couldn’t decide which.
Was she really ready to see her child? No, not her child—maybe biologically, but she had to remember that if she remained in these children’s lives that was the way it had to be.
At the table sat Mick Campbell. To his left sat Caroline and Luke, and there were three empty chairs waiting to be filled.
Jared could feel the tension radiating from Annie. “Dad, you remember Annie Dawson from Rivers End Road?”
Mick stood up.
“Nice to meet you again, sir.”
He chuckled, though it ended in a cough that had Annie wondering just how long it was taking him to get over his illness.
“Nobody’s called me sir since…I can’t remember when. Call me Mick.”
“Okay.”
Jared turned his attention to Caroline, who sat with her head down and eyes glued to the plate in front of her.
He began with the easiest task.
“Luke, say hello to Annie.”
The little boy used the back of his hand to wipe a milk mustache from his top lip and grinned, showing that his two front teeth were missing.
“Hi.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Luke.”
“Are you our new mummy?”
The question exploded into the silence of the room.
Nobody spoke. Annie could feel their unease at the implications