Max knew whatever was going on in Raine’s life wasn’t his concern, but why hadn’t she said anything? Obviously Abby wasn’t biologically Raine’s, yet she hadn’t said a word.
The stomping of her boots on the stoop outside the back door had him moving away from the desk. Even though he felt a bit hurt at not knowing, he couldn’t exactly expect her to open up to him after all these years apart.
The back door opened, letting in a cold blast of air. Raine slid out of her snow-covered boots and stepped onto the linoleum before shrugging out of her coat and hanging it on a peg. She shoved her gloves into the pockets and hung up her small red cap.
When she turned around, she froze, then smiled.
“Well, I certainly didn’t expect you to be feeding her.”
Max smiled back as he glanced down at a very content baby. “She was quite vocal, so I assumed that’s what she wanted. Hope I didn’t mess up.”
Raine’s eyes roamed over his chest and up to his face. “You’re doing just fine.”
“You better stop looking at me like that,” he said with a slight grin. “The roads are clear, and I should probably get back home to check on my mom.”
The passionate scrutiny that had been visible seconds ago vanished from her eyes. She nodded and reached for Abby.
“Let me take her.” With ease she took the baby, bottle and all, and cradled her. “I wasn’t thinking.”
She’d erected a wall. Just like that she’d taken the baby, stepped back and wouldn’t look him in the eyes. Oh, no. This was not going to end this way...hell, this didn’t have to end. Did it?
“Raine.” He waited until she looked back at him. “Don’t do this. Don’t shut me out just because our forced proximity is over. We are working toward something here.”
“I’m not shutting you out, Max. I’m just scared.”
“There’s nothing to be afraid of.”
* * *
He seemed so confident. But that was Max. He’d always had more confidence than her.
“I expect to see you again soon,” he said, easing closer and running a hand up her arm. “Will you be coming to my mother’s for anything?”
“She hasn’t placed any new orders, but I may stop by to check on her. And I need to discuss a couple of things about her gardening, since I’ll be placing more seed orders soon.”
Max nodded. “What can I do before I go?”
She glanced to Abby and shook her head. “We’re good. Thanks for everything, though.”
“I didn’t really do anything,” he said.
Her eyes held his. “You did. More than you know.”
“I want to see you,” he stated. “Outside the house. Just because I’m leaving now doesn’t mean I don’t want to see where this goes.”
Raine nodded. “I want that. And as we discussed, I’m going to confront my parents soon.”
“Let me know when. I’m here for you and Abby.”
Raine stepped closer, easing the baby to the side and rising up on her toes to place a soft kiss on his cheek.
“My door is always open for you, Max.”
The door to her heart was also wide open, but she couldn’t tell him that, couldn’t risk him leaving for good again. He would leave, she had no doubt. But would he fight for them?
“Glad to hear it,” he said.
“You don’t know how much I appreciate you being here, helping with Abby and gathering wood.” Raine glanced down to Abby and back to Max. “It’s hard being a single mom. I try not to complain, but sometimes I worry if all these balls I have in the air are just going to come crashing down on me.”
Max laid a hand on her shoulder, another on Abby’s tiny arm. “As long as I’m in the picture, I won’t let anything crash down on you again.”
Her heart throbbed. Now she could only hope and pray Max wanted to stay in that picture.
* * *
Raine didn’t want to jump up and down, but when she saw the tiny little green sprouts popping up from the rich soil, she nearly did. Not everyone could grow vegetables in the winter. Well, they could, but she doubted they’d go to all the pains she did to ensure organic seeds and chemical-free soil.
The warm light was perfect and so was the rotation schedule of moving the pots around in the light. Raine was so excited about the little bean sprouts and kale. And her clients would be happy too that they were getting a jump start on their crops. When the weather broke and the risk of frost was gone, she could transplant these vegetables into the ground for her clients, and they could have their fresh produce before most other people.
And the stash she’d be able to take to the Farmer’s Market would be larger than last year. Thankfully each year her business grew. She had no less hopes for this spring.
Her cell vibrated against the worktable, and Raine smiled at the number on the screen.
“Hi, Jill,” she answered.
“Hey,” her cousin replied. “I haven’t called for a while but got a break from classes and wanted to check in. I heard you all got a crazy amount of snow. Everyone okay?”
Raine leaned back against her counter and crossed her arms. “Yeah, we’re all good now. The furnace went out, but I have enough wood to last until the warmer weather gets here.”
She hoped.
“Oh, Raine, I’m sorry. I swear, you really do always look on the bright side of life. I wish I could be more like you.”
Raine smiled. “You’re more like me than you know.”
“How’s Abby? I loved the picture you sent me last week of her in that cute little crocheted hat with a pink bow. She’s getting so big.”
“She’s doing great. Still a bit cranky at night, but much better than she used to be with bedtimes.”
Jill sighed. “Sometimes I wonder if I burdened you.”
“Never,” Raine said, coming to stand fully upright. “That beautiful baby has never been, nor will ever be, a burden to me. I love you, and I love her.”
“You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me...and to Abby,” Jill replied with a sniff. “I know I made the right decision in letting you adopt her. She’s getting more love and care than I ever could’ve provided.”
Raine’s heart clenched because, for a very brief moment, Jill had considered an abortion.
“I’ve always wanted a family,” Raine told her cousin. “And Abby is such a huge part of my life now. I can’t recall what it was like without her.”
“I’d like to come visit over summer break,” Jill said. “If that’s okay with you.”
“That’s more than okay with me,” Raine said. “I’m really proud of you for putting your baby’s needs ahead of your own.”
“I know I made the right decision. There’s no way I could’ve taken care of a child and continued my schooling...and I couldn’t abort her. The thought now makes me sick. So adoption was the only other choice.”
Raine teared up. She couldn’t wait for that official piece of paper.
“I need to get to my next class,” Jill said. “But I wanted to make sure you all were okay. I love and miss you, Raine.”
“Love and miss you, too. See you soon.”
Raine hung up, clutched her phone to her chest and closed her eyes. Jill was doing what she should be, with no help from her parents. Jill’s mother and Raine’s mother were sisters. They were certainly cut from the same snotty, holier-than-thou cloth, as well.
When Jill had become pregnant, it was like déjà vu for Raine all over again. Things happen...Raine hated to tell her mother that they were all human, and not everyone was perfect.
Raine may not have been in the best financial position to adopt, but she was much better off than Jill, and Raine’s business was continuing to grow.
There was no way Raine would’ve sat back during Jill’s struggle. Jill needed support like Raine never had, and when Abby was old enough to understand, Raine and Jill would sit down and tell her the truth.
But for now, Abby was hers and Raine would love her as her very own.
Twelve
Max made sure his mom was comfortable in her favorite chair in the patio before he went to get her lunch. The nurse had left, and Max was doing what he’d originally come here to do.
While he was beyond thankful for the time he’d spent with Raine, he was needed here. He also wanted a break from Raine and her sultry curves, her snappy comebacks and the maternal love he saw in her eyes each time she looked at Abby.
If he was going to fight for them, Max had some serious thinking to do. While he would not give up this movie opportunity with Bronson Dane, he also could not walk away from Raine again without seeing if they could make things work.
There had to be a way. Fate wouldn’t be that cruel to throw them together just to rip them apart once more.
But now that he was home again, he figured his mother would be a good source of information. Plus, knowing her, she’d want to hear about his three days snowbound with his first love.
As Max brought his mother a tray of sandwiches and fruits, she smiled up at him.
“Thank you, sweetheart.” She picked up the glass of water and took a sip before looking back at him. “How are Abby and Raine doing?”
Wow...that didn’t take long.
“They’re great,” he said, taking a seat in the floral wingback chair. “So just ask what you want to know, and let’s skip the chitchat.”
Elise laughed, reaching for a grape. “I’m a mother, Max. It’s my job to put my nose in your business.”
“Well, that guy you called about the furnace phoned me, and I gave him the go-ahead to replace the unit and repair her stove, so she could be warm sooner rather than later.”
His mother’s eyes widened. “She agreed to let you do that?”
“Oh, no, but I’m doing it anyway.”
“Good for you,” she murmured. “She needs someone to help her. God knows that snooty mother of hers won’t. And don’t get me started on her father.”
“Yeah, when did he become ruler over Lenox?”
“Not long after we moved.” Elise waved a hand in the air and reached for another piece of fruit. “That man can’t control his family, so he tries to control the city.”
Max could see that. Raine’s father had been an arrogant jerk when Max and Raine had dated as teens. Little did he know it was Raine’s mother who was so underhanded.
“I think Raine is a lovely girl, and I’m just sorry I didn’t see it years ago,” his mother finally said, her eyes seeking his.
Max jerked his attention to her and eased forward in his seat. “She’s no different now than she was when we were teens. What changed your mind?”
“I never truly had a problem before,” she admitted. “But I wanted peace in my house. You and your father already had so much tension between you...I didn’t want a girl to drive that wedge deeper.”
“I loved her.”
“I see that now,” she said. “My own shortsightedness had a hand in keeping you two apart.”
Max shook his head. He wasn’t getting into the real reason he and Raine had parted ways.
“Raine is the hardest worker I’ve ever seen,” Elise continued. “She goes out of her way to make sure her clients are well informed of exactly what they’re getting with their plants and seeds. She’s very concerned about chemicals and unnatural gardening. The fact that she does all this research in order to have the best is really remarkable.”
“How many clients does she have in town?”
His mother shrugged. “I’d say around thirty or so. She’s quite busy in the summer. I don’t know how she’ll juggle the business with Abby when the time comes. Of course, I’ll still be here, so it would be no hardship to let the little princess come inside while her mother works.”
Max had so many questions. Too many and he almost felt guilty gossiping about Raine with his mother. God, he’d resorted to being one of the busybodies in town. Now all he needed was a teacup and matching saucer.
“Her mother has tried to get the ladies not to hire Raine, and some of them have listened,” she said. “I personally need someone here when I’m not around in the summer, and, since Raine started several years ago, she’s been nothing but a blessing to me.”
Max stared at his mother. Was this the same woman who had tried to convince him as a teen that Raine wasn’t right for him and he should move on?
His mother smiled softly and eased back in her seat, ignoring her lunch. “I know what you’re thinking. I know what I said in the past, and I believed what I said at the time was what was best for that point in our lives, Max.”