The Bloodline

Chapter 9, The Bloodline

Chapter 9

Sitting around the table with her children, the baby on her lap, as she poked at her plate and the dinner she'd made, she couldn't help missing Andy. His spot at the head of the table was empty, a reminder he wasn't here. It was silly, this feeling she had, missing him so much, considering they were together day in and day out. For some, the break would have been welcome—but not with Andy, not for Laura.

She didn't think she'd ever tire of knowing he was there. She wished he'd call. He'd been gone all day, and although she realized on some level that he had a lot to deal with, she wanted to hear from him because he and their children were the center of her world.

"Mom, aren't you going to eat?" Gabriel asked as she stared at the chicken casserole she had moved all over her plate. She had no appetite, and to her, tonight, food was absolutely tasteless.

"Not hungry, I guess, but I will." She shoved a forkful in her mouth just so her child wouldn't worry. Gabriel had eaten half his dinner, and the twins had spilled most of theirs on the table.

"All done," Jeremy said as he pushed away, his hands a mess. Chelsea was holding her sippy cup, drinking her water, sitting nicely in her booster seat.

"Whoa, hang on a second. Let's wipe your hands and touch nothing." Laura jumped up, holding the baby, and went around the table to take Jeremy to the sink in the kitchen, where she wet a cloth with her one hand and wiped at his.

She heard a truck and glanced out the window, seeing Kim looking so confident as she started up the steps. There was a knock on the screen door.

"It's open," Laura called out, hearing it squeak.

"Hey there, I hope this isn't a bad time, but I thought I'd stop in and see if you need anything." Kim strode into the kitchen, setting her purse on the counter and flipping her sunglasses on top of her head. Her long brown hair hung in waves down her back, and she wore blue jeans and a blue checkered shirt. "Actually, I was bored. Bruce is on call at the hospital and was called in this morning for an emergency. He'll be gone all night, I'm sure. I've cleaned every inch of the house top to bottom, weeded the garden, and now that I'm done with all those mundane tasks, I hoped I could bug you for a bit."

"Glad you stopped by. Your timing is perfect. I was starting to go stir crazy," Laura said as Jeremy raced over to Kim and she lifted him, giving him a kiss. Of course he wanted down immediately and took off to his toys.

Gabriel walked in, carrying his plate, and put it on the counter. "Hi, Kim. Do you want dinner? Mom made a chicken casserole. She hasn't finished hers yet."

"Chicken casserole, that sounds good," Kim said, looking over at Laura and touching Gabriel's head. "But I already ate, thanks, Gabriel. Why don't I sit with you, and I'll hold this gorgeous sleeping baby while you eat?" Kim reached for the baby in Laura's arms.

"Mom, can I go out and brush my horse?" Gabriel asked.

"If Bert is out in the stable, then you can, but your dad didn't want you out with the horse while he's gone."

"Dad said he didn't want me to ride. He didn't say anything about brushing him," Gabriel said.

He was right, Andy hadn't said that, but she also knew Andy didn't like Gabriel or any of the kids around the horses or hanging around the barn when he wasn't around. Laura wasn't comfortable at all with the horses, and she didn't know the men he'd hired to help well. She knew Andy had already warned them to steer clear of the house and her.

"Brush only, and check with Bert first," she said and watched as Gabriel raced out the door.

"Are any of the men staying while Andy's gone?" Kim asked, peeking out the window toward the barn.