Diamonds and Dust (Lonesome Point, Texas) (22 page)

“We are,” Pike agreed, kissing the top of her head. “I have breakfast, by the way. And three bags of hard candy from the drugstore. I didn’t know how much we’d need for candy poker, but I figured that’s a good place to start.”

“I like gummy worms better,” Clem’s sleepy voice said from the bed. “But we can start with hard candy, and once I win all that, you can go get gummies, Mr. Pike.”

Tulsi grinned as she turned to Clem, relieved to see her daughter looking more alert this morning. “Well good morning, bossy pants. A please and thank you in there somewhere would be nice.”

“That’s okay,” Pike said, laughing. “I think you should get a break from saying please and thank you for at least a day or two after major surgery. If I have knee surgery, I’m not going to say please or thank you for at least four days. And I’m going to make you two bring me milk shakes for every meal.”

Clem’s eyes widened. “Can I have a milk shake for breakfast, Mama? And lunch?”

“I think you should have something easy on your stomach and healthy,” Tulsi said, smiling as Clem wrinkled her nose. “We’ll talk to the nurses, but milk shakes might have to wait for a few days. And any candy you win has to go into the stash to eat later.”

“Your mama and I won’t eat any candy, either,” Pike said. “In a show of solidarity.”

Clem sighed. “Okay, but can we watch a movie before we play? My brain is too sleepy for poker.”

Tulsi started toward the door. “I’ll go check with the nurses and see what movies they have for kids, but if there’s nothing you like, I can always run home to get your DVDs.”

“No, you stay, Mama,” Clem said, panic flashing across her features. “Mr. Pike can go.”

“Of course I can.” Pike cast a reassuring look Tulsi’s way before sitting down in the chair next to Clem’s bed. “I’ll go get you any movie you want, but I’ve also got some videos on my phone. You want to see the tree house on my ranch in Montana? It’s pretty cool.”

“Oh yes, please.” Clem smiled as Pike pressed the button to elevate the top of the bed, propping her up. “Mia told me all about it, but she always forgets to take pictures.”

“I know,” Pike said, leaning closer to Clem as they both looked down at the phone. “She says she gets too busy having fun to take pictures.”

“But you can do two things at the same time,” Clem mumbled before continuing in an awed tone. “Oh wow. That looks like a real house! Do you live in there?”

“I visit sometimes, but it’s mostly for my little cousins when they come to stay,” Pike said. “They have slumber parties in there almost every Christmas.”

“I want to have a slumber party,” Clem said, lifting her eyes to where Tulsi stood in the doorway. “Can we go to Mr. Pike’s next Christmas, Mama?”

“I hope you’ll come before then,” Pike said, meeting Tulsi’s gaze, the love in his eyes enough to melt her heart from across the room. “I can’t wait to have you girls up for a good long visit.”

“Can we, Mama? Can we please please please?” Clem begged, but she already sounded more tired than she had a moment ago.

“Let’s concentrate on resting and getting well for now,” Tulsi said, pushing on when Clem frowned. “But as soon as you’re better, we’ll plan a trip.”

“Really?” Her daughter’s pale brows lifted. “All the way to Montana?”

“All the way to Montana,” Tulsi promised, silently adding,
where we’re going to stay and be a family, the way we should have been for the past six years
.

“Now you two take it easy,” she said aloud. “I’ll be back in a sec.”

She left Pike and Clementine with their heads close together, talking softly about all the different parts of the tree house and returned, with a selection of movies, a few moments later to find them watching videos of the horses on Pike’s ranch.

“Oh, I want to see,” Tulsi said, unable to resist a horse video.

“Then come over here, little mama,” Pike said, holding out one arm. “You can sit on my lap.”

Tulsi settled into his lap, not missing Clem’s curious look, but knowing now wasn’t the time to talk about anything serious. “Oh, she’s lovely,” Tulsi cooed when she saw the big-eyed filly on the screen. “How old?”

“Not quite two, but this was filmed a while back.” Pike hugged her close with one arm. “Her name’s Strawberry Sunshine.”

“Aw, that’s cute,” Clem said, watching the two of them out of the corner of her eye for a moment before she added in her most polite tone, “Mr. Pike, my mom’s short, but she’s not a kid you know.”

Pike chuckled. “I know.”

Clem cleared her throat. “What I mean is, she doesn’t usually sit in people’s laps.”

“She does mine,” Pike said, holding Tulsi tight when she tried to stand up. “Because I love her a lot and like to keep her as close as I can get her.”

Tulsi opened her mouth to say that now wasn’t the time to talk about that sort of thing, but Clementine surprised her with a smile.

“Really?” she asked. “Mr. Pike, are you Mama’s boyfriend?”

“Something like that,” Tulsi said, anxiously, wishing they could have put this off for a few days. “How do you feel about that, bug?”

“Good,” Clem said, smile widening. “Miss Emily always says you need a boyfriend, but that guy from the bank you went out with, when I was a baby, smells funny and never gives me a lollipop. Mr. Pike is better. Waaaay better.”

“Glad I meet with approval.” Pike laughed as he reached over to ruffle Clem’s hair.

“Okay, enough about boyfriends and girlfriends.” Tulsi was relieved that had gone so well, but didn’t want to risk bringing stress into Clem’s recovery. “Let’s get down to serious business—My Little Pony Movie, Princess Bride, or Alexander’s No Good Very Bad Day? Choose your adventure, Clementine.”

“My Little Pony,” Clem said. “Because the other two make me laugh and it hurts when I laugh.”

“Poor baby.” Tulsi stood, pressing a kiss to Clem’s cheek. “It won’t hurt for long, I promise. The nurse will be in soon to check on you. She can give you some more pain medicine if you need it.”

“It’s okay, Mom,” Clem said. “Don’t worry. I’m going to be all right.”

“I know you will, bug,” Tulsi said, believing it with all her heart. They were both going to be okay, better than okay.

EPILOGUE

Four months later

Tulsi

Outside, snow was falling again, blanketing the front lawn, where the kids had spent the morning rolling up snowmen, in a fresh coat of white. But inside the house, a fire roared in the great room’s fireplace, laughter echoed off the mahogany walls, and mulled cider and hot chocolate kept everyone warm and cozy as they waited for the turkey to come out of the oven. Tulsi was surrounded by all the people she adored, enjoying the best Thanksgiving she’d ever had, and watching her daughter coach the love of her life through the championship round of a family foosball tournament.

Life was perfect and getting better every day.

“Okay, it’s time to bring it home,” Clem said, thumping Pike on the back as he faced Sawyer down across the foosball table. “You’ve got this. Keep the ball on your left side ’cause that’s Sawyer’s hurt shoulder, and you’ll crush him fast. He looks tough, but he’s soft under pressure.”

“I heard that,” Sawyer said from across the table, laughing as he spun the foosball dials. “This competitive side of you is dark and twisted, Clementine.”

“And he didn’t pitch a no-hitter in the World Series, either,” Clem said, ignoring Sawyer. “And I bet he’s tired from the last round against Grandpa.”

“Got it,” Pike said with a wicked grin that matched his daughter’s perfectly. “Fist bump for luck.”

Clem gave Pike a fist bump as she backed away from the table. “Just remember, Dad, defeat does not exist in this dojo!”

“Yes, sensei!” Pike dropped the white ball into play and he and Sawyer began furiously spinning the dials while Mia and Tulsi watched the manly display from the leather couch closest to the fireplace.

“Get over here, crazy person,” Tulsi said, pulling Clementine down onto the couch and kissing her cheek. “You’re so worked up, your cheeks are bright red.”

“He’s got to win,” Clem said. “Sawyer’s taking home that trophy over our dead bodies.”

“There is no trophy, goofball.” Mia shook her head as she reached over to pinch Clementine’s leg lightly through her red tights. “You’ve been watching too much Karate Kid.”

“I love it,” Clem said, her eyes shining. “I’m going to start karate next week.”

“Is that right?” Mia humphed in surprise. “I thought you were taking ballet class, last I heard.”

“She’s taking that, too,” Tulsi said, raising her voice to be heard as Pike scored a goal and Clementine broke into a raucous cheer. “Since we’re homeschooling, we’re trying to get out and spend time with other kids at least three times a week. Keeps us from becoming hermits during the off season.”

“How’s the homeschool stuff working out?” Mia asked. “Still good?”

“Great,” Tulsi said, beaming. “I’m really enjoying it. So much so, I’m thinking about going back to school for a teaching degree at some point down the line.”

Mia’s eyes widened. “Wow. I never thought I’d hear you talk about a career outside the barn with that much excitement in your voice.”

Tulsi shrugged. “Well, it wouldn’t be for a while. Right now I’m concentrating on the family and that feels right. Especially once we start trying for number two in the spring.” She smiled as she nodded toward Mia’s tiny little baby bump. “We can’t let you and Sawyer get too far ahead or the cousins won’t be close to the same age.”

Mia grinned. “You know I agree. What does Miss Clem think about a new baby?”

“I want a baby brother,” Clem said absently, her attention still fixed on the game. “Then a baby sister, but a baby brother first so Dad won’t be outnumbered three to one.”

Tulsi hugged Clem tight, her heart swelling the way it did every time she heard her daughter talk about her dad. It had only taken a few weeks for Mr. Pike to become Daddy. All Tulsi’s worries about Clementine’s reaction to learning the truth had been for nothing. Yes, Clem was smarter than the average six-year-old, but she was also a kid whose dreams were coming true. She didn’t care why it had taken so long for Tulsi and Pike to find each other again or hold a grudge over the years she’d lost. She embraced the love in the here and now and had been thrilled to get to be flower girl all over again at Pike and Tulsi’s simple ceremony at the Hearst ranch in September. Clem had had her daddy up on a pedestal ever since, even before she’d watched him pitch in the World Series.

But that was okay. Her daddy was pretty crazy about her, too. He swore it was taking the down time with Clem after her surgery that had healed his knee. That and Tulsi’s kisses, but Clementine preferred to take all the credit.

“Yes!” Clem leapt off Tulsi’s lap and thrust a fist into the air as Pike scored the winning point. “Take that, Sawyer!”

“All right, Miss Thing,” Sawyer said, motioning Clem over. “I want to play you next. Let’s see if you play ball as well as you talk smack.”

Clementine bounded across the room giggling, high-fiving Pike on her way to the table.

“Hey, sexy mama,” Pike said, still breathing heavy from the game as he stopped in front of the couch and reached a hand down to Tulsi. “Want to go check the turkey with me?”

“I would love to.” Tulsi grinned as she threaded her fingers through his and let him pull her to her feet. Even now, after four months of nearly constant togetherness as they traveled together for the post season and settled in at the ranch soon after, simply holding Pike’s hand was enough to send a shiver across her skin.

“You’re not fooling anyone, you two,” Mia said dryly. “We all know the grandmas are ruling the kitchen right now. You’re sneaking off for alone time.”

Pike grinned shamelessly. “Got to take it when I can get it with all you people in my house.”

“Try the tree house,” Mia called after them. “That’s where Sawyer and I were earlier.”

Tulsi shot Mia an incredulous look over her shoulder.

“What?” Mia blushed. “There were no kids in there at the time.”

Tulsi wagged a naughty girl finger at Mia, but a few minutes later, she was locked in the basement laundry room with her husband, getting up to a few naughty things of her own.

“You are irresistible in this dress,” Pike said, lifting her up on top of the washing machine as they kissed, making Tulsi’s breath catch as his hands gripped the back of her thighs and spread them wide. “All I’ve been able to think about all afternoon is getting you alone.”

“My mother told me a short dress was impractical for winter in Montana,” Tulsi said, wrapping her legs around Pike’s waist and squeezing tight. “I told her I preferred driving my husband crazy to being practical.”

Pike laughed against her lips. “You didn’t.”

“Of course I didn’t,” Tulsi said, nipping at his bottom lip. “I’m the good sister. I have to keep my angel halo in place since Reece backed out of Thanksgiving and made everyone sad.”

“I’m not sad.” Pike lifted her with one strong arm around her waist as he stripped her panties down her legs with the other. “I’m so happy, my dad threatened to slap the smile off my face twice yesterday.”

“He’s such a charmer.” Tulsi fisted her hands in Pike’s heavy blue sweater, drawing it up over his head before going for his undershirt. “I’m going to slap him if he keeps being cranky.”

Pike tossed his undershirt to the floor, baring his chest, making it impossible for Tulsi to resist trailing her fingers over his soft skin with the delicious muscles bunching beneath. Her husband truly was beautiful, inside and out.

“You don’t have to defend me, baby,” he said. “I don’t give a shit how cranky he is. Nothing can bring me down.”

“I still say we need to arrange for a near death experience.” Tulsi continued her exploration of Pike’s chest as he worked the buckle on his jeans. “It did wonders for Daddy. Look how sweet he is now.”

“Dale’s great, but I don’t want to talk about your daddy right now, babe.”

“Oh no?” Tulsi batted her eyes innocently as she spread her legs and lifted the hem of her dress. “Then what do you want to talk about?”