Happy New Year, Baby Fortune!. Leanne Banks

the mental urging was useless. Her father was usually stone quiet, but when it came to talking about the ranch, once he got going, he didn’t stop.

      She checked her watch and felt her stomach clench as she waited for Piper to call out for her. Finally, her father took a potty break. Hallelujah.

      “Better today?” Colton asked her as he headed for the door, where Stacey waited on the porch.

      She nodded. “I guess so. Sorry if I freaked out on you last night.”

      “You didn’t,” he said. “It’s like I said. You just need to get out more. I know your mama would be more than happy to watch Piper for you every now and then.”

      “I don’t want to burden her,” Stacey said as she stepped out of the front porch with him. “They’ve taken Piper and me in. I don’t want to take advantage of them.”

      “You wouldn’t ever do that,” he said. “Listen, how about if I take you to the bar and grill in town? What’s a good day for you?”

      Surprise rippled through her. “Are you sure? I don’t want to intrude on your, uh, relationship with your new girlfriend.”

      He hesitated a half beat. “She won’t mind,” he said. “When do you want to go?”

      “I think Thursday may work. I’ll have to ask Mama first. Can I get back to you?”

      “Sure,” he said, and squeezed her arm just like one of her brothers would. “Remember to smile.”

      She stared after him as he started to walk away. “Wait,” she said, and he turned around. “Do I frown that much?”

      He paused. “You used to seem a lot happier,” Colton said. “I hate to see you so sad and burdened.”

      “My life is different now,” she said.

      “But is it sad?” he asked.

      She took a deep breath and thought about his question. “Not really.” She smiled. “I’ll call you about dinner at the grill followed by a beer. I appreciate the pity date.”

      “It’s no pity date,” he said. “We’ve known each other a long time. We should be able to cheer each other up. You may have to do it for me sometime,” he said.

      “That’s hard for me to imagine,” she said.

      “You never know,” he said, and her father returned to the den, ready to talk ranching.

      Stacey gazed at Colton. There was more to him than she’d ever thought. Stacey wondered what it would be like to go on a real date with Colton. She wondered how it would feel to be the object of his affection. Rolling her eyes at herself, she shook her head and went to the laundry room to wash another load of baby clothes.

      The next day, Stacey played with Piper, after cleaning the house and fixing dinner. She couldn’t help thinking about Colton’s offer for an evening out. It wouldn’t be fancy, but it would be a relief. She debated calling him ten times over, then finally gave in. He didn’t pick up, so she hung up. Five minutes later, she called again. He still didn’t answer, but this time she left an answer.

      A half hour later, he returned her call. “Hello?” she said as she stirred soup for dinner and held Piper on her hip.

      “Need an escape?” Colton asked.

      She gave a short laugh. “How did you know?”

      “Saw the hang-up, then heard the desperation in your voice mail,” he said.

      “I’m not that desperate,” she said, even though she really needed an evening out.

      “I know. Everyone needs an escape hatch every now and then,” he said.

      “What’s yours?” she asked.

      “If I really want to get away, I can go into town or even Vicker’s Corners,” he said.

      “But you don’t have a baby,” she said.

      He chuckled. “That I don’t,” he said. “It won’t be fancy. Tomorrow night okay? What time do you want me to pick you up?”

      “Five-thirty,” she said.

      “Early night?”

      She laughed. “These days I only do early nights,” she said. “You have a problem with that?”

      “None at all, I’ll see you tomorrow at five-thirty.” He chuckled. “Call me if you need to escape earlier.”

      Stacey couldn’t help smiling. “I’ll pace myself. Bye for now.”

      The following day, Stacey’s afternoon fell apart. Piper woke up early from her nap, and Stacey feared she’d burned the baked spaghetti casserole. She was having a bad hair day, and Piper was so cranky, Stacey wasn’t sure she should ask her mother to babysit for the evening.

      “Are you teething, sweetie?” she asked Piper.

      Piper’s sweet face crumpled in pain. Stacey sighed. “Mama, she’s so fussy. I’m not sure I should leave her with you.”

      Her mother extended her arms to Piper, but Piper turned away. “Oh, come on, you sugar,” Jeanne said to Piper. “I’ll take care of you. Rub your sore gums with something that will make you feel better.”

      “No rum,” Stacey said.

      “I wasn’t thinking of rum,” Mama Jeanne said with an innocent expression on her face.

      “No whiskey,” Stacey added.

      “I would never numb a baby’s gums with whiskey,” her mother said. “But bourbon...”

      Stacey sighed. “Let me find the Orajel. I should have given it to her earlier.”

      “You know what your doctors say. You need to stay on top of the pain. You’ve told me that too many times to count when my hip was hurting.”

      “You’re right, Mama. I should have done better for Piper,” she said, feeling guilty.

      “Well, don’t leap off a ledge. She’s not suffering that much,” her mother said, snatching Piper from her arms. “Go put on some lipstick and blush. You look worn out.”

      Piper fussed and squabbled, but didn’t quite cry. “You’re sure you’ll be okay?”

      “I’ve had a lot more babies than you have, sweetheart,” Jeanne said.

      “I’m working hard to meet a high standard,” Stacey muttered.

      “Hold on there,” her mother said, putting her hand on Stacey’s arm. “You’re a great mother. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. I didn’t have to take care of my babies by myself. I had your father to help me, and trust me, he walked the floor many times at night to comfort all of you.”

      “I just feel bad that Piper won’t have the kind of mother and father I had,” Stacey said.

      “Piper’s getting plenty of loving. Her mama needs to stop trying for sainthood. Enjoy your evening out. It will be good for you and your baby.”

      “If you say so,” Stacey said.

      “I do. Now, go put on some lipstick,” she said.

      “Colton won’t care. He’s just taking me out to be nice,” Stacey said, halfway hoping her mother would deny it.

      “Maybe so, but it will make you feel better. That’s the important thing,” her mother said.

      “Right,” Stacey said, and headed to her room to remake herself for a trip to the grill where she would eat a burger and fries. This was how her life had evolved. Her big exciting night within a month was a trip to the grill.

      Pathetic, she thought, but couldn’t deny she was just glad to get away from the ranch. She put on lipstick, a little blush and