Jesse: Merry Christmas, Cowboy

His next questions would, no doubt, start up the fireworks. “Why didn’t everybody go?” His gaze fell on Janie again as he asked the question, though she was the only one who didn’t try to give an answer.

“Janie’s talking about going home,” he heard Mark say. “We’ve been trying to change her mind.”

“That’s her decision,” J.W. declared. “She knows what’s best.” Trust his dad to take the easiest way out, for him, anyway. Having his ex-mistress down the hall would have to be awkward, even if his wife was being a saint about the whole situation.

“Don’t you think Abby was better this morning?” Nicki appealed to Mark and then to Janie. “She seemed calmer at breakfast.”

“Who knows what might happen in the next ten days?” J.W. pushed himself out of his chair and crossed the room to stand beside Jesse. “You don’t have time to fly back, but we can hire a pilot.”

No wonder Janie looked so stressed.

Jesse noticed that his mother hadn’t contributed to the argument one way or the other. She sat without moving, staring down at her hands, folded in her lap.

As J.W. opened his mouth to make yet another ill-considered comment, Jesse held up a hand. Somewhat to his surprise, the room fell silent. Even J.W. paused.

“Seems to me,” Jesse said carefully, “that Janie is capable of deciding what’s best for her mother and herself without being harassed by folks with their own agendas.” He glanced at Mark, to be sure he got that message, and saw the other man flush. “So why don’t we all just let her have the time and space to consider her options? We can work out what needs to happen when she’s made up her mind.”

No one seemed to understand what he meant, because they just sat or stood where they were, staring at him. “That means you should all go back to your own rooms.” He nodded at Nicki, and then at Josie and Dex. “Or go shopping. Whatever. Mom and Dad, you probably need to put your feet up for a while before dinner. After your long drive, that is.”

Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.