Under the Open Sky

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Amanda watched Cadey-Lynn cruise along the couch in the main house as she bounced to the song on the radio. When she threw her sippie cup and reached for it with a grunt, Amanda sighed.

“Cadey-Lynn you just want to play fetch,” Amanda accused. When Cadey-Lynn screwed up her face for a tantrum Amanda dropped to her knees.

“I’m going to get you, Cadey-Lynn,” Amanda crawled in her daughter’s direction. It had become a new game between them. Cadey-Lynn turned and cruised to the end of the couch before dropping to all fours to make an escape, her breath coming in little grunts as she made for the door. Her daughter suddenly stopped and settled onto her bottom to stare up. Amanda spotted boots in the doorway and sat back hard, her gaze going up, much as her daughter’s had. She found a tall man grinning down at them; she felt heat climb into her face.

“Your brother said you could show me to the barn,” the man informed her.

“Right,” Amanda prepared to stand, she found a hand in her face and accepted it. “Thanks,” Amanda turned and scooped her daughter off the floor. “We were just playing chase,” Amanda explained.

The man’s grey eyes were lit with humor when he nodded, “I could see that.”

“I’m Dr. Foster; I’m replacing Dr. Adams at the large animal clinic,” the man extended his hand.

“Amanda Jennings,” Amanda shifted a squirming Cadey-Lynn so she could take his hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Your brother said he has a bull penned at the barn that needs a look; he said you could point me in the right direction,” the man explained why he was there. “Your aunt let me in.”

“Let me just leave Cadey-Lynn with Naomi; it’s a little cold out for her,” Amanda nodded. She was irritated with herself. The man was attractive, thick dark brown hair, soft grey eyes, and a killer smile. Nice build too, broad shouldered, thick and solid, though not at all fat; it looked to be pure muscle. She had no intention of verifying that. He had caught her in an embarrassing situation, so naturally she felt jumpy.

“Naomi, I need to show Dr. Foster to the barn, can you watch Cadey-Lynn a moment?”

“Just put her in her highchair; I’ll give her a cookie and milk in a moment,” Naomi had her hands buried in bread dough. Amanda did as instructed before grabbing her coat from the hall closet.

“Here, let me,” Dr. Foster stepped forward to hold her coat.

“Thanks,” Amanda wasted no time stepping away from him after her coat was on.

“Katie-Lynn, is that some kind of family name?” Dr. Foster asked as they stepped onto the porch.

“It’s Cadey-Lynn,” she corrected his enunciation and then spelled it for him. “She’s named for her father.”

“It’s a pretty name,” he told her.

“Thanks.”

“I need to pull my truck to the barn, it has my supplies inside,” he opened his passenger side door.

“Thanks,” Amanda ignored his hand and climbed in on her own. Once at the barn she showed him to where the bull was penned and excused herself to hurry back to her daughter. She was wiping Cadey-Lynn’s sticky hands when Trent entered.

“Did Reece make it out here yet?” he asked as he entered.

“Who?” Amanda frowned.

“The vet.”

“Oh, Dr. Foster; he’s at the barn,” Amanda supplied.

“He seems nice. I was worried when Dr. Adams announced he was retiring but everyone is saying good things about Reece,” Sterling accepted a cup of coffee from Naomi.

“He seemed nice enough,” Amanda lifted her daughter. A knock on the front door, prompted Trent to hurry that direction. Amanda moved to get her coat and Cadey-Lynn’s to go home; she caught the tail end of the conversation.

“I gave him an injection; he should be fine,” Dr. Foster was telling her brother.

“Thanks, Dr. Foster, would you like a hot cup of coffee before you go?”

“I better not, but thank you for offering.”

Amanda had put Cadey-Lynn’s coat on her and set her in the floor to put her own coat on. Cadey-Lynn went for Dr. Foster’s shoe laces.

“Cadey-Lynn, no!” Amanda corrected sharply. Cadey-Lynn plopped onto her bottom and started howling.

“Hi, there, cutie,” Dr. Foster dropped to his haunches and addressed Cadey-Lynn. Cadey-Lynn stopped crying, a finger going into her mouth as she watched the man, her blue eyes wide and lashes still spiked with tears. “Oh, you are a heart breaker aren’t you?” Reece smiled at the child.

Cadey-Lynn studied him a moment before smiling back and crawling over to him to pull herself up on his knee and reaching to be lifted.

“Hi,” the man lifted Cadey-Lynn gently, a wide smile lighting his face. “You are precious.”

“She’s as spoiled as her mother; apparently, we Jennings men spoil our women folk,” Trent joked.

“Spoiled? That’s why I had to fight to do anything,” Amanda grumbled to her brother.

“If by anything you mean hanging out with boys I didn’t approve of, yes,” Trent shot at her. “She doesn’t appreciate how hard it was to look out for her,” Trent informed the other man.

“You didn’t approve of any of the boys,” Amanda reminded him and lifted Cadey-Lynn’s bag from the floor. “Come on, Cadey-Lynn, we need to get home,” Amanda reached for her daughter.

“Good evening, Dr. Foster. I’ll see you tomorrow, Trent.” Amanda hurried from her father’s house to the refuge of her own. Later that night she wrote in her journal.

Cade,

Our daughter is growing so fast! She’s cruising along furniture now, all but ready to take her first step. She’s the most beautiful little thing you’ve ever seen and seems to set out to win over everyone she meets. Tonight she set her sights on the new vet in town; he was smitten. Never a day goes by that she doesn’t bring joy and smiles into my life. I suppose I am silly to keep writing in here. I guess if you were going to come back for me that you would have already done so. It’s been so long now, Cade. I suppose I am foolish romantic who refuses to see the truth, but I can’t seem to let go. Miss you.

Amanda heard rapid steps on her porch a moment before Jenny rushed through the door, her eyes wide and bright.

“Mandy!” Jenny rushed across the room, her hand extended. Amanda was laughing as she dutifully admired the engagement ring on her friend’s finger.

“Congratulations!”

“Oh, Mandy; I am so happy I feel like I must be dreaming,” Jenny spun around in Amanda’s living room like an excited child.

“Have you two love birds set a date?” Amanda curled into the corner of the couch.

“This spring is as far as we got. We’re both impatient to be married so it won’t be too long,” Jenny finally collapsed onto a chair.

“I am so very happy for you, Jenny,” Amanda smiled.

“Mandy, I want you this happy,” Jenny’s expression sobered. “Mandy, have you…” Jenny stood. “I love you and I wouldn’t hurt you for the world but have you considered moving on?”

Amanda, her heart cracking a little, stared at her friend. “No,” she spoke softly and shook her head lightly.

“Oh, Mandy, I’m not trying to hurt you but it’s been so long with no word…” Jenny’s eyes were bright with tears.

“You let me worry about that. You enjoy this day and moment and those to come; you’re finally marrying my brother.”

Jenny’s smile was tinged with a hint of sadness. “I know.”

“Don’t worry about me, Jenny; I have to sort this out for myself.”

Jenny nodded. “So, you’ll be my maid of honor?”

“You better let me be,” Amanda grinned; Jenny’s smile was back. The two of them started talking about wedding plans; Jenny produced a magazine that she had bought on her way over. The two poured through the photos. Jenny seemed to like every dress she saw; this could take a while, Amanda mused. Both women paused when a whimper sounded on the baby monitor; then moved on when Cadey-Lynn seemed to settle back down. Steps on the porch brought their attention to the door.

“I thought that was my fiancée’s car,” Trent was grinning as he entered. Amanda smiled as she watched Jenny jump up and rush into her brother’s arms. “You making wedding plans already?” Trent inquired of Jenny.

“You have no idea how much goes into a wedding,” Jenny shared as she dragged Trent to the couch. Trent stayed for nearly an hour, his hand seldom leaving Jenny. Either he was holding her hand, or laying his hand on her arm, her back; he couldn’t seem to stop touching her, or watching her for that matter. He finally excused himself; Jenny walked him out. She was back a moment later, her cheeks slightly flushed.

“What did your parents say?” Amanda asked of her friend as Jenny sat back down beside her. Amanda watched her friend drop her gaze.

“I haven’t told them,” Jenny admitted.

“Why not?” Amanda demanded.

“When Angie died they were momentarily angry at Trent. I heard them discussing it. They both came to the agreement that Angie and Trent had simply been young and foolish, both playing an equal part and responsibility in what happened. All these years I’ve run around with you, your brother in the picture it never seemed to bother them.” Jenny sighed and shifted to sit against the corner of the couch.

“They freaked when I told them Trent and I were dating, Mandy. In all of their ranting and raving they couldn’t give me one good reason why I shouldn’t date him. All they seemed to keep repeating was that Trent was Angie’s first love and the man she had died trying to elope with.”

“Oh, Jenny, I’m sorry.”

“I love them but I won’t miss this chance for happiness; I love him so much, Mandy.”

“I know and he feels the same; I can see it.”

“I loved Angie as much as they did; still do, Mandy, but I’m still here and what I feel is as real as what she felt.”

“You have every right to keep moving forward,” Amanda assured her.

“Trent and I have talked about Angie; a lot. We’ve laughed and cried together; in an odd way it’s simply one more thing that binds us together. I know he sees me as separate individual from my sister, though; I did worry about that for a moment. We talked about that too, how my sister and I were alike and yet very different. I am not threatened that he loved my sister; I love him all the more for it. I just wish my parents could see it that way.”

“Give them time, Jenny.”

“Thanks, Mandy; I knew you would understand,” Jenny leaned across the couch to hug her friend. After Jenny left Amanda pulled out her journal to write:

Cade,

My brother and Jenny are engaged! I am so very happy for her. She was funny bouncing around here in excitement as she talked of the future. The future is harder for me than the past, Cade. My past holds so many warm memories while the future threatens to be cold and empty. It’s hard to hold on to the hope that you’re coming back for me now; even Jenny is suggesting that you aren’t and she was your biggest supporter. A part of me fears, maybe even knows you aren’t. Then at the end of each day as I undress I remove your mother’s ring from around my neck and I think that it has to mean something! I know what that ring means to you; I can’t imagine you leaving it for no reason, not after you fought to keep it for so long! Am I deluding myself? Am I spinning fantasies so I don’t have to face the truth? I love you; miss you.