Read Online Jessie Belle: The Women of Merryton - Book One by Jennifer Peel - Free Book Online Page B

does this have to do with me?”
    “Honey,
you need to ask yourself whether or not you’re ready to raise this girl.”
    “Dad,
you know as well as I do that people with cancer, even in advanced stages, can
live for years. And Madeline will be eighteen in five years or so.”
    “True,
but she may still become your full-time responsibility.”
    I
sighed and looked up toward the ceiling. “I know. I’m trying to come to terms
with it.”
    “If
you want to leave Blake, you know I would support you,” he said quietly enough to
not be overheard by my mom, who would have been very unhappy to hear him say
it.
    I
looked at him sternly. “Dad, I need you to support me in staying.”
    “Why?
You’ve been so unhappy.”
    “Not
because of him necessarily, and it takes two to tango. I get that Blake maybe
isn’t the easiest person to get to know or get along with, but I’ve never
understood your aversion to him.”
    He
thought for a moment. “I wanted so much more for you.”
    “What
more could I need?” Besides a baby, but Blake and I had tried our hardest
there. “I mean really, Dad. I live in a beautiful home. I run a successful
business.”
    “But
do you have love?”
    “Blake
loves me. He just shows it differently than most people,” I said defensively.
    “And
how do you feel about him?”
    “Like
I want to kill him half the time.” I smiled.
    He
frowned.
    “Dad,
we’re working on it.”
    He
reached up and touched my cheek. “Just make sure he treats you the way you
deserve.”
    “I
will. And will you please try with Blake? I can only imagine the firestorm the
news of Madeline is going to cause in this town. We are both going to need your
support.”
    His
brows scrunched together.
    “Dad.”
    “Anything
for you, my Belle.”
    I
stood up and kissed his cheek. “I love you, Dad. Thanks for always watching out
for me.”
    The
house felt lonely when I walked in. Maybe we should get a dog , I thought, like a big fluffy one that would jump up on you when you walked in,
letting you know how much he loved and missed you . It was weird, but Blake
and I had never discussed our preferences about having a pet. If I had to guess
I would say he wasn’t a pet guy. I didn’t have one growing up, but I thought it
might be nice.
    I
turned on all the main lights in the house for company and then settled in for
some Mark Harmon. He reminded me of Blake—he hardly ever spoke in his role as
Jethro Gibbs. I suddenly realized I had this strange attraction to strong,
silent men. I wondered if that was because my first boyfriend, Landon, was such
a pest. He hung all over me and called all the time. At first I thought it was
cute, but after a while it grated on me. I broke up with him the night of our
senior prom. The timing wasn’t nice, but neither was him always trying to cross
the line. If only my dad knew, then he probably wouldn’t be so keen on Landon
Riley. I never said anything because our parents were friends, and besides, I
took care of him quite nicely on my own. He’s fathered a child, so at least I
know I didn’t do any permanent damage.
    Oddly
enough, that still wasn’t a complete turnoff for him. Every summer we came home
from college he still tried to worm his way back into my life, to no avail. He
was married now to Veronica, or as Cheyenne likes to call her...well, never
mind, I didn’t want to think about what Cheyenne calls her. Let’s just say that
she and Landon suited each other well. They are both about as fake as
self-tanning spray lotion. Now that he’s been elected mayor they love to walk
around like they’re the president and first lady. She no longer refers to
Landon as her husband, now it’s “mayor.” Then she parades her sweet little boy,
Landon Jr., around like he’s some show pony. Poor kid was always dressed like
he was going to church, and if he stepped even a little toe out of line, she
flipped. He was only five years old, but she wanted him to behave as if he