Read Online Rough Drafts by J. A. Armstrong - Free Book Online Page B

somebody’s pregnant,”
Pearl said. Jonah’s look of astonishment made Candace chuckle. “Well? How’d I
do? Wait…Tell me it’s both.”
    “Well…I
mean…How could you…” Jonah tried to speak, but he was at a loss.
    “Is
she pretty?” Pearl asked. She looked up at Candace.
    “Don’t
ask me,” Candace said. “I haven’t even seen a picture of the mystery girl yet.”
    “Yes,
Grandma,” Jonah answered.
    “Smart?”
    “Yes.
She’s in her senior year at Cal,” he said. “She’s a political science major.”
    “Imagine
that,” Pearl said with a knowing grin as she looked back at Candace. She
returned her focus to Jonah. “Should be an interesting kid, then, I would
think,” she said. “So? When do we get to meet her?” Pearl asked the million
dollar question.
    Jonah
shifted uncomfortably. “I’m not sure. I want you to. I know Laura wants to meet
you. I just…”
    Jameson
entered the kitchen as Jonah began to stammer again. “I’m sure we will meet her
soon enough,” Jameson said assuredly. Jonah looked at her gratefully.
    “Jameson, look at that, you and Candy are going to
be grandparents—again,” Pearl started laughing.
    “Laugh
it up,” Jameson said.
    “Next
thing you know, you’ll be telling us you two are expecting,” Pearl laughed
harder.
    Jameson
shrugged. “If you can find a way to get Candace pregnant, I’m all for it.”
    “Excuse
me?” Candace piped up.
    “What?”
Jameson smirked. “I’ve tried,” she said. Candace’s eyes widened.
    “Are
they always like this?” Jeffrey whispered to Jonah.
    Jonah
nodded. “Pretty much.”
    “That is you mother?” Jeffrey asked.
    “Yep,”
Jonah replied. “Crazy, huh?”
    “What
are you two whispering about?” Candace asked suspiciously.
    “Nothing,”
they both answered.
    “Uh-huh.
Good. You two can go out and get some wood for the woodstove and the fireplace while Pearl and I think about dinner,”
Candace said.
    “That
means they are going to drink wine and talk about us,” Jeffrey told Jonah.
    “I
know,” Jonah laughed.
    “What
about me?” Jameson asked.
    “You’ve
caused enough trouble for one day,” Candace said.
    “What
are you sending me to my room?” Jameson asked.
    “Don’t
push it. I might,” Candace answered. Jameson’s eyes twinkled. “Alone,” Candace
said firmly. Jameson’s mouth flew open.
    “Come
on,” Jonah grabbed Jameson’s arm. “It’s safer outside. Trust me.”
    Jameson
stopped in front of Candace. “You’re not really mad at me, are you?” she
whispered.
    Candace
tried to glare. She saw the forlorn look in Jameson’s eyes and kissed her wife
on the cheek. “Go keep those two in line,” she said. Jameson nodded and headed
out the door.
    “Just
don’t tell me Shell is knocked up,” Pearl said.
    Candace
snorted. “At this point? Nothing would surprise me.”
    “Kind
of changed your weekend plans. How is Jameson doing?” Pearl asked.
    Candace
sighed. “Right now? I think Jonah’s news gave her a diversion. Come Monday when
she has to go back and face Scott? I don’t know, Pearl.”
    “What
about you?” Pearl asked. “You and I both know all of this is going to play out
publicly.”
    “Yeah,
I know. I’ll deal with it.”
    “Mm.
You’d better reel in Marianne before she guts that young girl of Jonah’s,” Pearl sniggered.
    “Oh,
Jesus! Maybe you should call her,” Candy suggested.
    “She’s
your kid,” Pearl reminded Candace.
    “Speaking
of kids , Jeffrey seemed a little…”
    “Nervous?
He is. Still worries about you,” Pearl said.
    Candace
glanced out the window. Jameson was leading Jeffrey and Jonah toward the barn.
“I know he does. I really should make more of an effort to keep in touch.”
    Pearl
nodded. “You think Jonah will be all right?” she asked Candace.
    Candace
let out a heavy sigh. “I hope so. I have to say, that was about the last thing
I expected to hear.”
    “Think
there is something he’s not telling you?” Pearl