The Cowboys Heart: 3 by Helen Evans Read Free Book Online Page B

with him the other day.
    “Of course I’ll be there.” Hudson smiled. “Promise.” Then he
kissed me, and I forgot all about Phillip and my conflicting feelings. Right
now, the only thing that mattered was Hudson and how amazing he was. Soon
enough, I’d make this up to him. I’d show him how sorry I was that I couldn’t
give him the enthusiastic answer he wanted today.
    ***
    I’d been running around like a mad
woman all day. But the house was clean and decorated for Jamie’s birthday
party. In addition to my parents and Hudson, I’d invited some of Jamie’s
friends. Hopefully they’d all show up, but the party was set to officially
start in ten minutes and so far, the only people here were Jamie and Hudson.
They’d barely spoken to each other, but at least Jamie wasn’t being mean. I’d
take what I could get.
    “Hello?” my dad called from the dining room.
    “Hey, come on in!” I shouted as I adjusted the cake on the table
again. I wanted everything to look perfect, but I knew now I was just focusing
on things too much to keep busy. I stepped back and greeted my parents in the
kitchen.
    “The place looks great,” Mom said, looking around and
smiling.
    “Thanks.” I took Jamie’s gift from her and set it on the
gift table I’d set up in the corner.
    “So, where’s the birthday boy?” Dad asked.
    “Upstairs.” I turned toward the staircase and hollered up,
“Jamie! Grandma and Grandpa are here!” Seconds later, I heart his footsteps on
the stairs. He greeted his grandparents with hugs and kissed. I smiled. Despite
everything, I knew keeping Jamie close to his grandparents was a good idea. He
needed them in his life, and I’m pretty sure they needed him, too. Of course,
my mother would never admit that.
    “Hey, where’s Dad?” Jamie asked.
    I shrugged. “I’m sure he’s on his way.” Phillip had left a
couple of hours ago saying he wanted to get Jamie an extra special gift. The
nearest shopping mall was a good forty five minutes away. I was sure he’d
probably gotten sidetracked looking for a present or he got lost. He was the
typical man – get lost and too proud to stop and ask for directions.
    “Oh, okay.” Jamie looked like he might not believe me, but
he didn’t push the issue. Instead, he wandered into the living room with my dad
and the two of them quickly became engaged in a conversation.
    “So, he really on his way back?” Mom asked.
    I rolled my eyes. My mother was always so suspicious of
Phillip. Not that I could blame her. This is how his affair started – him
ducking out to buy something for me or Jamie, getting “lost” or some other
fantastical thing would happen. But this time was different – It wasn’t me
Phillip would be cheating on and so I just didn’t care. But so help me, if he
ruined Jamie’s birthday…
    “Anything else I can do to help?” Hudson asked as he came
back inside. I’d sent him out to tie balloons to the mailbox.
    “No, thank you. Dad and Jamie are in the living room if you
want to join them,” I said with a smile.
    Hudson came up behind me, put his hand on the small of my
back, and then kissed me softly on the lips. “Love you,” he whispered so
quietly no one but me could hear him.
    I sighed as he walked away, staring after him.
    “Now that’s a man your father and I can approve of.”
    “Mom, please. Don’t start this now. I know how you feel
about Phillip, but this is not the time or place to rehash all of that, okay?”
I made sure my voice was firm and even a little on the stern side. She might be
my mother, but I wouldn’t let her ruin tonight for my son.
    “Okay, okay.” She put her hands up in a show of surrender.
“Fine. But mark my words, Heather, that man in there,” she pointed toward
Hudson, “is a keeper, and if you don’t snatch him up, someone else will.”
    I swallowed hard. She was right. Deep down I knew that, but
I refused to let that fear consume me. Hudson wasn’t going anywhere. He told me
so.