Filed To Story: The Things We Leave Unfinished Novel Free
“You’re not?” He palmed her cheek, needing to touch her.
“I’m not sorry about anything that’s led me to you.”
He carried her to their bed and showed her with his body exactly how lucky he felt to have found her.
…
One month later, Scarlett marveled at the freedom the simple wrap dress afforded her as she and Jameson shopped in a small London store that specialized in children’s clothes.
There were some parts of civilian life-such as not melting in her uniform in the August heat-that more than agreed with her.
“I wish we’d done this two months ago,” Jameson muttered as they took in the scant racks of infant garments.
“It will be okay,” she assured him. “He won’t need much to start out with.”
“She.” Jameson grinned, then bent to kiss her temple.
As of June, clothing was now rationed, which meant she was going to need to get creative in a few months-and do a lot more wash. Blankets, gowns, and nappies-they had a lot to acquire before November.
“He,” she argued with a shake of her head. “Let’s get these to start with.” She handed Jameson two gowns that would work for both a girl or a boy.
“Okay.”
Her face puckered slightly as she stared at the small selection of nappies.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“I’ve never put on a nappy before-a diaper,” she clarified for him. “I know I need pins, but I don’t have anyone I can ask.” She still hadn’t spoken to her parents, and it wasn’t like her mother had done the child-rearing herself, anyway.
“You can always hire a nappy service,” a young clerk with a quick smile suggested from the end of the aisle. “They’re becoming quite popular.”
Jameson nodded in consideration. “It would leave us with less laundry, and probably ease a little of your we’re-never-going-to-be-able-to-buy-enough stress.”
Scarlett rolled her eyes. “We can talk about it after dinner. I’m starving.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He gave her a smile and took their items to the counter.
Of all the things to talk about while he had a precious forty-eight hours of leave, nappies were not on her list.
A few moments later, they were out on the bustling street, walking hand in hand. The bombings had ceased…for now, but the evidence was everywhere she looked.
“Anywhere you want to eat?” Jameson asked, adjusting his hat with one hand.
Scarlett swore she saw at least three women swoon from the sight, not that she blamed them. Her husband was incredible from the top of his head to the tips of his toes. “Not particularly. Though I wouldn’t mind going back to the hotel and having you for dinner.” She kept her face as straight as she could manage.
He stopped in the middle of the pavement, forcing the crowd to flow around them. “I’ll get a taxi right now.” His smile was pure hedonism.
“Scarlett?”
Scarlett froze at the sound of her mother’s voice, her grip tightening on Jameson’s hand as she turned slowly to face her.
She wasn’t alone. Scarlett’s father stood at her side, looking as shocked as Scarlett felt for all of a heartbeat before he managed to school his features into the stone she knew so well.
“Jameson, these are my parents, Nigel and Margaret, but I’m sure they’d rather you call them Baron and Lady Wright.” Finally, she had a real use for all the comportment lessons she’d been forced into.
…
“Sir.” Jameson stepped forward, offering his hand to Nigel but losing Scarlett’s in the process. So this was the infamous father his wife and her sister had such mixed feelings about. He was dressed in a neatly pressed suit, his pepper and silver hair slicked back with minimal fuss.
Her father looked at Jameson’s hand, then brought his gaze back up. “You’re the Yank.”
“I’m American, yes.” Jameson bristled but managed a smile as he lowered his hand, taking Scarlett’s again. He couldn’t imagine having this kind of rift with his own parents, and if he could ease the tension, he would. It’s the least his mother would expect from him. “Ma’am, your daughters speak very highly of you.”
Scarlett squeezed his fingers at his lie.
Margaret had the same dark hair and piercing blue eyes as her daughters. In fact, the resemblance was so close that he couldn’t shake the feeling he was getting a glimpse at what Scarlett would look like in thirty years. Scarlett wouldn’t have that cold, firm set to her mouth, though. His wife was far too warm for that.
“You’re…going to have a child,” her mother said quietly, her eyes round as they locked on Scarlett’s stomach.
The irrational impulse to stand in front of his wife was instant.
“We are,” Scarlett said, her voice firm and chin high. He’d always been in awe of her self-control, but this was an all-time high. “I understand you convinced Constance to throw her life away?” She asked the question with the same tone she’d used to request he pass the milk this morning.
Jameson blinked, realizing he’d entered an entirely different arena of warfare where he wasn’t the expert-his wife was.
“Constance’s choices are her own,” Margaret said just as politely.
“Is it a boy?” Nigel asked, staring at Scarlett with a spark of something in his eyes that looked a little too close to desperation for Jameson’s comfort.
“I could hardly know, as I am still pregnant.” Scarlett tilted her head. “And if he is, that is none of your business.”
This was the strangest family he’d ever encountered…and somehow he was a part of it.
Scarlett turned her attention back to her mother. “Constance’s choices are her own, but you took advantage of her broken heart. You and I both know what he’ll do to her. You willingly sent a lamb to the slaughter, and I will do everything in my power to convince her not to go through with it.”
As shots across the bow went, that one was a direct hit.
“As far as I’m concerned, you made the choice for her when you refused him,” her mother replied unemotionally.
And that one was an entire bombing raid.
Scarlett’s sharp intake of breath was enough for him to know her mother’s words had found their mark.
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.