Free Solid Foundation by J. A. Armstrong Page A

Jameson instinctively held
Spencer a little tighter and looked directly at Marianne. “You never have to
worry about that, either of you. I shouldn’t speak for your mom. In this case,
I’m fairly sure we are on the same page. If that’s what you would want, then
put your mind to rest. You always have a home here. Spencer does and so does
anyone else that might come along.”
    Candace
tightened her grip on Jameson’s hand. “Jameson is right. I have to tell you
that I am a little surprised. What about Rick’s brother and sister, or your
own?” she asked.
    Rick
nodded. “They are all wonderful. We also know you would make certain that our children know that; know their family.”
    “Of
course,” Candace agreed.
    “The
truth is you are the only Mom I’ve ever really known. My mom was sick for a long time. My dad was lost when she died.
Spencer….Well, look at him. We don’t want to impose on your life. We just…”
    “Spencer
could never be an imposition,” Jameson said. “It’s true. I told you,” she
looked at the pair seated across from her. “I told
you once that your mother and I didn’t have any plans to have children.
That’s the truth. We don’t. Things happen. I hope it never happens that your
kids have to spend more than a weekend or a summer vacation here because that’s
what they want to do. If it ever happened, and it won’t…I can promise you they
would be raised to know who their parents were. We would do our best for them
in every way we could. Not just your mom, me too.”
    Marianne
nodded. “I know, J.D.”
    Candace
smiled at her daughter. “Enough with the heavy drama. When do I get another grandchild?”
    Marianne
laughed. “Sometime right after the first of the year,” she said.
    “I
think you just gave your Mom the best wedding present she could get,” Jameson
commented. She watched as Candace made her way to Marianne and enveloped her in
her arms.
    “Thank
you,” Candace whispered to her daughter.
    “Thank
you, Mom,” Marianne said.
    “You
really don’t know how much what you both said means to me,” Candace replied.
    Marianne
smiled. “Yes, I do.”
    “What
is going on in here?” Michelle said as she threw her bag on the floor. “I
thought I was coming home for a wedding,” she said. Candace turned and Michelle
saw the tears running over her cheek. “What the hell? You made her cry on her
wedding weekend?” she barked at her sister. Candace started laughing and shook
her head. “Okay? What am I missing?” Michelle asked.
    “I’m
pregnant,” Marianne said.
    Michelle
nodded and looked at Rick. “You the father of this one too?” she asked
seriously.
    Rick
jumped slightly as the rest of the room fell into a fit of laughter.
“Understand the choice now?” Marianne whispered to her mother. Candace just
laughed.
    “Better
be a girl this time. One named Shell. That sounds about right,” Michelle said.
    “You
birth it and you can name it,” Marianne shot back.
    “The
only thing I am birthing right now is a beer .
Once I find it,” Michelle said as she wandered off to the kitchen. “Come on preggo,”
she called back to her sister. “I’ll pour you a nice glass of milk.”
    “Little
shit,” Marianne griped as she made her way toward the kitchen.
    “Grab
me a cold one too!” Rick called out.
    “He
meant milk!” Marianne’s voice carried.
    Candace
shook her head and flopped back onto the couch beside Jameson. “You do know
what you are getting into tomorrow?” she asked.
    Jameson
leaned in and captured Candace’s lips in a tender kiss. “I knew a long time ago
you had a thing for lunatics.”
    Candace
chuckled. “That in a fortune cookie too?”
    “Nah,
but you fell in love with me. Something must have paved my way.”
    Candace
placed her head on Jameson’s shoulder and her hand on Spencer’s back and closed
her eyes. Jameson leaned back and closed hers. Marianne stopped in the doorway
and smiled. She turned and beckoned her husband and