Free Under Construction by J. A. Armstrong

to interrupt
and continued before she had the chance. “But, I’m pretty sure I can handle
that. The thing is, I don’t really want
to share you with anyone else when you come home,” Jameson said. “Don’t get me
wrong. I love this. I actually am having fun this week, but it’s enough to
share you with this family and with a whole nation. I don’t really feel like
competing at three in the morning with a Spencer sized rival for your
attention.”
    Candace
smiled. “Are you sure about that?”
    “Yeah.
Pretty sure,” Jameson said with a wink. “We can take them on loan . That works for me.”
    “You
might change your mind,” Candace said.
    “Maybe,”
Jameson admitted. “Or you might, and then what?” Jameson said. Candace laughed.
“You laugh now,” she said. “I don’t say it enough.”
    “Say what?”
Candace asked.
    “That I
love you.”
    “You
say it all the time,” Candace said.
    “No.
You do. The truth is, I do. I love you so much that it hurts some days. That’s
the truth. Marianne is right,” Jameson said.
    “What?”
Candace asked.
    “I love
watching you with Spencer,” Jameson admitted. Candace smiled. “Because I love
you and you love him….and that makes me love you even more.”
    “I love
you too,” Candace said. “I want you to be happy.”
    “I am.
Well, except when you steal all the fortune cookies.”
    “I do
not!” Candace argued.
    “You so
do,” Jameson laughed. “Listen, I have my hands full with the addition to this
house, work, and keeping up with you. Besides, I can’t imagine being pregnant.
You won’t let me climb ladders now. I wouldn’t be allowed near a step stool.”
    Candace
laughed. “I’m not that bad, but I get your point.”
    “Do me
a favor?” Jameson asked.
    “Anything.”
    “Just
ask me. Whenever you want to know
something; just ask me. I can’t promise you’ll always like my answer. I can
promise it will always be the truth,” Jameson said. She held her hand out to
Candace. “Now, come on. I heard something about S’mores.”
    “Jameson?”
    “Hum?”
    Candace
stopped their movement suddenly. “I would do it for you too. I would try.”
    Jameson
smiled. “I know.”
    ***
    “Everything okay?” Shell asked
Jameson.
    “I’m
not pregnant or engaged,” Jameson chuckled.
    “What?”
Shell asked.
    “Neither
is your mom,” Jameson said.
    “J.D.?”
    Jameson
laughed and patted Michelle’s knee. “But, I think your mom might end up running
a lot more than this crazy family one day,” she said.
    “I’m
sorry you heard us fighting,” Michelle apologized.
    “Me
too,” Jonah said, taking a seat next to his sister.
    “Eh.
You’ve met my brothers. Trust me, we’ve had our share of knock downs. Don’t
worry about it,” Jameson said. She caught sight of Marianne trying to avoid
them. “Sit down and have a S’more,” Jameson beckoned to Marianne and Rick. Rick smiled at Jameson and nodded,
leading his reluctant wife over to the group. “Pull up a piece of grass,”
Jameson said. “Think I might have to call a lawn care company after this
weekend,” she laughed.
    Marianne
kept her eyes on the fire in front of them. Jameson handed her a stick and a
marshmallow. “Thanks,” Marianne said.
    “I was
just telling Shell that I am not pregnant,” Jameson raised an eyebrow.
    “J.D.,
I didn’t mean to upset Mom or you,” Marianne said.
    Jameson
held up a hand. “Since I have you all here, let’s just put this to rest; okay?”
    Jonah
looked at Jameson. “J.D. you don’t owe any of us any explanations.”
    “No, I
don’t,” she agreed. “But, if it were my
mom, I would worry.” Marianne looked up in surprise. “That surprises you?”
    “No,”
Michelle answered for them all.
    “Well,
I would. She might kill me for telling you this, but I’m going to,” Jameson
said.
    “Tell
us what?” Michelle asked.
    “I love
your mom.” Jonah, Rick, and Michelle all laughed. Marianne listened intently,
instinctively