Free The Deadline (The Friessens: A New Beginning) by Lorhainne Eckhart Page A

and Jeremy aren’t here at the hospital, day in and day out.”
    “I know ,” she said. “I’m sorry. I’m just tired. I wish you’d talk to me more, tell me what you’re thinking when you decide on something. I would kind of like to be consulted. Last night, you didn’t tell me you’d called Kim. How do you think it made me feel, driving in here and finding her parked outside the house, hearing that my husband had called her. You made me feel incompetent.”
    “Laura , you’re reading too much into it. I called Kim and my family for a lot of reasons. I didn’t want you to have to struggle. I need to know you’re okay. I feel helpless here with Gabriel, as if something has been taken from my control, and I don’t like it one bit. I’m sorry you felt slighted, but I’d do it again to know someone was there for you.”
    He sounded irritated , and Laura felt bad. She knew this was the way he was. He was possessive, controlling, stubborn, strong, and powerful, and he’d seriously hurt anyone who tried to mess with them. She knew he loved them deeply, and to be loved by him truly, not just as an obligation, was a powerful thing that had her tearing up again.
    “Andy , I love you, but you make me so frustrated when you won’t talk to me about how you’re feeling, about your decisions. I have a mind, Andy. I may be young, but I’m not helpless,” she said, and Jeremy picked that moment to cry out. “Jeremy’s awake. I’m going to feed him, and as soon as they’re both up, I’m coming in.” She glimpsed Ladystar outside with her blanket on. “Andy, I forgot about Ladystar. I’ll check on her and feed her before we go.”
    “No, you have enough to do with the babies. I’ll call Kim, ask her to come by and feed the horse. Maybe I’ll see if she can move Ladystar to her place. She has two Quarter Horses. You know what? I’ll call Kim now and get her to drive you in. You’ve never driven on snow-covered roads, and there could be icy patches out of nowhere. I don’t want you taking any chances.”
    “ No, Andy, you’re not calling Kim to drive me. For the love of God, Andy, it’s six in the morning! Like any sane person, she’ll still be asleep. I can drive. I’ll just be careful.”
    “No ,” he said. “I’ll worry the entire way, and I have enough to worry about with Gabriel. I don’t need to worry about you on the road. I’ll grab a cab now, come home, shower, and change. I don’t like leaving Gabriel.”
    “Andy , stop it! I’m not useless.” Jeremy was getting louder as she started down the hall.
    “Laura , that’s not what I meant, and I don’t want to fight. I’m tired, and you’re obviously taking this the wrong way. I’ll just check with a nurse, and then I’ll be on my way home.”
    He disconnected before she could say another word , and she squeezed the phone, fighting the urge to toss it across the room. Instead, she tossed it on the rocker in the babies’ room and lifted Jeremy from his crib. She wondered, as she strode back to her room to nurse Jeremy, when Andy would finally let her in.

Chapter 14
    Of course , Andy walked in the door shortly after Laura had gotten dressed. This was the first morning she’d been alone in the house, just her and the babies, and having no one to watch Chelsea and Jeremy while she showered had been nerve wracking. Andy stalked down the hall to their bedroom, boots scraping the hardwood floor, his hair unusually messy. The lines under his eyes showed how tired he was, but he was strong, too, and he charged the air in the room every time he walked in. It became alive and powerful, and that was what drew people to him. Laura figured he could command a space better than any general could.
    “You ready?” he asked, taking in her wet hair, her bare feet, and the turtleneck sweater she was still tucking into her jeans.
    “Almost . I just have to change Chelsea and Jeremy and load up their diaper bag,” she said, feeling a little awkward