“Ruth, do try to introduce people properly,” her mother chided, and Amy instantly had a flash of Jake saying, “Mum does her best to rule over us all.”
“Amy Taylor, please meet Elizabeth Rose Carter,” Ruth trotted out in mock obedience.
Her mother sighed. She was still a striking woman, however old she was. A lovely mass of white wavy hair framed a face very like Ruth’s, but her brown eyes were more reserved than openly welcoming.
“It’s very kind of you all to include me in your family Christmas, Mrs. Carter,” Amy said, aware she was being given a keen scrutiny by Jake’s mother during this mother-daughter exchange. “It’s a great pleasure to meet you.”
“And you, my dear,” came the dignified reply. “Jake has spoken so much about you.”
“I enjoy working with him,” was the only comment Amy could think of.
It was rather disconcerting being measured against whatever Jake had said about her, and being visually measured from head to toe, as well. It was silly to feel self-conscious in her white pantsuit since the other women wore similar casual clothes, but she suddenly wished she’d worn a loose shirt instead of the figuremoulding halter top. I might be pregnant to him but I’m not a brazen hussy out to trap your son, she found herself thinking.
“I understand you have no close relatives,” Elizabeth Carter remarked questioningly, making Amy feel like a reject of the human race.
“My parents emigrated from England and my brothers now live overseas,” she answered. “This kind of gathering is quite remarkable to me. You’re very lucky, Mrs. Carter.”
“Yes, I suppose I am. Though I tend to think one makes one’s own luck. I did bring my children up to value the close bonds of family.”
“Then they were very fortunate in having you as their mother.”
“What of your own mother, Amy?”
“She died when I was sixteen.”
“How sad. A girl needs her mother. So easy to go off the rails without good advice and support.”
“I suppose so,” Amy said noncommittally, feeling she was being dissected and found wanting. No solid family background. No wise maternal guidance in her life.
“Mum, do you think it’s kind to ram that stuff down Amy’s throat on today of all days?” Ruth demanded in exasperation.
“Amy!”
Jake’s shout saved the awkward moment. They all looked to see what he wanted. He’d hauled himself out of the pool and was striding towards them, rubbing himself vigorously with a towel. Amy’s heart caught in her throat. He was so... vital... and stunningly male.
She forced her gaze to stay fixed on his face as he neared them. The rest of his anatomy held too many pitfalls to her peace of mind. Not that she had any peace of mind, but her knees suddenly felt very shaky and if there was ever a time to appear strong it was now, especially in front of his mother’s critical eye.
“Sorry I wasn’t out of the pool to greet you when you arrived,” he said, his smile aimed exclusively at her, a smile that tingled through her bloodstream and made her feel light-headed.
“No need to apologise. Ruth is looking after me,” she said, struggling to be sensible. “Go back if you like. I don’t want to interrupt the game.”
He shook his head. “You look great in that white outfit. Why haven’t I seen you in white before?”
“You would have said it’s a neutral, not fitting our image,” she said dryly.
He grinned, the yellow wolfish gleam lighting his eyes. “Definitely a positive. Give me five minutes to get dressed and I’ll be at your side to protect you from the hordes.”
“Well, if you’re going to poke your nose in, I’m taking Amy back to the kitchen so we women can get some chat in first,” Ruth informed him archly.
He laughed. “I can feel the knives in my back. Take no notice of them, Amy. The women in this family have mean, vicious hearts.”
“Oh, you...” Ruth tried to cuff him, but he ducked out of reach and was off, still laughing.
“Are you still okay with Joshua, Mum?” Ruth asked.
“Yes, dear.” The dark eyes pinned Amy purposefully. “Perhaps we’ll have time to converse later.”
“I’m sure we will,” she answered, forcing a smile she didn’t feel. The impression was too strong that Elizabeth Rose Carter did not consider her a suitable person to be the one woman her youngest son chose to share Christmas with his family, let alone be the mother of his child.
It hurt.
And the natural acceptance given her by all the others as the day wore on, didn’t quite overlay that initial hurt. It preyed on her mind more and more as she watched the Carter family in action over the long and highly festive Christmas luncheon.
They connected so easily and they had no fear of saying anything they liked to each other. There was no tension. Laughter rippled around the table. Children were lovingly indulged. Good-natured arguments broke out and became quite boisterous but there wasn’t a trace of acrimony, merely a lively exchange of opinions accompanied by witty teasing. It was interesting, amusing, and most of all, happy.
Jake didn’t allow her to be simply an observer. Neither did his siblings nor their partners. It seemed everyone was keen to draw her into being one of them, inviting her participation, wanting it, enjoying it. Occasionally Jake’s father would stir the pot with provocative remarks, then sit back, his amber eyes twinkling like Jake’s as comments bounced around the table.
They knew how to have fun, this family. To Amy it was a revelation of how a family could be, given a kindly and encouraging hand at the helm. She wished her baby could know this, know it from the very beginning... to grow up without fear, with an unshakable sense of belonging to a loving circle. Maybe she was idealising it, but the contrast from what she’d come from was so great, it all seemed perfect to her.
The rapport she shared with Jake was heightened in this company. There were times when their eyes met, the understanding felt so intimate she was sure she could tell him she was pregnant and it wouldn’t cause any problem between them. He would want his child. He would love it. Family was natural to him.
Then she would catch his mother watching them and knew there was no easy solution to her situation. Elizabeth Carter did not approve of her. Besides, the sense of intimacy was an illusion, generated by the special harmony of a happy Christmas day. Jake might care for her and trust her. It didn’t mean he would want to be bound to her through their child.