Part 7 (1/2)
”Ill tell Jen she can expect you,” Tate called to her retreat-Ing back.
Smokey tossed a grin in his direction as she exited the She'd been buying and selling since before her father
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died, trading with s.h.i.+pping magnates and ama.s.sing a small fortune for herself in the last few years. But she didn't know when the sale of her cargo had ever felt so fine.
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”I HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL YOU, SMOKEY.” Jenny's VOice was hushed as the two women sat close together on the large sofa in the Pembertons' parlor.
”What is it?”
”We haven't told anyone, and I need you to keep it a secret.”
”All right,” Smokey agreed and watched as Jenny's eyes glowed with excitement.
”I'm going to have a baby.”
”Oh, Jen,” Smokey whispered. The two women embraced for long moments, and when they broke apart their eyes were suspiciously moist.
”When will the baby come?” Smokey's voice was now as hushed as Jenny's.
”Next summer.”
”That long?” Smokey's voice became quite loud, her brow wrinkling in disappointment.
”It does take time, you know.” Jenny was laughing so hard over Smokey's reaction that she could barely talk.
”I know, but next summer! Why, that feels like years away!”
Again Jenny went off into gales of laughter. It was contagious, and Smokey laughed too. They talked of babies for the next hour, and then Jenny asked Smokey about her plans for J&ristmas.
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”I'll be with Da.r.s.ey at Willa's. Her children live in the area, and they'll all come on Christmas Eve.”
”What about Christmas Day?”
”It's pretty quiet. By the time the family goes home on Christmas Eve, Willa is pretty worn out.”
”Would they be terribly upset if you spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with us?”
Smokey blinked ”I don't know, Jen.”
”Now what does that hesitant look mean?” Jenny couldn't have asked that question several weeks ago, but having Tate and Jenny learn of Smokey's occupation seemed to bring down the wall that separated them.
However, Smokey had not told anyone about the way she felt when she even thought about Dallas Knight. She didn't think she was ready to share, not even with Jenny.
”I'll think about your offer, okay, Jen? Maybe I'll discuss it with Da.r.s.ey.”
”Da.r.s.ey means a lot to you, doesn't he?”
”Oh, yes,” Smokey told her with a smile. ”He was my father's first mate before he was mine, and he's been beside me since I was a baby. Willa told me that Da.r.s.ey sees me as the daughter he never had.”
”Do you miss your father?”
”I do, but the anguish is gone. That first year, the pain was so intense I didn't think I'd make it.” Smokey suddenly grew very quiet.
”I'm sorry if the subject brings back all the pain.”
”It's not that,” Smokey told her. ”You and Tate have been wonderful, but there's something more about me that I want to explain.”
”All right,” Jenny's voice was expectant, but something in Smokey's look made her heart thump with trepidation. Her mind ran with every crazy thing Smokey could possibly say, from being a pirate to having a husband and child of her own somewhere.
”Not now,” Smokey said, much to Jenny's disappointment.
”I want to talk to you when Tate is here too.”
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After two beats of her heart, Jenny agreed, knowing she would have to put her curiosity on hold. It would be hard, but she knew Tate deserved to hear the news firsthand. This was obviously something very important to Smokey. Jenny wanted to do all she could so Smokey would feel free to tell them in her time, secure in the knowledge that Jenny's love was unfailing, no matter what she shared ”I'm not ashamed of what I do for a living,” Smokey told Jenny and Tate that evening. They were alone in the library, and dinner was over. ”But I find that I'm something of a curiosity.”
”And you would rather we didn't tell everyone we know that you are the captain of theAramis?” Tate interjected with an understanding smile.