Caleb was finally ready to get down and explore the kitchen. Jessica
followed him and held the drawers closed so he couldn't empty them.
"Sit back down and let him play, " Josey suggested.
"He'll destroy your kitchen, " she warned. "Caleb's a very curious
child." Josey opened the doors under the counters. "My nieces and
nephews like to play with my pots and pans. That's the way, " she said
when Caleb squatted down and reached for one of the wooden spoons.
Jessica sat down next to Josey once again, and while they got to know
one another, Caleb made a fine mess banging on the pots and pans.
Within ten minutes he had warmed up to Josey enough to let her pick him
up and kiss him.
Cole and Tom came back into the kitchen then, and Cole gave Jessica a
quick nod.
"Josey, you and I are going to be keeping this little boy a spell, "
Tom announced.
Josey patted the baby and looked at Jessica. "No wonder you were
asking those questions. I'll be proud to watch him for you, " she
added. "And Tom and I won't let anything happen to him."
"Jessica's a witness, and she's got to go to Texas to testify, " Tom
said. "Cole doesn't think it's a good idea to take the baby with
them."
"When do you think you'll be back? " Josey asked Cole.
"I don't know, " he answered. "Maybe two weeks . . . or longer. "
"He won't remember me." Every one turned to Jessica.
"Of course he'll remember you, " Josey said. "We won't let him
forget.
" Tom suggested Jessica and Cole spend the night with them so that the
adjustment for Caleb would be easier on him. Jessica let Josey bathe
Caleb but hovered over her like a mother hen. Josey did know her way
around babies. She filled a basin in the sink and let Caleb splash
water everywhere while she lathered him up.
"You're very good with him, " Jessica told her.
She followed Josey up the stairs to the guest room. Caleb, wrapped in
a thick towel, was peeking at his mother over Josey's shoulder.
"He always sleeps with a rag doll. It's in his valise, " Jessica
said.
"Oh, and he hates carrots. He'll spit them out if you try to force
them on him."
"I wouldn't do that, " Josey said. "I hate carrots too. I know you're
gonna worry, no matter what assurances I give you, but I promise you
I'm gonna love this boy like he was my own. Why don't you go on
downstairs for a bit and let Caleb get used to me.
I'll call out if I need help."
"Yes, that's a good idea, " Jessica said. It was also a test. Putting
Caleb to bed required stamina and patience. Every once in a while, if
he was overly tired, Caleb would throw a tantrum. The baby was all
wound up now, and that was a sure indication that trouble was coming.
Jessica left the valise on the bed and closed the door behind her.
When she came downstairs, she found Cole in the living room standing by