off?â
âI need more cereal. I swear since Cadeâs been home I canât keep a full box in the house.â She tickled Jack Jr.âs chubby cheeks. Delightful giggles filled the air. The little boyâs blue eyes widened as big as saucers and he kicked out with his feet. She laughed. âHeâs such a delightful little boy.â
Jack wrapped his arm around Melanieâs shoulders. âOf course he is, look who he has for a mother.â Jack Jr. reached for his dad.
Melâs cheeks turned red at the compliment as she handed the wiggling baby over to her husband. âAre you saying Iâm delightful?â Jack flashed a grin and she patted his jaw adoringly. âYou werenât saying that when I was in the hospital giving birth.â
Jackâs expression grew somber. âNo, I didnât, did I? I apologize, but I had to keep my mouth clamped shut otherwise the entire hospital would have heard me screaming. You just about crushed my hand with each contraction.â
Sara poked his arm, wincing when she came up against hard muscle. âWuss.â
Mel ran her gaze over her baby from the top of his dark head to his little sneaker clad feet. âYes, the pain was intense, but worth it.â She tickled the exposed skin of his belly and was rewarded with another shriek of giggles.
Sara grinned at the couple. Jack was a retired state trooper and one hot, sexy guy. Melanie was a sweetheart and fast becoming a good friend. Lord knew she could use one right now.
Jack kissed Melanie then lifted his sonâs shirt and planted a loud smooch on his belly. More giggles. âCome on, sport. Mommy needs to get back to work. Letâs go agitate the guys at the barracks for a while then weâll head home and start supper.â He swung Jack Jr. up in the air and set him on top of his shoulders. âTell that clumsy husband of yours to give me a holler if he needs any help.â
âI will, Mr. Mom.â
Jack arched a brow mock-sternly, but Sara knew better than to be scared. Jack dressed in ratty jeans and a cotton t-shirt was a far cry from what he had looked like in uniform. Jack Horan had frightened her near to death the first time he walked into the store in his state trooper regalia. Stern and foreboding. Melanie had been the one to put that smile on his face and the permanent sparkle in his green eyes. Sara loved living next door to Mel and Jack Horan. They were wonderful neighbors and all-around good people.
As soon as Jack was gone Sara whispered fiercely to Mel. âIf I donât talk to someone Iâm going to disintegrate into a pile of ashes.â
Mel chuckled. âCome on, it canât be that bad.â
Sara pursed her lips and cocked her head.
âOkay, I take that back. My inventory is finished. I just need to send in the order for Wednesday.â She went up to the counter. âStacy, if you need me Iâll be in the office.â She waved to Sara. âGrab a cup of coffee and come on back.â
Sara sat in the small office and studied her friendâs face. âYou look and sound so happy. I donât know how you handle this managerâs job. The six weeks you were out on maternity leave I couldnât wait until you came back. Figuring out schedules, calling in orders, and handling annoyed customers drove me crazy.â She pointed at the pile of lottery tickets on the desk. âNot to mention the lottery.â
Mel grimaced. âI donât mind the job, but this lottery can be a pain in the ass at times. I counted these dratted things three times and got three different totals. I thought if I stepped away for a while and finished the inventory I might be able to straighten it out. Itâs really not so bad though. I admit I canât wait to get home to my boys, but working here keeps me busy. This way I donât dwell on my depression.â
Sara was thoughtful for a moment. âNo one would believe