Jake carried Katie inside, trying his best not to stare at her mother. Something strange had happened when he glanced up to see her standing on the porch. It looked like a weight had lifted from Lindsey's shoulders, and it suited her. He enjoyed building the snowman with her, and he'd made it a point to keep both his girls smiling.

Whoa. They're not my girls.

Jake stopped in the middle of the room. Why would he think of them as his? Until today, he'd never thought about a family of his own. He couldn't deny that every time Katie called him dadda he melted and wished he had really earned the title.

"You okay?" Jessica winked at him.

"What?"

"You look like you just got hit up side the head with a two-by-four." She laughed and reached for Katie. "You've played with her all day. Let me have a turn."

He glanced at Lindsey. She waited at the table by his mom. Her cheeks were pink from being outside, her golden hair shone in the kitchen lights, and her eyes sparkled. She was one of the prettiest women he'd ever seen. How could that idiot of a husband leave her behind?

"Come on, Jake. Take that off and join us." Jessica tugged on his coat. Then she bent close and whispered, "Do you like her?"

Jake grunted and took his coat back to the stand by the front door. He planned to take his time, not wanting to encourage any other questions from his sister. Unfortunately, Jessica had followed him.

"I really want to know. You had this sappy look on your face when you were looking at her just now. I've never seen you do that." Jessica stared him down.

"You're being silly. I just met her today, and she'll be moving on when her car's fixed." Jake felt his face warm. When had he turned into such a girl?

"Well, I like her, and if you like her, I'd gladly help you do something to impress her."

"Jess, you need to mind your own business." He brushed past her and headed for the kitchen.

Jake made himself useful helping his mom move stuff to the table. He listened to the conversation, but didn't know how to contribute to talk about ribbons and bows for little girls. Soon the talk shifted to recipes. It sounded like Lindsey loved cooking and taking care of her home.

"Growing up, we always made our own butter. You've never tasted butter until you've had it fresh. After my dad died, we couldn't keep the dairy farm going on our own. Steven bought it and my mom bought a little house in town." Lindsey stopped talking, and a little wrinkle appeared on her forehead.

"Is Steven your ex?" Jake asked. He didn't understand why everyone glared at him over the table.

"Yeah. I just realized he got our farm at a steal of a price, he got the money from the sale of my mom's house, and he got most of the cash from the sale of the farm."

Jake's jaw hurt from clenching. He tried to relax, but he found his temper wouldn't cool down. Jessica nudged him with her foot under the table. At a loss for what to say, he wadded his napkin up and pushed back from the table.

"Excuse me." He stormed out the back door.

* * *

Lindsey followed Jake outside. The cold hit her immediately, but she felt driven to know what had the kind-hearted man so upset. She found him on the back porch.

"Hey." She didn't really know what she wanted to ask now that she could see his clenched hands and the scowl on his face.

"I don't get it. How could someone as kind as you marry such a jerk?" His anger laced every word with a bite.

Lindsey took a step back. Why was he angry at her?

"I was young." She shook her head, remembering she'd promised herself to be stronger. "Not that it's any of your business. I appreciate your help today, and your family's hospitality, but my life is not your problem."

She turned and stormed back inside. Everyone looked up from the table.

"Excuse me for a minute." She headed up the stairs to the room Marion had given her.

The flicker of resentment at Jake's judgment quickly gave way to a deep sadness. Once again she'd mistaken someone's intentions. She thought he was different from Steven. Or maybe the hour of lighthearted play had her hoping he was different.

Her ex had been just as nice when he started dating her. It wasn't until after they were married that she realized how controlling he was. He'd basically kept her hidden at home except for when she went to work. Even then, he'd dropped her off and picked her up. She hadn't had any free time for friends since their wedding day. Then, after four years, he'd left her with no one to turn to. She'd had to learn how to budget, pay the bills, pretty much everything since then.

Well, she wasn't nineteen anymore. She was wiser now, and she had a daughter to look after.

Lindsey swiped at a stupid tear that escaped. If she was so much smarter, why had today felt so right?

* * *

Jake would have gone straight home, but his family was decorating the tree. He'd always been home for that, and he wouldn't let his hurt pride mess up his mom's night. Especially since Josh hadn't been able to come home this year.

Lindsey came downstairs and tried to take Katie back up with her. His parents had insisted they stay and help with the tree. Jake tried to ignore the looks his family kept shooting his way. Instead, he lifted Katie so she could hang decorations higher on the tree.

"Pwetty." She clapped her little hands.

"It sure is. You're good at this, peanut." He set her down and watched her walk to her mom.

"Momma, pwetty." Katie pointed to the tree.

Lindsey looked up from where she sat untangling a strand of lights from some garland. She looked him in the eye for only a moment before redirecting her attention to the tree. "It sure is sweetie."

Jessica tugged on his sleeve and whispered. "What happened?"

He shrugged and hung another ornament.

"Well, you need to fix it."

"I didn't do anything." He whispered back, but he could still feel the rest of the room watching him.

Jessica looked at him as if she didn't believe him, and she was probably right. He just didn't understand what he'd done wrong.

"We need the hammer from the kitchen. Can you go get it?" Jessica asked.

"Sure." Anything to get a breather from the tension.

He was looking through several drawers and coming up empty when Lindsey entered the kitchen.

"Oh. Sorry. Jessica sent me to find a hammer." She paused in the doorway.

"Of course she did. She doesn't think I can do anything on my own." Jake slammed the drawer shut and took a deep breath while saying a silent prayer. Let me say the right thing. "Lindsey, I'm sorry about earlier. I don't know what I did, but I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. It's just that I can't understand how any man could have left you behind." He felt like an idiot rambling on, hoping to stumble on the right approach.

"Oh." She took another step into the kitchen. "So, you weren't angry at me?"

"Why would I be mad at you?"

Lindsey shrugged, but wouldn't look him in the eye. She looked lost again. "I don't know. Thanks for telling me though. I do appreciate all you've done for me, but I have to learn to take care of myself now."

"I know, but I want to help. We all want to help." He stepped closer and waved toward the room where the rest of his family waited. It was all he could do not to reach out and hold her. The moment felt heavy, but he still didn't know what to do or say.

"I appreciate that, but you've done enough." She backed up and left him alone. Again.