Beyond The Limit Read Free

had,” Laura said, pride in her tone. She dropped a spoonful of whipped cream on her own serving of pudding. “And in construction you’re like a puppeteer with a hundred strings, trying to get a hundred different construction companies to come together for a common goal.”
    Pete glowed internally from his parents’ praise. He knew they meant it. “Well,” he murmured between bites of the tasty dessert, “I had two great teachers. Mom, you taught me patience, and Dad, you taught me about maintaining strong boundaries and keeping my eye on the ball.”
    Nodding, Morgan put his empty dessert bowl aside and took a sip of hot coffee. “You and Kelly are very different from your older sister and brother, Cathy and Jason.”
    â€œOpposites, almost,” Laura agreed, smiling softly. “I know Jason’s looking forward to seeing you while you’re here, Pete.”
    â€œLikewise. I’m going to visit Jason, Annie and their two tykes later today.” They lived twenty miles away, up in the mountains above the small town, Phillipsburg. Annie had just given birth to a little girl, Rachel Ann, six months ago. Kammie had sent Pete digital pictures via e-mail to keep him up to speed on their niece. Kelly had wanted to be home for the birth but was on a wildfire assignment instead, much to her disappointment.
    â€œThey’re hoping you’ll stay for dinner tonight. If you’re not too tired?” Laura murmured.
    â€œNo, that’s fine. I’d like to spend an evening with them and catch up. And hold Rachel Ann. Finally.” Pete knew he’d been gone far too long from his family. The construction job in Germany had been brutal on him because he hadn’t had any time off. Due to several site problems, he never got to use his thirty days’ leave. Understanding that his family missed him as much as he did them, Waskul had given him seven days to catch up.
    Pete grinned. “So, what will I be missing here tonight for dinner?”
    Morgan chuckled. “Son, you think with your stomach. Your mother is making macaroni and cheese. But there will be leftovers, don’t worry.”
    â€œHey—” Pete held up his hands “—guilty as charged. I just like home cooking when I can get it.”
    â€œAnnie’s a wonderful cook, too,” Laura noted.
    â€œOh, I know she is. But…” Pete slanted a glance at his mother, whose blue eyes danced with happiness “…there’s no cookin’ like Mom’s. I know that for a fact.”
    â€œWell, thank you, dear. We’ve called Cathy and she’s not going to be able to make it home to see you. She’s undercover with her husband in an Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms unit down in South America right now.”
    â€œI got an e-mail from her a week ago,” Pete said. “She’s really happy, and I’m glad for her and Mac.”
    Morgan scraped his chair back from the table. “Right now, our family is stable and growing.” He gazed down at Pete. “When are you going to get interested in finding the right woman, Son?”
    Feeling heat flow up into his face, Pete cleared his throat. He glanced over and saw his mother’s hopeful look. Laura delighted in being a grandmother. She had planned Jason and Cathy’s weddings. More than once in e-mails over the past two years, she’d hinted that she’d love to plan a wedding for him. “Well, I just guess it isn’t the right time,” he told them. “Besides, Dad, you told me that a later marriage was a smart one. Getting married really young wasn’t the brightest lightbulb thing to do.”
    Morgan rubbed his jaw. “That’s true, I did say that.”
    â€œYou were older than me when you married Mom,” Pete pointed out.
    Laura nodded. “Yes, and it has been a marriage made in heaven.”
    â€œAnd Cathy and Mac were older when they got