Terms (The Experiments Book 3) by Jacqueline Druga Page A

news out?”
    “I have been really busy, Sir.”
    “Are you not happy?”
    “I’m very happy.” Jake said. “Do I not seem it?”
    “No.”
    “I am. The impending birth of my children …”
    “Children?” Roberts interrupted.
    “Twins.”
    “Holy God, Jake.” Col. Roberts stood, so did Jake. He walked around the table to give him a congratulatory handshake. “My God, this is wonderful news. Wonderful.”
    “Yes, it is.”
    Col. Roberts gleamed. “I am so proud of you.”
    “Thank you Sir, I am proud of my wife.”
    “You dog. You really deserve this,” Col. Roberts leaned back against the desk “Now the reason for me inviting you. Anna and I would like you and Cal to come by this evening. Please bring Rickie.”
    All expression dropped from Jake’s face. “He probably has plans.”
    “Do you and Cal?”
    “Not that I know of,” Jake replied.
    “Good. Good. We’ll expect you two for dinner about seven.”
    “We would love to come over, but do you mind if we refrain from having a meal?” Jake asked.
    “Why?”
    “To be honest, my wife eats quite a bit in her current state, and I don’t want to be an imposition.”
    Col. Roberts just stared at him. “You’re joking.”
    “No, sir, I am not.”
    “Jake, she’s pregnant. She’s allowed to eat a lot.”
    “Begging your pardon sir, but I think it’s abnormal amount. Last night, she opened fudge rippled ice cream and ate two bowls.”
    Col. Roberts chuckled. “Son, can I give you some advice? Coming from a man with three children.”
    “Please.”
    “Let your wife eat what she wants. Don’t make her feel subconscious.”
    “I’m looking out for her well being.”
    “I’m sure you are.” Col. Roberts said. “But how does your wife feel about it.”
    “Agrees one hundred percent.” Jake stated assuredly. “Trust me when I say, Cal wants me to look out for her best interest.”
     
     
    “Rickie!” Cal snapped. “Hurry, get back to the lookout.”
    “Sorry, I wanted to steal one of your sausages.” Rickie, with a link in his mouth darted from the kitchen.
    Cal dumped a glob of butter on her stack of pancakes, “Rickie where’s the syrup. Where did we hide it.”
    “We put it in the powder room where you keep the tampons.”
    “Oh, good thinking.” Cal hurried to the powder room, and retrieved the maple syrup. “Thanks for looking out Rickie.”
    “Not a problem, Cal-Babe. I think it’s abuse that the Sarge won’t let you eat.”
    “Tell me about it. Just let me know if he pulls up.”
    “Got it!”
    Cal drenched her pancakes in syrup, the butter mixed in and created a colorful combination. She couldn’t wait to dive in and licked the syrup from her fingers. Before eating, she took a spoonful of powdered coffee creamer and added it to her coffee, then another. Grabbing the jar, she sniffed it. With a tilt of her head she grabbed another spoonful, only this time; she ejected it into her mouth. “Oh man.” She smiled. “Rickie, you have to try coffee creamer without the coffee It’s like Candy.”
    Huge calorie filled breakfast before her; Cal lifted her fork and dove in.
     
    Jake knew something was up when he called the house and Rickie said Cal was busy. He wouldn’t have thought much about it had Rickie not said three times, she was consuming a boring healthy breakfast.
    What was going on?
    Jake was on his way home, and he didn’t tell Rickie. In fact, the best way to see what they were up to was to do what he did best. Infiltrate his own home without being noticed.
    And he did so with ease.
    He could hear the back and forth between Rickie and Cal.
    “Anything?” Cal would yell.
    “Nope. Have another.” Rickie yelled. “Coast is clear. No Sarge.”
    “Thanks!”
    No Sarge . Jake snickered at that as he stood not two feet from Rickie. But he couldn’t stand unnoticed much longer, the second he heard Rickie sniff, he knew Rickie had caught his scent.
    In front of the window, Rickie, wide eyes, slowly