For the first time since I arrived, she smiled. I missed seeing her eyes sparkle. “No. I was just throwing something out there.”
Jo disappeared towards her bedroom as I headed to her kitchen. I glanced at her breadbox but dismissed the idea of making her a sandwich. When I saw her at lunchtime, that’s what she was eating.
After going through the options available, I settled on cooking some pasta, heating up some homemade (I assumed made by Amara) spaghetti sauce, and putting together a salad.
As I worked, I could hear the water in the distance. I hoped Jo could unwind and recharge and that the warm water would wash away some of the stress from our earlier argument. I could have kicked myself for the way things unfolded tonight. Our situation was starting off on the back foot because I barged in without thinking about how overwhelmed Jo was feeling. I should have taken a moment to pause and assess the situation before pushing forward. Now, I just hoped the soothing sound of the water and a peaceful environment would help us both reset.
By nature, I was a problem solver. I rarely went around causing issues. I focus on finding solutions and making things work efficiently. Somehow, I lost sight of that tonight. I allowed myself to get caught up in the moment, focusing on the problem rather than the solution. It was a lapse in judgment, but now I’m determined to regain my focus and approach things with a clear, solution-oriented mindset.
I heard the water stop, but it was some time before she came back into the kitchen. She returned wearing an oversizedblue sweater and tights, her hair neatly styled in a single braid draped over her shoulder.
“Sorry for the wait,” she said, her voice soft and apologetic. Jo looked less tense than when she left, but her fatigue was unmistakable. Her shoulders slumped slightly, and her eyes, though gentle, carried the weight of a long day.
“It’s alright. Have a seat.” I placed her plate in front of her. The salad bowl was already there.
She sat down, her expression calm but distant. “Thank you.”
Jo took a deep breath and began to eat, her movements slow and deliberate. The silence between us was comfortable, but I could tell she was lost in thought.
“You look tired,” I said, breaking the quiet. She nodded slightly, her fork hovering over the salad but didn’t take any.
“I’m going to head out and let you eat. I’ll call you in the morning.”
“Can it wait until the afternoon?” She hesitated, then added, “I’ve got a lot on my plate tomorrow, so I’ll need to focus.”
“Yes, of course.” I should have asked her when she was free. It was the middle of the work-week. “I’m going to head out.”
Jo put down her fork and pushed her chair back.
“No, please don’t get up. Eat. I’ll see myself out.”
As I made my way back to my truck, all I could think about was how Jo and I would be linked for many years to come. Tonight was a rocky start, but we could fix it.
CHAPTER SIX
JO
“I’m sorry. Have you lost your mind?” It had been a month since Ryan found out I was pregnant. We had created a united front. Two weeks ago, when I finally admitted to my family who the father of my child was, all hell broke loose. To say my family was in an uproar would be an understatement.
Ryan was exceptional throughout the entire process. He remained steadfast by my side, addressing every question and enduring every comment with patience and grace. My father, however, was preoccupied with concerns about how Ryan planned to fulfill his responsibilities on a ranch hand's modest salary. Although Ryan owed him no explanation, he reassured my father with confidence and sincerity.
“I’m not one to spend extravagantly,” he explained. “The money I’ve earned as a Ranger and ranch hand has been invested wisely, and if necessary, I also have some family resources to rely on. They will never want for anything.”
That was then. Since Ryan dropped his bomb, he has been staring at me, remaining silent in the face of my question. Trying to cut the tension, I joked, “What happened? Did my dad and brothers take you out into the fields and threaten you with bodily harm or something?”
Ryan didn’t crack a smile.
May I add he had gone way off script. We agreed to be model co-parents. Ryan is an organised force. Until then, I couldn’t imagine him being an officer in the military. It took him a week to present me with a typed-out list of ideas on how we could make this long-distance arrangement work.
Now, his suggestion would throw out our well-crafted plan. What the hell was wrong with him?
I’ve been practising remaining calm for the baby. Did I mention that two days ago, I woke up and discovered I could no longer hide my pregnancy, even if I wanted to? My stomach had morphed overnight. Maybe that is why Ryan lost his mind.
Why else would he have just said?“I was thinking, let’s just get married?”
Under his silent scrutiny, I put down my delicious brownie. He had lured me over with the promise of baked goods, only to make the world’s most ridiculous suggestion.
I sighed. “I don’t want to get married to you.”
