“Dad, can I show Mum my room?” Lara asked.
“Sure.” Maybe there was something in there they could bond over. While they went inside, Darcy did a couple of laps around the yard and then lifted Todd down and gave Trevor a turn. Josh walked with him.
“Darcy, I’m sorry about Friday,” Josh said in a low voice. “I had no idea Sofia hadn’t asked to take Lara.”
Darcy grunted, as the tension stiffened his skin again.
“She came home all indignant, and when she told me what happened, I backed you all the way. If my ex had just taken the boys without me knowing…”
Darcy blew out a breath. This man got it. “I’ve never been so damned scared.”
Josh clapped him on the back. “She won’t do it again. She has a tendency to only think about what she wants, but she’s getting better.” The real affection in his voice showed Josh’s love for her.
Darcy studied the man. “Does she want Lara?”
The man glanced at him, his eyes shuttering. “She wants a relationship with her, whatever that looks like.” He gestured around. “How much land do you have?”
Darcy respected that Josh wouldn’t talk behind Sofia’s back, so didn’t push the topic. “A quarter of a million acres,” he replied, smirking at the shock on Josh’s face. People never believed him.
“That’s incredible. So you run sheep?”
They spoke about the farm as Darcy took both boys around the yard again, before Trevor said, “I’m hungry.”
Josh sighed. “He’s got a bottomless stomach.”
“Then he’s lucky Lara baked fresh scones this morning. Why don’t you all head inside and I’ll unsaddle Starlight? Holler out and Lara will hear.”
As he crossed the yard to the house, his gaze caught on the frame of a house in the distance. The house he’d been going to build for Sofia. He hadn’t got far before she’d walked out and he’d never got around to tearing it down. Had hoped one day he’d have a reason to build his own place. Now, with Brandon and Amy getting married, he should probably plan a rebuild. They would want the main house to themselves, especially if they had kids.
He sighed and continued into the kitchen, where Amy had served drinks and the kids had their mouths stuffed with scones, jam and cream. Sofia’s plate had a single biscuit on it. She’d always been conscious of her weight. She’d hated how big she was during pregnancy and often complained about his mother baking so much.
Funny how he’d forgotten the little details.
As they ate, Lara regaled Josh and her stepbrothers with stories about the Retribution wreck while Amy made small talk with Sofia. It was strange to have Sofia at the kitchen table again. He remembered being excited to come home after a day’s work and find her sitting there with Lara in her arms. He’d always made a beeline to his baby girl, needing to hold her after so long away, seeing how much she grew each day.
That image was clear, but what wasn’t clear was him greeting Sofia, asking her about her day. Had he forgotten to do that?
“Can we go see the island, Dad?” Trevor asked, his eyes wide with excitement.
Josh glanced at Darcy. “We’ll have to ask Darcy.”
The twins both turned to him with pleading eyes. He chuckled. “If you’ve got time, we can head to the beach. It’s about an hour’s round trip. The road’s bumpy.”
Josh turned to Sofia and Lara said, “Do you remember how lovely our beach is, Mum?”
Sofia sighed. “We can go, but I didn’t bring beach towels.”
“We’ve got plenty if the boys want to swim,” Darcy told her. They’d finished eating, so he stood. “I’ll bring the ute around. Lara, can you put bathers on and then get enough towels for everyone?” He glanced at Amy. “Want to come?”
She smiled and shook her head. “I’ve got a couple of guests coming in this morning.”
Right. By the time he’d driven the ute over to the house, everyone waited outside.
“We won’t all fit in there,” Sofia said.
“There’s plenty of room in the tray and your hire car won’t make it down the road,” Darcy told her. “Lara, what are the rules for riding in the tray?”
Lara climbed in. “No standing while the car is running, no leaning against the tail gate, and always hold on to the side.” She demonstrated.
