Leave it to Maggie to get straight to the point. “Uh, both?” I cringed when she cheered. “Uh, less cheer and more advice?” I requested.
“Thatwasmy advice. Hang on, I’m out of practice. Too many diapers to change,” Maggie muttered.
“How is your new niece?”
“She’s doing well. Diane and I took her to a specialist this morning. She’s got brachycephaly. The plan is to fit her for a helmet and pray that’ll help. The doc said that the earlier she starts, the less time she’ll have to wear one,” Maggie said.
“I’m sorry to hear that. It has to be so scary for you guys. I’m glad your sister and niece have you to help out.” From what Maggie had shared, her sister Diane had a rough pregnancy. Pretty much anything that could go wrong did. And she’d had to weather most of it on her own. Max, her husband, had tried multiple times to get relieved from duty and sent home to help his wife, but he’d been turned down every time. Max held a specialized position and the Army wasn’t able to find a sub available to take over. He had six more weeks on his deployment and everyone was counting the days until he returned to Fort Hood.
“Nice attempt at a redirect, by the way. You definitely haven’t lost your touch,” Maggie said. I had ot laugh, because we both knew she was right—that’s exactly what I was doing, even though I was genuinely curious how little Elaine was doing.
“Well, you know my general opinion on men,” she said, and I nodded, even though she couldn’t see me, because I certainly did. I could predict what Maggie would say about love affairs.If you want a man, chase him down, hog tie him, and drag him home.From the storiesshe had shared, that was basically what Maggie had done to catch her husband, and both of them were immensely happy.
Through the phone, I could hear the sound of a newborn cry. “Whelp, that’s my cue,” Maggie said. “I’m sorry we didn’t have more time to talk, but let me say this much. It doesn’t matter what other people think. It only matters what you two think. Well, and Henry.” There was another cry. “I love you and I think you should do what makes you happy and stop worrying about trying to please everyone else. Toodles.”
I stared at the dark screen on my phone. Was I worrying about everyone else instead of myself? Probably. But how could I not? I lived with the Thornes. Had been married to one. Of course their feelings needed to be considered before I did something I couldn’t take back. Right?
I couldn’t outright talk to Laura about Cal, but I could lead her into a discussion of men and dating. That might be illuminating. I found my opportunity while we were preparing dinner together that evening.
“Laura,” I said as I chopped vegetables for a salad, “have you ever considered dating again?” As far as I knew, Laura hadn’t so much as looked at another man since her husband’s death, but if the right man came along…
“Dating?” Laura said. “I think I’m a little old for that.”
“I’m not talking casual stuff,” I clarified. “I’m talking about headfirst, fall in love, this-could-be-real dating.”
Laura laughed. “You’ve got a way of putting it, but no, I haven’t. I can’t imagine finding that again. Marshall was my one true love story.” She paused and got dreamy-eyed before giving her head a shake and going back to stirring marinara sauce. “Besides, I have a life here that I love with you and the boys.”
I felt a shred of guilt. Were we holding Laura back? I wondered if Laura and I had become co-dependent considering the circumstances.
“And we love being part of your life,” I said, “but if there were such a man, what would you do?”
“The circumstances would have to be just right.” Laura set her stirring spoon aside and picked up her glass of red wine. “I mean, I’m not a girl anymore who can leave one life behind for another. No, if I were going to fall in love again, it would have to be with someone who was willing to come into my life. Not the other way around.”
I diced a cucumber while I thought about what Laura said. I was far younger than Laura, but that didn’t mean I could pick up my life and follow a man, either. I’d done that for Luke. I’d left a good job prospect and everything familiar behind because I fell in love. And then he’d died, which forced me to build a future for myself, without basing it around him. And I had. I’d chosen to remain in Poplar Springs because I loved my job, loved the town, loved the Thornes, and loved the ranch where we lived. My son was happy here. I didn’t think I could uproot like that again. As surely as I knew that, I also knew that Cal had no desire to remain in Poplar Springs. So where did that leave us exactly?
I finished cutting up the vegetables and wiped my hands off on a kitchen towel. Wanting a moment to myself, I made an excuse that I needed to check on Henry. I left the kitchen and made my way to my son’s room. He was sitting cross-legged on his bed, absorbed in a book. That made me smile, so I tiptoed past his door to my own room for a minute of privacy.
I was tied up in knots about this. Cal had said this wasn’t a game to him, but did that mean we had a future? What if Cal was picturing a life together, but that life meant leaving everything about my current one behind?
I flopped back on my bed, feeling tired, which might have to do with the late—and veryactive—night with Cal. I smiled as the memory warmed something inside me. I had to talk with Cal to see what kind of relationship he was imagining for us before I let my attachment to him get any stronger.
TWENTY-THREE
AMY
Iwatched the large flatbed trucks roll past Carly’s. I needed to hurry if I was going to meet them at the drop-off site. Volunteers had been organized through the Cattlemen’s Association. Shannon Cafferty was a regular attendee to their monthly meetings, along with her brother, Josh, and they’d managed to coerce several of the ranch owners into convincing their hands to help with the set up.
If I were to guess, it was Shannon who was the more persuasive of the two. When her partner, Declan, had first returned to Poplar Springs to take over Ruth Wilcox’s old vet practice, Shannon had been instrumental in helping Declan grow his business.
When I’d been informed that I had a lengthy list of volunteers to help with the labor, I was certain Shannon had something to do with it and I’d been right.
“Here you go, Amy. Sorry it took so long,” Cassie said. She was Carly’s assistant manager at the coffee and sweets shop. She handed me a tray with two coffees and a bag with something savory-smelling inside. “We’re trialing serving breakfast items that aren’t filled with sugar. Let me know what you think.” I peeked into the bag and foundwhat looked like puff pastries. “Think of them like egg bites but wrapped in a phyllo dough.” She waved me off when I attempted to pay.
I turned to see Cal’s truck idling at the curb. He waved when I exited. “You ready to see the rodeo come together?” he asked. I had to swallow hard at his enthusiasm because I was nervous. Nervous to be in a vehicle with him while our relationship was in the air but also nervous about the set up. The rodeo was getting closer with each passing day.
I swallowed my worry down and lifted the bag. “Up for a bit of breakfast while we drive to the school?”
His grin was slow and I felt butterflies deep inside from the way he looked at me. He hopped out of the truck and jogged around to the passenger side to open the door for me. As I was sliding onto the seat, he said, “Breakfast will do. For now.” The way his eyes slid over me made it clear whatelsehe had an appetite for. I blushed so hard at that, I thought I’d combust. I climbed in, and he closed the door behind me before striding around to get back into the driver’s seat.
