Tess brought a cup of coffee across to Matthew. “I’ve got your phone order at the front counter when you’re ready.”
“Thanks.”
Tess nodded and moved to the next table, taking her customers’ orders before refilling more coffee cups.
A family sitting behind Ashley left their table. She moved forward, giving them more room to walk between the tables. “How are Catherine and Toby?”
“They’re good. They liked the bubbles you sent them.”
“I’m glad.” She looked down at her hands. “I was going to call you after lunch. Would you like two visitors this afternoon?”
“You could come for dinner. Sean’s heading into town, so it would just be me at home.”
The relief on Ashley’s face made him wonder if she was feeling as uncertain as he was.
“That would be great. Dad and I should be finished with everything we need to do by four-thirty. We could be at the ranch by about five o’clock if that suits you?”
“Five o’clock it is.” He picked up his cowboy hat and glanced at the clock on the wall. “I should leave. Sean’s waiting at Jake’s Hardware for me. Do you want a ride somewhere?”
Ashley shook her head. “Dad hired a rental car. He’s not far away. He wanted to visit some friends before we head to the cemetery.”
“You’re going to see your mom’s grave?”
Sadness darkened Ashley’s eyes. “And my grandparents.”
Matthew didn’t know what to say to make her feel better. “I’m looking forward to spending time with you tonight.”
“Me, too. I’ll bring dessert.”
He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “I’m glad you’re here.” And before he changed his mind, he left the café.
Ashley had her life all mapped out. All he needed to do was figure out how he would get through tonight.
***
It didn’t matter how much Ashley prepared herself for visiting her mom’s grave, the impact of seeing the granite headstone always left a knot of grief in her chest.
“It doesn’t seem like it’s been more than three years since your mom died.”
Ashley wrapped her hand around her dad’s elbow. “A lot has happened since then.”
He nodded and knelt on the grass, placing the roses he’d bought on either side of the headstone. “Your mom loved yellow roses. She told me they were little pots of gold.”
“I always wondered why she grew more yellow roses than any other color.” Ashley stood beside her grandparents’ grave and added more roses to their vases.
Her dad stood back and sighed. “The gardening magazines were the worst. Whenever a new variety came on the market, your mom had to order at least one plant.”
“I think she got that off Grandma Josephine. The two of them were hopeless in a garden center. We couldn’t leave without a trunk full of plants.” Ashley lost herself in the memories of her childhood, the days that were some of the happiest in her life. “Mom would be proud of what we’ve done, dad.”
“She would be even more proud that we’re here today.” Her dad wiped tears from his eyes. “I don’t want to lose you, too, Ashley.”
“That’s not going to happen. I can visit you more often, and you and Trisha could come and see me.”
“It’s not the same as living in the same city.”
“I know,” she said softly.
“What have you decided to do about the job offer in Washington, D.C.?”
