“Is that supposed to make me feel better?”
“You’ve made important decisions your entire life, only most of the time you didn’t know it. This time, you do.”
Leaving Bozeman three years ago had been one of the hardest decisions she’d ever made. She’d loved Matthew, and nothing had changed. Working out what she was going to do about it would be harder than choosing which job she would accept.
***
Sean stuck his hands on his hips and glared at Matthew. “Will you stop running around the house like a demented chicken? You’re making me nervous.”
“I wouldn’t be running around the house if you did your share of the chores. How long has it been since you cleaned the bathrooms?”
“I cleaned them last weekend.” He grabbed the disinfectant out of Matthew’s hand. “I’ll do them again.”
“Vacuum the floor, too.”
“Is there anything else you want me to do?”
“Not upstairs, but you could vacuum the living room when you’ve finished the bathrooms.”
Sean stomped toward the stairs. “If this is what inviting Ashley and her dad here for dinner does, you should eat in town next time.”
Matthew didn’t know whether his brother was being deliberately annoying or behaving like he always did. Ever since they’d arrived home, Sean had been doing everything he could to annoy him.
He opened the oven door and quickly stirred the casserole he’d made. It was one of their mom’s favorite recipes and almost foolproof. The potatoes were sitting on the stove, ready to be cooked, and a salad was in the refrigerator. If Ashley’s dad had become a vegetarian, they were in trouble.
He glanced through the kitchen window and froze. A white SUV had stopped in their front yard. Ashley and her dad were early.
The kitchen was clean and the living room would have to do. By the time he opened the front door, Ashley and her dad were climbing the porch stairs.
He held out his hand to Ashley’s dad. “Hi, Mr. Fisher. It’s good to see you again.”
“You can call me Trevor, Matthew. Thanks for inviting us to your ranch. It’s been a long time since I was here.”
Matthew nodded. He’d kept in contact with Trevor for a few months after Ashley had left for New York. Her dad was convinced that his daughter would return to Bozeman within six months of leaving. Matthew knew how determined Ashley could be. It would take more than Trevor knew to make her return home. She had a point to prove, and knowing Ashley, she’d walk over hot coals before admitting defeat and leaving New York.
“Come inside. Sean’s upstairs. He hasn’t left for town yet.”
At the sound of his name, his brother poked his head over the rail. “Hi, Mr. Fisher. Welcome back to Montana.”
“Thanks. I’m enjoying my visit. You don’t look any different than the last time I saw you.”
Sean grinned and came downstairs. “It’s an optical illusion. I’m three years older and have a couple of gray hairs to prove it. Hi, Ashley.”
“Hi.”
“Would you like a cup of coffee?” Matthew asked.
“That would be great,” Trevor said. “We’ve been hiking in the Hyalite Canyon for the last couple of hours.”
Ashley handed Matthew the box she’d been holding. “Here’s something for dessert.”
Sean’s eyebrows rose. “Has someone been baking?”
“Not us,” Ashley said. “We ordered a strawberry cheesecake from Tess. If you don’t feel like cheesecake, there are half a dozen muffins to choose from.”
Sean smiled. “I don’t need to leave for town just yet. I’ll make coffee.”
Ashley took a deep breath. “Something smells nice.”
