“It sure did.And you have every right to be angry about that.”
She sipped her drink, studying me over the rim of her mug.“But?”
“No buts.”
Her smile turned wry.“But don’t let it drag Cam and me to an unhealthy place.Don’t let my sadness affect my work.Don’t let my grief take away from all the good in my life.Doesn’t that sound just about like the conventional wisdom everyone will spout at me?”
She meant her mother.
“Pfft.”I waved my free hand in the air.“Who wants conventional?And who says that bull doodoo is wisdom?”
Her smile turned warm, real, so I reached out and cuddled her closer, just like I would for my Katie Rose….Kate, as she preferred me to call her now.Jenna held such a tender place in my heart.What she’d been through in her short life…it defied all conventions that she’d survived, let alone thrived.
I sighed as I pulled her close again.“You, my dear girl, are so special.”
“I bet you say that to all your daughters.”
I kissed the crown of her head.“Only to those who deserve it.”
Her cheeks rose again in a soft smile.Good.She was finding her footing, finding herself.That was an essential step.The rest of the process would be filled with the setbacks before Jenna found the ability to move forward.
“Your little man can pack away nearly as much pie as your grown one,” I said into the warm silence.
We’d finished our drinks and were content with each other.Oh, how lucky was I for these moments…
“He’s growing so fast,” she said, tone wistful.
“They do that.”
“Thanks, Mama.”
“For?”
“Being you.”
“Oh, sugar.That’s too sweet.Now, do you think you’re ready to face the day?We got things to do.”
“Like?”Jenna rose and stretched.
There’s my girl.
“Loads of stuff.Mucking stalls, exercising a horse, working on a guitar, starting the cooking for tonight’s feast…”
“I’d like to help you cook,” Jenna said, voice small.
I drained my mug and rose.“Then, let’s get to it before you-know-who butts in.I swear if that man tries to tell me how to bake a pie...”I grimaced, but it wasn’t because of the possibility of Steve critiquing my crust recipe.
“What will you do?”
“I may just whack him with my wooden spoon.”I shot her a side-eye and a smile so she’d know I was joking.
Jenna walked beside me toward the door.“What’s up with you two?I could have sworn you and Steve got along great before Nash and Aya’s wedding.”
I held open the front door while Jenna snatched up a fleece hoodie from the rack next to it.She slid her arms into it while she shoved her feet into a pair of brown Uggs.
“We did.”
That wasbefore—before I lost my head and kissed him.Before Steve lost his good sense right back and made love to me.There was no other word for it—we’d made something beautiful,perfect.And I’d fallen into the trap of a dream that wasn’t mine.
