My heart nearly bursts.
She bought boots today.
They look even better on her than they did in my imagination. Jesus, I’m whipped.
Responsibilities nag me. I need to deal with Jessamine and Cassidy. I have a few equipment orders to track. Need to Check on my boys.
I bury my face in her hair a moment longer and then ease off the bed.
Downstairs, Mom and Grandma are cooking something up in the kitchen. Leeland’s awake now and crawling around the floor with a car. L.T.’s crayons are spread out on their kids’ table in the corner.
“Where is everybody?” I lift Leeland into the air and chuck his chin. He needs a bath. Smells like boys do after playing in the sunshine.
“Jessamine took Cassidy home.” Grandma finishes adding some chopped vegetables to a salad. “As for the rest of ’em, your guess is as good as mine.”
So, a quiet supper. “Isabella has a migraine. I’ll take something up for her later.” I meet my mom’s eyes, but nothing gets past my grandmother. She’s sharp as a tack, that one.
“That girl didn’t get a proper welcome.” She clamps her lips together.
“We’re fixin’ to change that up,” my mom informs her as she holds out a small stack of plates. “L.T.! Help me set the table, honey.”
I watch my oldest set his Crayola down and then drag himself to do my mom’s bidding. Leeland is playing with my hat.
These boys of mine. They’re good boys. They deserve the world. They deserve a happy family.
Maybe after we move the herd down, I should take Isa and the boys on a vacation of our own. Someplace where they can get to know her without the confusion brought on by the rest of the James clan. The more I think on this, the better it sounds. Maybe Disneyland…
Or maybe somewhere less distracting. The boys have never seen the ocean. I could take them all to the beach. That would be perfect. They’d love it.
I’ll cut my day short tomorrow so Isabella and I can have a long talk. Things we need to discuss that I ought to have realized ahead of time.
Sometimes I’m a clueless ass.
After supper, my mom waves me and the boys away from the cleanup so I can run their baths. I haven’t been doing this lately. I’d left it off to Jessamine and Cassidy.
I’ve been slacking, for sure.
These are my boys. My sons.
My responsibilities. Even more so than the ranch.
When had I let this slide?
After bath time, I help these two ragamuffins into their P.J.’s, read them a few stories, and then tuck them in.
“Where’s Isa?” Leeland asks with his thumb half in his mouth. “I like her stories too.”
Something warm wraps around me. “She’s tired, buddy. Not feeling well. I’m sure she’ll read you another story tomorrow.” Leeland accepts most of what I say without question. L.T.’s my little skeptic.
I’m anxious to check in on Isa. Hold her again if she’s still sleeping. I kiss my youngest on the forehead and then turn out the lights.
When I open the door to my room, Isabella is awake. She’s sitting on the bed looking confused and absolutely adorable.
She glances at my shirt and jeans and then grins. “Is it raining again?”
I’m sopping wet. “Bath time.” Even though she’s smiling, darkness haunts her gaze. I’ve never seen darkness in my sugar before.
“Head still bothering you?” Maybe that’s it. Maybe the darkness is pain. But something in my gut clenches. Something’s wrong.
