“I guess we’d better get inside,” she said quickly, her cheeks burning, and her hand already on the door handle.
She expected him to put a hand on her shoulder, turn her toward him, lean close and kiss her.
But he made no move to stop her, and she scrambled out of the truck into the cold night on her own, feeling the relief she had expected, but also a sinking disappointment that surprised her.
“Everything okay?” Dalton asked, his deep voice startling her slightly.
“Yes,” she said. “Sorry. I was just thinking I should hurry in and try to say goodnight to Dove, but we’re probably way past her bedtime.”
“Don’t count on it,” Dalton chuckled, nodding toward the front window, where the pigtailed silhouette of a certain someone peered out at them.
“I guess they let her stay up since I don’t go out often,” Ella said.
I don’t go out ever,she corrected herself inwardly.
“That’s really nice,” Dalton said, sounding like he meant it. “Your family is something else.”
“Yes,” she said, suddenly feeling light as air. “They really are.”
“Mama, mama,mama,” Dove yelled out as she opened the front door. “Did you havefun?”
“Sorry,”Mom mouthed over her shoulder.
“We had so much fun,” Ella told her, sweeping her up in her arms and giving her a big kiss on her soft cheek. “Didyouhave so much fun?”
“We made a million cookies,” Ella crowed, wiggling to get down and show off her treats.
“Well, that’s good news,” Dalton said, a smile in his deep voice. “Because I’m hungry for exactly one million cookies.”
Dove howled with laughter and ran to Dalton, grabbing his hand and dragging him into the house with her.
“It’s okay if I eat them all, right?” Ella heard him ask as they disappeared down the hallway.
“You can’t eatallof them,” Dove gasped between giggles.
“Hey,” Mom said quietly to Ella when she moved to follow. “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” Ella said, nodding thoughtfully. “I wasn’t sure I would be, but it was really nice to go out. Thank you for being with Dove.”
“You know it’s a privilege for us,” Mom said dismissively. “So, you enjoyed spending time with Dalton?”
“It’s nothing serious,” Ella said right away. “We’re just friends.”
Mom nodded, but a frown tugged down the corners of her mouth for a moment.
“You’re worried it’s more?” Ella guessed.
“I’m worried that you don’t want it to be,” Mom replied.
“You really like him, huh?” Ella teased. “You want me to keep him around.”
“I want you to have someone in your life,” Mom said, her voice calm but serious. “I want you to feel safe opening your heart again. I do like Dalton, but it doesn’t have to be him. I just don’t want you alone.”
“How could I be alone?” Ella asked. “I have you and Dad. I have Dove.”
“Dad and I won’t be around forever,” Mom said softly. “And Dove will grow up and have her own family one day.”
The idea hit her like a kick in the stomach. Though of course it wasn’t the first time she’d had that exact thought.
