I don’t want her to feel any worse, so pulling open the door to the general store, I’m hoping I can find something for her to lift her spirits.
I mean, what does a five-year-old girl even like?
Pulling out my phone, I call for help.
“Should I be offended you come back to town and I barely see you?” Grace says by way of answer.
“It’s not my fault I’m working out at the ranch all day every day.”
“That’s not what I hear.”
“What do you hear?”
Looking around, I make sure there’s no one close by to overhear this conversation.
“That you’ve been spending time with your old flame. Is that why we don’t see you?”
I scrub a hand down my face. It’s not like Presley and I have been keeping what we have behind closed doors. But we spend a lot of our time out at the ranch.
“So?” Grace asks, pulling me back to her.
“Look, we’re feeling this out.”
“Feeling it out?” I can feel the eye roll over the phone. “Please, Kade. You’ve been in love with her since you first met her.”
“And she’s still separated and getting divorced. I have the ranch and my job to worry about back in Seattle.”
“Cop-out.”
“I didn’t call to get a lecture,” I say.
“Then what do you need?”
“What do I get a five-year-old girl?”
“For Poppy?” she asks.
“Yeah.”
“What does she like?”
“Well, she loves Lollipop, milkshakes, and a very specific brand of macaroni.”
“Easy,” Grace says. “Get her a stuffed horse.”
Walking up and down the aisles, I find the aisle I need. Right there, front and center, is a brown stuffed horse. “Now that you say it, it seems so easy.”
“I’m the best gift giver.”
“You’re the best. Thanks, sis.”
“I know. Now come over for dinner this week before Mom freaks out and thinks you moved again.”
I wince. “I deserve that. How about tomorrow night?”
Even if it means not spending the time with Presley.
“Great. We’ll see you then.”
