Travis snickered then peered out the window. “Where are the children and Miss Callahan?”
“They’re out having a picnic in the meadow.”
Travis picked up Jonas’s shirt and sat at the table. Aunt Polly stared at him, her eyes narrowed and forehead wrinkled.
“What?” he asked sharply.
“Why don’t you go join them?”
Travis shook his head and swatted the air. “Nah, they need some bonding time with her. I don’t want to interrupt.”
“What aboutyourbonding time with Miss Callahan?”
“We have the rest of our lives to get to know each other.”
“Don’t you want to know more about the woman you’re marrying?”
“I already know her,” Travis claimed, but it wasn’t true. The more he thought about Miss Callahan, the more of a mystery she was to him.
Aunt Polly snorted, pulling a thread through Jonas’s trousers. “And what do you know?”
Travis slumped forward. “Well, she’s from North Carolina, her brothers died in the war, her parents and sister are dead, she has one great aunt, and she—”
“What abouther?” Aunt Polly pushed. “What makes her laugh? What does she do during her leisure time? What is her favorite childhood memory?”
Travis sighed, leaning back in his chair. “What’s the point? It’s not going to be a real marriage.”
“It’s a real marriage if you say vows before God.” Aunt Polly's gaze softened. “I know Miss Callahan isn’t Sophie, but can you at least try for the children? What example are you setting, hiding away from her like she’s a disease? Why would Ivy want to warm up to her if she notices her father isn’t making an effort?”
Aunt Polly did have a point.Blasted woman!Why did Aunt Polly have to be right all the time? The day before, Travis had noticed how distant Ivy acted with Miss Callahan whenever the woman tried to engage with her. What if Ivy never accepted Miss Callahan as a mother? The little girl could carry the loss of her real mother as a barrier between them forever.
However, here Travis was, doing the same thing in his own way. The realization hit him like a punch to the gut. Perhaps if he interacted with her today, he could set an example. He didn’t have to carry a deep conversation, just act as though he was making an effort.
Travis stood. “I guess I’ll go. You made your point.”
Aunt Polly laughed. “What can I say? I’m always right.”
Travis grumbled under his breath and grabbed his hat. “Sure you are.” He turned to walk out the door, but Aunt Polly’s voice interrupted him.
“Wait.” She approached him, cleaning an object with her apron. She finished then handed it to Travis. He stared at the golden ring in his palm, clearly too small for him to wear.
“That was mine when I married your uncle. I want you to have it—to give to Miss Callahan.”
Travis blinked, shifting his weight. “What? A-Are you sure about this?” He held up the shiny piece of jewelry. “This isyourring.”
Aunt Polly placed her hand over his, closing the ring into his fist. “More than anything. You’ve been through a lot, Travis, and I know how you are feeling, but this is a new beginning—a brand new start.”
A lump swelled in Travis’s throat. “She deserves more, Aunt Polly. How could I let her settle for a dirt-poor farmer?”
“That’s her decision, Travis. She came all this way foryou.”
His grip tightened around the ring. “She can’t have me. She’s here for the children.”
Aunt Polly kissed his stubbly cheek. “I love you. You’re like a son to me, and I just want you to be happy.”
“Love you too,” he croaked. Travis shoved the ring into his pocket, fighting back tears. He pressed his lips together and walked out the door.
The tall prairie grass swayed in the wind as he made his way to the far side of the property where a wild meadow was in full bloom. Shades of lavender, yellow, green, pink, and blue danced before his eyes. Meadows were all over the place it seemed, and Sophie adored them. She always had their house filled with different arrangements. There was always a new arrangement on the table with a variety of colors.
