“It comes in every shape and size around here.”
“It’s so different from the city but has a lot of the same Spanish influences.”
“I’ve always loved how different it is from home.It’s only like ninety minutes north of LA but seems like a world away.”
“I can see why you love it here.”
“I’d live here full time if it wasn’t for the pesky day job in the city—and the band.”
“I’m excited to see you play.”
“We’re at the Whisky next weekend if you want to come by.”
“Um, well, I’ll be there.I picked up three shifts cocktailing.My friend is the manager.”
He looked over at her, seeming startled.“Oh.I, um… I thought Denny was going to make your money available to you.”
“He did, but after I secure us a new place to live, I’m going to put away most of that to pay for the kids to go to college someday.”
“Are you sure you want to work in the bar?I mean… it can get crazy.”
“I know.I’ve done it before.It’s the best way I can make a lot of money quickly at a time when the kids are asleep.Mrs.V will stay with them.It’s all worked out.”
She could tell he wanted to say more, but thankfully, he kept his thoughts to himself.On this new path of hers, she was calling the shots, and no one would ever again tell her what to do or how to live.That was a hard line in the sand for her.
They drove for miles past an olive grove and long rows of grapevines that were dormant in the winter before pulling up to a large Spanish-style home with a terracotta roof and tile accents that was situated across from a modern white barn with black trim.
“Can we get out, Mama?”Theo asked, bouncing in his seat.
“You sure can.”
She’d shown Julian the secret to the car seat latch, and he had Theo out of his seat in record time.
“See?”he said to Theo.“I can be trained.”
Laughing, Theo ran off toward the horses inside a paddock with Julian in hot pursuit.“Horsies!I wanna see the horsies!”
Mila perked up to see what had Theo excited.Her pretty green eyes went wide at the sight of the horses.
“Can you say horse?”Isla asked her daughter.
“Horse.”
“That’s right.”
“Puppy.”
“No, puppies are different from horses.”
She’d no sooner said that than three golden retrievers came into the yard, barking when they saw Julian and Theo, who was now standing on one of the rails with Julian holding him so he could see the horses.
When Theo saw the dogs, he wanted to get down to greet them and so did Mila.
While Julian lowered Theo to the ground, Isla put Mila down to toddle along on her own to see the dogs.Her little girl resembled a drunken sailor on liberty call on her new legs, so Isla stayed close to catch her if she fell.
The dogs surrounded the kids, who were delighted by them.
“They’ll talk about this for weeks,” Isla told Julian.“They love animals of all kinds.”
