Yes, she’d had a hard day, flooded with Calvin’s memory, but that didn’t mean her children needed to bear the weight of that. They missed their father, too. And having these little outings and adventures made all the difference in their world. She wouldn’t take that from them. She would put on her biggest smile, wrap up her wounded heart, and do it. Forthem.
“I’ll be fine. Maybe it will be good for me to push through the pain.”
Her mother’s face fell. “Oh, sweetie. I’m so, so sorry this is the reality you’re dealing with.”
“Me too.” Trinity straightened up and shook out her shoulders, stepping into her mother’s open embrace. “We’ll be okay. Who knows? Tonight might even be fun.”
“I know it will be for your kids. It’s all they could talk about.” With a final squeeze, Jennifer released her daughter. “And I hope it is for you, too.”
These days, hope was all that seemed to help Trinity get by.
CHAPTER 5
Spencer had his phone pressed to his ear while he jotted down the grocery list onto the back of a feed store receipt he’d found in his truck’s center console.
“String cheese is another good one,” his cousin, Lance, chimed in through the line. “Lainey is a big fan. But I think with all of those suggestions, you’ll have enough to feed a small army, not just a small child.”
Spencer had panicked that afternoon when he’d realized he had no clue how to throw a picnic that included kids. Truthfully, he spent relatively little time with anyone outside of his age group. Sure, a few of the cowboys back at the ranch he operated were younger, fresh out of high school. But he couldn’t recall the last time he’d been around someone who still ordered off the kid’s menu. Thankfully, Lance had a comprehensive list of kid-friendly items from his time spent with Sarah and her young daughter. So, when Spencer made a trip over to Main Street Market, orange slices, juice boxes, and, of course, string cheese, all went into his basket—along with a handful of other snackable, convenient items. It wasn’t his typical dinner fare, but for a picnic, it was perfect. He also tossed a few other cheesevarieties, along with salamis, a crusty loaf of bread, and some olives into the basket, thinking Trinity might enjoy them.
By six o’clock, he had unfurled a canvas drop cloth left behind by the painters, spreading it out in the heart of what would soon become his family room. He’d purchased a pack of paper plates with a charming red and white checkered pattern on it, along with matching napkins, so he set four of them out as he prepared the space for their feast.
Despite the foreman’s warning about the electrical snafu, Spencer hadn’t anticipated just how dim it would be inside the house at this hour. With the recent daylight saving’s time change, the sun had already dipped below the horizon. It wasn’t the most ideal setting but canceling now seemed out of the question. And truth be told, he didn’t really want to.
He couldn’t quite pinpoint why he had been eagerly anticipating this moment all day. Between tending to the new horse and diving into a fence project that demanded more wood, sweat, and time than he had bargained for, Spencer’s schedule had been packed. But even while he completed each task, a subtle excitement simmered at the back of his mind. It was something to anticipate; something to look forward to.
Beyond Nana Jo, he lacked female companionship in his life. While Trinity wasn’t exactly part of his inner circle, he appreciated her presence. Their recent encounters had left a positive impression. She always wore a bright smile, and there was something almost magnetic about that. Something that drew him in.
But Spencer had no intention of pursuing anything beyond friendship. He doubted she was ready for that, either. Her world had been rocked, and and he knew she was simply trying to stay afloat amidst the turmoil. Dating was likely the furthest thing from her mind.
Which is why, when Trinity showed up fifteen minutes later, Spencer welcomed her with a firm handshake rather than a hug. It had seemed like the right thing to do at the time, but as she stepped back, confusion evident in her wide eyes, Spencer felt like a complete fool. Even more foolish when both Liam and Mia immediately threw their arms around his middle, squeezing him tightly. He’d just greeted their mother like an absolute stranger, and here they were, little boa constrictors of affection.
“They’re unreasonably excited about this,” Trinity said with a little laugh. She slid the strap of a canvas tote bag higher up her shoulder and met Spencer’s eyes. “It’s all they’ve been able to talk about.”
“Do we have to take off our shoes?” Mia asked, already toeing off her first sneaker before even crossing the threshold. “We take our shoes off at our house.”
“You’ll actually want to leave them on here,” Spencer cautioned. “I swept up, so there aren’t any loose nails or screws, but I can’t guarantee your feet won’t be covered in sawdust.”
“Should’ve brought your construction hat, huh, Liam?” Trinity said, bopping her son playfully on the crown of his head. “I think it’s still in the dress up box with the costumes.”
“Speaking of costumes.” Spencer reached out to take Trinity’s tote bag. “How’s the turkey one turning out?”
“It’s not,” she said as she handed off the sack.
Spencer couldn’t be sure, but based on the weight, it felt like it might contain a bottle of wine. Was that something he should have thought to purchase for their evening? He doubted she would want to drink juice out of a box, but for some reason, he hadn’t thought wine would be the go-to.
“I did find a good paint color,” she added. “But we haven’t started making it yet. I’ve been too busy at the floral shop. Speaking of, do you mind if I run back to the car really fast to grab something? You good with the kids for a minute?”
He nodded. “I’ll take them to the family room where I’ve got things set up. Take your time.”
As soon as she rotated on her heel to go, Spencer peered into the canvas bag, relieved to see a bottle of sparkling cider and a set of plastic cups tucked inside. Not quite as formal as wine, but something fun that they could all enjoy. He liked the idea.
“Can we see the horses tonight?” Mia asked almost immediately. Spencer had a feeling this young girl always had something equine related on the brain.
“We might be able to after we eat, but it’s dark so we’ll have to drive down to the barn.” It was a short walk, but through two big pastures with uneven terrain. Without a flashlight or a headlamp, they’d only have the moon’s reflection to guide them. “I’ll see if your mom is okay with that.”
A frown immediately downturned Mia’s little mouth. “She won’t be.”
“Your mom doesn’t like horses?” Trying to suppress a grunt as he pulled on the knees of his pant legs, Spencer lowered to the drop cloth, both kids mirroring him as they sat down on either side.
