“Well, he mentioned her tome. He’s opened his home to them even though her teenage boys drive him up the wall. It so happens he’s a humble man, so no, he doesn’t go around telling everyone he’s helping her out. It’s also why he’s in no rush to get home. We didn’t realize you needed a notarized letter explaining his situation.”
Warmth flooded Jenna’s face. Still... it was possible he wasn’t telling her mom the truth. The sister thing could just be a cover story for the wife and kids he had back home. There was still that comment Jenna had overheard about him being in Maine. What was that all about?
“Oh, for heaven’s sake! I’ve seen pictures, Jenna. Pictures of his sister and nephews before the divorce. I saw her wedding photo. Do you need visible proof? I’m a grown woman and I’m perfectly capable of handling my own love life. You have got to drop this right now.”
Ouch.That kind, soft heart Jenna knew and loved was nowhere to be seen now. Not that she deserved to benefit from it at the moment. Apparently shehadbeen wrong about Gordon. Somehow she jumped to the wrong conclusion and started seeing danger around every corner. Maybe Gordon really was just a nice man who didn’t own a credit card and opened his home for his brokenhearted sister and her kids.
Oh boy, had she messed up. She gave her mom an apologetic look. “I’m so sorry. I really thought—”
“You have been suspicious of him from the start, Jenna Mae Greene.”
The full name. Jenna winced. “You’re right. It just happened so fast...”
“I’m getting awful weary of that tired old line.”
“You’re right, you’re right.” Jenna rubbed the back of her neck. “I don’t know what’s gotten into me.” She’d done a background search on the man! Maybe her breakup with Jason had messed her up somehow. Or maybe no one would ever measure up to her father. But that wasn’t Gordon’s fault. “I really am sorry, Mom. I’ll try to do better.”
A bit of the starch left her mother’s posture, and the smallest of smiles lifted her lips. “Do more than ‘try.’”
Chapter 31
Tyson lifted the eight-year-old girl from Patches’ back while her dad spotted her ten-year-old brother on the dismount.
“That was so fun!” Addy said. “Can we do it again tomorrow, Dad?”
“If Mr. Tyson says it’s okay.”
“There’s plenty of room in the schedule. Just pick a time on the sign-up sheet.”
Elijah gave Penny one last stroke. “She likes me.”
“She definitely likes you. I can tell by the way she nickers.”
“Thanks again for taking the time,” their dad said. “This is the main reason we booked here. The girls are wild about these ponies.”
Tyson heard that a lot. It wasn’t every day you got to ride a genuine Chincoteague pony. “My pleasure.”
The group scuttled off while Tyson began unsaddling and grooming the mares. They complained each time he gave the other attention. Finally he shook his head at them. “You’re like a couple of jealous wives.”
Penny snorted as he led her back out to pasture. Patches followed along, as he’d known she would. He gave them both a little affection before he headed toward the house. The scent of grass still permeated the afternoon from yesterday’s mowing.
As he rounded the house he caught a glimpse of Mama Dee’splace across the street. He hadn’t seen Jenna since they’d returned to the island three days ago. She’d texted to brief him on the conversation with her mom. He’d wanted to call her and have a real talk. Especially since it had gone so poorly.
But common sense reined him in. He was having trouble navigating his thoughts about Jenna. Trying to sort out his feelings for her. The memory of her kisses, her affection, the way she gazed up at him kept him up at night.
As if the nightmares didn’t do enough of that.
When he entered the house Mom was descending the stairs with a load of dirty sheets, her gray hair piled on her head. But she beamed when she spotted him. “Those Carter kids couldn’t stop talking about their pony rides. They’re begging their parents to come back for the Pony Swim.”
“They’d be hard-pressed to find a place at this late date.”
“I told ’em as much and suggested they make plans for next year. We still have two rooms left that week.”
“Good idea.” Ty nodded.
“Hey, there’s a light bulb out in Driftwood—tableside lamp—and a dripping faucet in Pasture View. Both rooms are currently empty.”
“I’m on it.”
