“She’s a menace.”
I look at the cow currently sunning herself. “Mhm.”
“We both know I never would have taken her in if it weren’t for Wendy.”
My daughter raised Bell when she was only a calf for our local 4-H. None of us thought it would be a problem, seeing as the family ranch raises cattle for beef. But when it came time to sell Bell for what would certainly be a similar fate, Wendy was devastated. Oakley swooped in, saving the day and buying—or rather, adopting—the miniature cow.
I guess it was different for my daughter, having hand-reared Bell herself. That was her first and only 4-H.
“Laura won’t let Bell stay at her house,” I caution, in case Oakley is actually entertaining ideas of Wendy taking her back.
He eyes me, not yet changed out of his sleep pants and tee. He’ll need to get dressed soon if he’s heading into work. “You said ‘her house.’”
“Yeah? I’ve been moved out for a while.”
“I know that. It’s just… I think it’s the first time I’ve heard you say it that way.”
I hum. Ever since Laura and I split, I’ve been staying at the ranch, sleeping in the same bedroom I used to when I was young. It feels different now. Itisdifferent now.
Wendy is still living with my ex-wife. We agreed uprooting our daughter from her home didn’t make sense.
But I’m not sure what does make sense these days.
“How’s Wendy doing?” Oakley asks, as if reading my head.
“Good,” I answer honestly. “I think she’s taken the divorce best out of all of us.”
He’s quiet for a moment, and I realize what I let slip.
“I’ve been fine,” I add quickly.
“Yeah, you keep saying that.” Oakley grunts as he steps back over Bell. “Want something to eat? I needa get ready.”
“Sure.”
Oakley sets to work making breakfast as I pack up his things. I stack his pictures carefully, his family and my own featuring prominently. The two of us with Wendy. Oakley with his parents. I don’t see any evidence of Stevie, and I’m glad for it, if only to have proof Oakley isn’t still hung up on them.
“Will your boss be mad?” I ask.
He stops scrambling eggs to look at me. “Now you’re worried about my current state of employment? You didn’t seem all that concerned when you barged in here demanding I move back to Montana.”
I shrug.
He huffs out a breath. “She won’t behappy. But it’s the start of summer, so they’ve got an influx of new hires. It’ll be as fine as it could be. Does Jackson know I’m coming back?”
“Not yet.”
“Should I call?”
“I’ll handle it.”
Oakley looks bemused. “Want to pick me out some new bath towels while you’re at it? Maybe look over my taxes?”
“If you need me to—”
“Jesus, Lawson, I’m joking. I can handle my life.”
I grunt, and Oakley shakes his head, sliding the eggs onto plates with a fork, seeing as he already packed his other utensils. Bread pops from the toaster, and he grabs the slices, along with butter, bringing it all to his kitchen table.
