“Wow, he was a giant dog. Did he sleep in your bed?”
“No, he wasn’t allowed.”
“Why not, Mommy?”
“He was too big, goofball. There wouldn’t have been room for me. He had his own doggy bed.”
“Did he have a pillow?”
“Nah, I gave him a pillow once, but he ate it and pooped out the feathers.”
Her giggles filled the car. “He pooped feathers?”
“Yeah and he ate my ballet slippers too, plus lots of other things.”
“Will my puppy eat my shoes?”
“I hope not, or Geepa will have to buy you new ones.”
“Mommy, why do they eat shoes if they don’t taste good?”
“Who knows? Dogs just like to chew things up.”
We rounded the final curve before the long turn-off to the house.
“Are we almost there?” Easton asked.
“We are.”
“Josie at school peed her pants yesterday when the teacher made her sit down.”
“Why did the teacher make her sit down?”
“Because she was walking around the room when she wasn’t s’posed to.”
“Did she ask to go to the bathroom?”
“I don’t know. She got up and went to the door, but the teacher told her to sit at her desk. Then she said no, because she peed her pants.”
“Then what happened?”
“Ms. Michaelson took her away. She came back later.” Ms. Michaelson was the teacher’s assistant.
“Honey, if you ever have to go to the bathroom, just ask Ms. Michaelson or Mrs. Leonard if you can go.”
“Okay.”
We pulled in front of the mansion and Landry walked out.
“Mommy, who is that man?”
“That’s Tristian’s brother, so I guess he’s your new uncle.”
“I have an uncle?”
“You do now.”
I got out and waved before I pulled my daughter from her booster seat. Then we walked hand-in-hand up the steps.
“Hey, it’s great to see you again.” Landry hugged me.
“Landry, meet your new niece, Easton.”
Landry knelt down and said, “Hello there, young lady. I think you and I are going to be great friends.”
“Why?”
“You’ll see.” He winked and said, “How about we go this way to see what your surprise is.”
“Okay.”
“Oh, hang on.” I ran back to the car and grabbed her bike helmet and jacket. “All ready now.”
Landry held Easton’s hand as we walked to the stables, which were not too far from the main house. I didn’t know much about horses, but these stables were beautifully kept. There were about ten horses kept in stalls and all their heads poked out as we walked in.
“Horses! Look, Mommy!” Easton turned back to look at me with rounded eyes.
“I heard you like them,” Landry said. “How would you like to ride one?”
“Really?”
“Yes. I have the perfect one in mind. Come on.” We went a little further down and there was a pretty white horse toward the end. “This one is named Sally. Would you like to meet her?”
Easton’s hands were clasped together as she stared at the animal. “Oh, yes!”
Landry opened the stable door and, after taking the reins, walked the horse out. Then he pulled out a carrot from his pocket and asked Easton if she wanted to feed her.
“Will she bite?”
“Not if you hold the end of the carrot in your fingers.”
“Okay.”
He handed her the vegetable and she held it out for the horse. Sally took it from her fingers and munched away.
“She likes it!”
“Yes, and think about that the next time I give you carrots to eat,” I said.
The horse already had a saddle on it so Landry asked Easton if she wanted to sit on it.
“Can I?”
“I think she’ll be happy to give you a seat, since you gave her a carrot.”
“Okay.”
He lifted her up and walked the horse outside.
“Look, Mommy, I’m riding a horse.”
“You sure are. But one thing first. I want you to wear your helmet.”
“But I’m not on my bike.”
“I know, but you’re higher up and if you fall off, I don’t want you to hurt your head.”
Landry said, “Your mommy is right. No helmet, no ride.”
Easton held out her hand and put the helmet on. They continued walking toward the outside. When we went in, I hadn’t noticed the riding ring nearby. Landry headed there, leading Sally and Easton. I stood on the outside and observed while he went through some exercise with Easton.
A voice startled me when it said, “Isn’t this a cozy picture?” Ravina stood next to me in riding gear.
“Not sure ‘cozy’ is a word I’d use.”
“Don’t get used to it, sister.” Venom coated the word. “Tristian is not in this for keeps. He used you to satisfy the terms of the will and to keep the family business,” she sneered.
I wasn’t about to let her score a victory. “Old news, sister. If you want to shock me, come up with something else.” I turned my attention back to Easton, who laughed at Landry.
Ravina scoffed. “So you married him for his money then. It figures. Trailer trash like you wouldn’t care if he dumps you in a year or two. Out of curiosity, how much?”
Giving her my evilest grin, I said, “Wouldn’t you love to know? But that is between Tristian and me. And one thing, Ravina. I’m not trailer trash. I was raised with a silver spoon in my mouth. But unlike you, I’ve worked my entire adult life and not sat on my ass, wasting my life away.”
She slammed her hands against the fence. “You’re going to regret ever meeting Tristian. I’ll make sure of it. And you’re going to regret marrying him.”
“Is that a warning?”
“No, it’s a threat.”
“You forget something. I’m in control of the money in Tristian’s absence.” Then I leaned a bit closer and with a smug grin I added, “If I were you, I’d be extra-nice to me or you might find yourself living in said trailer.”
She stomped off in a huff, but then came back. “Don’t bring that brat of yours here. She’s not welcome.”
That really pissed me off. “That’s where you’re wrong. You’re the one who’s not welcome here.”
She reared back and yelled, “This is my home.”
“And how much rent have you paid? Do you have a job yet?”
“That is none of your business.”
“Think again, Ravina, before you say anything else and never, ever, threaten my daughter.” I watched her stomp away. This confrontation left a sour taste in my mouth. It wasn’t my place to take up the battle for Tristian, yet here I was doing it. That woman brought out the worst in me.
Landry came over, leading Sally by the reins. “You all right? I saw Ravina and you, um, talking.” A nervous laugh flew out of his mouth.
“Mommy, was that lady mean?”
“She wasn’t very nice.”
“Who was that?” Easton asked.