Someone like Trinity.
“This is just to get us by while we settle in.” She sounded sincere.
He let it go, hoping Steph followed through and bought Emmy the fruits and vegetables she needed. If she didn’t, he’d have to stock up himself.
Emmy needed to see them working together, not always bickering at each other.
He put a shopping bag on top of each of the rolling bags and let Steph grab the cat crates. “Let’s go check out your new place.” He led the way along the path. “What did you think of the store?”
“It’s fine. Not as up-to-date as the ones you own back home, but big. They have a good selection. The cashiers were moving customers along but still chatting with them. I imagine in a town like this, they know most everyone. And friendly, personalized customer service is important.” Which she’d always stressed to the employees at the clothing store she used to manage.
Good. She liked the grocery store. He hoped she enjoyed the job well enough to make an effort to keep it. Although he got her in the door, it didn’t mean she could slack off like she had at her last job.
They approached the apartment door. Butterflies took flight in his gut. He really wanted Steph to like the place he picked out for her and Emmy. It would make things so much easier between them. One less complaint he had to hear about.
Since he was footing the bill, he’d found them a nice place with what they needed. And because the rent wasn’t as astronomical as in California, he’d been able to find a place with upgraded appliances and amenities, better than the place where Steph and Emmy used to live. They even had a bit more space and a private courtyard where Emmy could play on the fenced-in patio.
He handed Steph her set of keys. “Number one-twelve. Straight ahead.” She went ahead to open the door. Emmy ran after her mom.
Jon walked into the apartment behind them.
Emmy squealed from her room down the short hall.
Steph stood in the entry, taking in the empty living room and kitchen. “It’s so much nicer than the pictures you showed me.” She glanced over her shoulder and gave him a genuine smile.
His concern dissipated and he breathed easy. “They put in new carpet and painted.”
The apartment looked and smelled brand-new. A fresh place and start for Steph.
She swiped her hand over the stone countertop. “The kitchen is bigger than my last place.” She gave him a self-deprecating grin. “Not that I’m a great cook, but it’s really nice.”
“I’m glad you like it.” Relieved to see her happy and at ease, he smiled back at her, then set the shopping bags on the kitchen counter. He checked to be sure the refrigerator was on and cold, then put away the groceries.
Steph came up behind him and put both hands on his back and rubbed up and down. It used to be that he welcomed her affection. Now, he preferred keeping things simple and civil. He turned to face her, hoping she didn’t take offense. In the U-shaped kitchen, she blocked him from exiting and he stared down into her earnest eyes.
“Thank you, Jon. I love the place.” She waved her hand toward the sliding glass doors off the living space. “If we got a nice patio set, we could sit out back, have dinner there when the weather is nice, or just sit with a glass of wine and stare at the stars.”
She painted a nice picture. And he liked this version of Steph, but he didn’t plan to spend time with her and Emmy at the apartment. He wanted to keep family time to meals out and playtime at the park.
“Sounds nice. Emmy will love it, too.” He didn’t want to spoil Steph’s good mood, so he kept things light and didn’t shoot down her suggestions.
“I can’t wait for the furniture to be delivered. I’m excited to see the place come together.”
Most of her stuff was nice but worn. Steph cared more about her clothes and handbags than her furniture, but maybe a new start here would change her priorities and she’d buy some new stuff and really make this place hers.
“Go check out Emmy’s room,” he coaxed, hoping she liked the surprise he’d set up for Emmy.
He followed Steph toward the sound of their daughter’s chatter.
Steph scanned the room and the brand-new bedroom set he’d bought for Emmy, then looked at him. “How did you do this?”
Steph sold Emmy’s baby set in the garage sale they held right before the move.
“I bought everything when I came to check out the apartment and asked the landlord to let the furniture guys in yesterday to deliver and set it up. I wanted Emmy to feel at home here. She’s never moved before. It’s a new place. New people. I wanted her to start off with everything she needs.”
Steph rolled her eyes. “Of course you did. You can afford to spoil her and make me look bad.” Her mouth pressed into the pout he’d come to see more and more the longer they were together.
He wanted to do something nice for his daughter. But he understood Steph’s position, too, and sucked in a calming breath and tried to sooth her ruffled feathers. “That’s not what I’m doing at all. She needed the furniture, so I took care of it.” Instead of asking Steph to pay her half, or buy it all herself because she should be the one supplying it in the house she shared with Emmy. He still needed to get her new furniture for his place once he settled in at the ranch.
He tried not to spoil Emmy too much, but she deserved a big girl room. He loved the white bedroom set. She’d have plenty of space in the six-drawer dresser. He’d need to make sure he set up her blue lava lamp on the nightstand before he left and make the bed with her favorite blanket and the brand-new comforter and sheet set he bought and packed in his car, too.
Steph wrapped her arms around her waist. “We could have picked everything out together. Maybe bought a few other things for the apartment.” Steph was disappointed he hadn’t bought all new stuff for the whole place.
He managed their relationship the best he could and tried not to give Steph false hope or the idea that she could use him to get the things she wanted.
He walked over and crouched next to Emmy and her new twin bed. “What do you think, sweet girl? Do you like your new stuff?”
Emmy jumped up and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I love it.” She kissed his cheek, then held up one of the dolls that came with the dollhouse. “She looks like me.”
“Kinda. It’s why I picked her for you.” He checked the text on his phone. “Why don’t you play in here while your mom and I help unload the moving van that just arrived.”
She was already engrossed in the dollhouse again.
He stood and cocked his head for Steph to go ahead of him down the hallway. Before they walked out the entry, he slid open the pocket door next to what would be Emmy’s bathroom. “You’ve got a stackable washer and dryer.” He hoped that made up for not including her in the furniture thing and spoiling Emmy and not her.
At her last place, she had to go to a laundry room at the far end of her building and share with the other tenants. “That will be so much more convenient. It’s a definite plus for this place.” She gave him a small smile.
He took the win and hoped to get out of here before the tide changed again.
He headed out to the moving van to get this final chore done. It took some time and maneuvering to unload all of Steph’s stuff, get her bed set up, and stack all the boxes in the right rooms, but once done, Steph looked overwhelmed but happy to have her things in her place.