“I need to follow the movers out to the ranch so they can unload my stuff.” He’d also talked them into taking on the extra job of bringing some of his father’s things to the new apartment since they had to come back through town anyway. It cost him extra, but his dad would be happy to have his place ready when he got out of the hospital. “I’ll be back for Emmy in a couple of hours to take her to visit my dad.”
“Maybe we can go out to dinner tonight,” Steph suggested.
His first instinct was to say no, but instead he began like they hoped to start this next part of their lives. “A family dinner our first night here together sounds great.”
Steph’s eyes went wide with surprise that he’d so easily agree. “I’ll be ready when you pick me up after seeing your dad.”
“Sounds good.”
If she was making an effort to settle into a new place and start a new job, he could meet her halfway and stick to their plan to spend time together as a family once in a while for Emmy’s sake.
He found Emmy lying on her tummy on her bed. “I’m going to take my stuff out to the ranch. I’ll be back in a little while for our visit with Grandpa. Okay?”
“Okay,” she automatically replied without taking her eyes off the princess movie on her tablet.
He kissed her cheek and headed out with a wave goodbye to Steph as he passed the kitchen and walked out the front door. He felt good about everything right now. Steph liked the place, they managed to spend another day together without World War Three breaking out, and Emmy was happy in her new home.
As for him, he couldn’t wait to settle in at the ranch, find some balance in his life, and learn to breathe again.
Chapter Six
Jon was feeling damn good about the start of his week. His father had markedly improved and was feeling better. Trinity loved her flowers and asked him out on a date. Steph was unexpectedly excited about putting the apartment together and decorating. He’d been so happy about that, he’d even given her two hundred bucks to buy a few extra things. Emmy liked the new place and even said she was excited about starting at the new pre-K. They all got through the family dinner they shared at a local barbecue place without any bickering. Another win.
After the movers delivered everything of his to the ranch, they helped him pack up his father’s room, a few pieces from the living room, and delivered them to his dad’s new apartment. By the time his dad left the hospital two days after he’d gone in, he was settled in his new place and signed up for bingo and the weekly poker game in the rec room once he was fully recovered.
When Jon had secured the apartment, the manager assured him his father would be very happy there. Jon noted that there were a lot of women in the common area. The manager gave him a knowing look and informed him the women outnumbered the men two to one and his father wouldn’t want for company if he desired it.
Jon did not allow his mind to travel down that road. He’d simply gotten his father settled and gone back to the ranch to figure out what to do with his new house.
Renovations. He made a list and some calls. By the end of next week, he’d have the whole place painted, new carpet in the back bedrooms, and upgraded countertops, fixtures, and appliances in the kitchen. He needed to pick out furniture for Emmy’s room at his place, along with all new furniture for the living room.
His dad told him to make the place his. They’d go through the contents soon. As for the big pieces of furniture that wouldn’t fit in his dad’s apartment, Jon could keep what he wanted and get rid of the rest.
Jon was sentimental about the wide plank farmhouse dining table his mother had loved. But a lot of the other furniture was old, and frankly, not his style.
If this was his chance to start over and make a new life for him and Emmy, he wanted to do it right.
So he had a contractor coming to fix up the stables. He’d start building the ranch with a couple horses. He wanted to teach Emmy how to ride. He also had a landscaping crew coming to redo the yard and get the vegetable garden area cleared out so he and Emmy could replant.
He seemed to have everything under control.
Until today. He hadn’t looked forward to a date, or anything, this much in longer than he could remember. It seemed he couldn’t get Trinity off his mind. Nor could he stay away from her. After he saw the bright smile on Emmy’s face when he delivered the brownies, he’d stopped at Almost Homemade the next day to pick up a few entrées and sides she’d love to be sure Steph fed her well. But Trinity was working in their Billings store that day, so he missed her. The next day he and his father stopped by to stock his fridge at his apartment. Like him, his dad couldn’t wait to see Trinity. But she’d been called to fix a problem in the kitchen at their Bozeman store and he’d missed her by five minutes.
He’d been too tied up yesterday to even attempt to see her. And he was pretty sure Adria would laugh in his face if he showed up three days in a row.
He and Trinity shared a couple of text messages, mostly him letting her know he was sorry he missed her at the store and couldn’t wait to see her for their date. She’d responded right away with regrets she’d missed him, too, questions about how his father was doing, and if Emmy liked her new home and school.
All of that was nice, but he couldn’t wait to be alone with her tonight.
If he even made it to their date.
Because he lived so far out of town and away from Steph’s place and Emmy’s school, he and Steph agreed to a new custody arrangement. He’d pick Emmy up from school on Friday afternoon and keep her for the weekend and drop her off at school on Monday. Since Steph didn’t get off work until five, Emmy would stay at day care after school for a couple hours before Steph picked her up Monday through Thursday, and they’d split the cost.
But here he was on Thursday at quarter to five and Steph had called him and told him to come get his daughter. Steph was done for the week. She hung up after dropping that bomb and refused to answer her phone, making him drive to her place to see what the hell was going on.
Why hadn’t she worked until five? Why wasn’t Emmy still at day care?
The biggest why? Why couldn’t she take care of their daughter?
He felt a trap. Or at least more of the same drama he told Steph he wouldn’t put up with anymore.
Knowing this was going to take more than the five minutes he had to deal with it and still make it to his date on time, he reluctantly called Trinity.
“Hey there. I hope you’re not canceling because I’m starving and deserve a cocktail after the week I’ve had.”
Those words were like a knife to his heart. “Don’t hate me. And please, for God’s sake don’t say you won’t go out with me.”
“But?” Disappointment filled Trinity’s soft voice.
“I’m not saying I won’t be there, I’m just going to be late. Something came up with Emmy. I’m on my way to see her right now, but I don’t know how long it’s going to take to sort out.”
A sigh of relief boosted his confidence. “Oh. Okay. No problem. If Emmy needs you, I totally understand.”
“You do?” He didn’t know why he didn’t expect her understanding, but it seemed so foreign to him after dealing with Steph for so long.