“And if she does?”
“I’ll have to go back with her.” He really hoped that didn’t happen.
“And you want to be here.”
“I want to be here with Emmy. In my mind, the life we could have here is exactly what I want for her.”
“And I’m sure after all the years you’ve worked so hard, you need a break, too.”
He deserved it. “I loved what I did, but I won’t miss the stress and long hours.”
“Working a ranch is hard work,” his dad reminded him.
“It’s a different kind of work. I’m ready to get back to it. I never thought I’d miss early mornings on the ranch and tending the animals, but there’s satisfaction in that. I’ve still got my hand in business. I’ll get something going at the ranch. It will be enough for me, and I know Emmy will be happy there.”
“And when she’s with her mother?”
“I’m hoping Steph will find her footing here.”
“Hope will only get you so far.”
“I know that. I just really want this move to work out for all of us.”
“Then I wish you luck.” His dad set his iced tea on the counter. “Now, I’m going to play with my granddaughter before we go to dinner.”
Jon watched his old man sit on the floor and pretend to drink the tea Emmy poured him. The smiles on both his dad’s and Emmy’s faces were exactly why he’d brought her here.
He hoped he didn’t have to turn around and take her back to California because Steph couldn’t live on her own without her daddy’s help and the safety net he provided.
Chapter Ten
The doorbell rang, drawing Jon out of the numbers circling his head. He blinked his tired eyes. He’d been staring at his computer screen too long. Emmy, on the couch behind him, was still watching a Disney movie. The gardeners had finished cleaning the yard and trimming the trees and bushes. He thanked God the incessant noise finally ended. He couldn’t wait to see the new plants they’d put in tomorrow.
He wasn’t expecting anyone and figured the landscapers left after they finished for the day. He hoped to God it wasn’t Steph after she made a big show this morning on her video chat with Emmy about how she’d cleaned and organized the apartment. He took the time to watch as she showed Emmy everything. He had to admit, she’d done as he asked. It finally looked like she and Emmy lived there. All the boxes were gone, Steph’s belongings were either displayed or stored away, and everything looked clean. She’d even made a point of showing Emmy all the cats and asked about how she was and what she was doing.
All in all, they had a good call.
Progress, he hoped.
He braced himself when he opened the door, just in case Steph wanted to make an even bigger effort by coming to see Emmy in person.
He never expected the surprise guest standing on his porch with a smile and a casserole dish.
“Hi.”
“Trinity. It’s so good to see you.” Overwhelmed with joy, he couldn’t help but smile back at her.
“I hoped you’d say that.”
He tilted his head and studied her. “Why wouldn’t I be happy to see you? I left you two voice mails and you haven’t called me back.”
“That’s why I’m here. Apology peach cobbler.” She held up the foil-covered dish. “And also, welcome to the neighborhood.”
He couldn’t believe she drove all the way out here to bring him dessert. Though she looked good enough to eat in a gauzy white shirt that dipped low enough for him to get a tempting glimpse at her cleavage, and jeans that molded to her hips and showed off her long legs.
Her lips pressed together. “Did I overstep?”
“What?” He had no idea what she meant.
She tilted her head, her long hair spilling over her shoulder and down her arm. “Showing up unannounced.”
“I dropped in on you. I guess this is our thing.”
She smiled and his belly did that roller coaster flying thing that amped his adrenaline. God, he was happy to see her.
“Then, are you going to invite me in?”
The shock of seeing the woman he most wanted to see finally wore off. “Yes! Come in.” He’d lost his damn mind the second he’d seen her.
She stepped into the entry and came up short right in front of him because he couldn’t move and just wanted her closer. “I love what you’ve done with the yard.”
Truthfully, he’d barely glanced at it when the head of the landscaping crew waved goodbye on his way past the window where Jon had been working at the table for the last couple hours. “It’s not done. They’re coming back tomorrow to plant flowers.”
“It’ll be even prettier then.”
“Nothing looks better than you.”
“Will my good looks get me past the entry? Though I am wondering what is going on with all the boxes.”
“The painters are coming this week, along with the carpet people, and I’m having new countertops put in the kitchen.” He waved his hand out to encompass the large space. “It’s a whole ordeal, but the place will look like new in a couple of weeks. I hope,” he added, because it seemed like his best-laid plans got derailed more often than not.
Emmy ran up and threw her arms around Trinity’s thighs. “Trinity! Come see my room.” Emmy tugged on her hand.
She quickly handed off the cobbler to him and went along with Emmy.
He debated whether to shut off his computer and hide what he’d been doing, or set the cobbler down and go after them. He did the latter because he just couldn’t believe she was here, and he wanted to spend every second of her stay with her, because if he remembered right, she had a family dinner tonight.
He didn’t know why she didn’t call him back after he left messages. He didn’t much care, now that she was here. Still, he’d missed her these last couple days and that was very new for him, considering he’d been extremely busy with work on the house and being with Emmy.
He found them in Emmy’s room. Trinity was lying on the double bed, staring up at the glow-in-the-dark stars he’d put on the ceiling in a swirling pattern.
“You were right. This is the softest bed ever.”
He’d taken Emmy shopping at the department store to buy new sheets and blankets. If it wasn’t soft as a bunny, she didn’t want it, so her bed was now the softest thing he’d ever felt. She didn’t like to sleep with the sheet, just the blanket he’d bought her. No comforter. She wanted two different colored soft blankies. One blue. One purple.
When the painters came on Tuesday, they’d transform Emmy’s room with a new coat of pale lavender paint and trim out the windows in white. With her dark furniture and the sky blue carpet he’d ordered for her room, it would be as bright and cheerful as his little girl.
Emmy held her arms out. “Like the new furniture?”
“I do. It’s perfect in here. I especially love the silver lamps.”
“I picked them. Daddy helped.”
“They’re perfect.”
One on each side of the bed on the nightstands he’d bought so Emmy could display her favorite egg night-light, books, and assorted plastic gems and tiny toys. The furniture store even had a wood toy chest that matched the bedroom set almost perfectly. Emmy had everything she needed to feel like she was home here.