Trinity raised her head, sucked in a deep breath to calm the ragged pants, wiped the sweat from her brow all while Emmy tried to hold her around the neck. Trinity hooked her arm around Emmy. “I’m okay. I just couldn’t catch my breath.”
“When I cry too hard, Mama gives me water.”
How often did that happen? Jon stood. “I’ll get you a glass.” He went back down into the large kitchen and pulled a paper cup from the dispenser by the sink and filled it.
Trinity stood and held hands with Emmy as they walked back down the stairs and met him. She took the cup and guzzled the water, then glanced down at Emmy. “I feel much better.” Her gaze found his. “Thank you.”
“Are you really okay? If there’s something I can do . . .” He wished he could take away the pain and trauma that haunted her.
“I’m fine. It’s . . . fine.” But Trinity’s eyes went wide again. “What are you doing here?”
Jon turned toward the blond guy walking up behind him.
“Didn’t you see me out front at the register?”
“I . . . I guess I didn’t.”
The blond kept a close eye on Trinity. “Is there something going on with you and Nathan? Is he bothering you? If he is, you should fire him.”
“Who is this?” Jon broke into their conversation.
Trinity quickly shook her head as if to clear it. “Sorry. Uh, this is my brother Tate. Tate, Jon and his daughter, Emmy.”
Tate held his hand out. “We need to talk about the horses I found for you.” But he didn’t give Jon a chance to say anything about that before he turned to his sister. “You. Nathan. What’s up?”
“Nothing. It’s been a long day. I’m tired. I didn’t see him come up behind me. I overreacted.”
Emmy tapped Tate’s arm. “You’re Trinity’s brother.”
Tate bent low. “Yeah. I am. She told me how much she loves spending time with you.”
Emmy beamed him a smile, then turned to Jon. “I want a brother.”
Tate’s eyes bounced from him to Trinity and back. “Something you want to tell me?”
“No,” he and Trinity said in unison.
Tate eyed Jon for a moment and decided to drop it. “If you’re having a hard time after—”
“I’m fine,” she said, cutting him off. “I need to get to work. We were supposed to do inventory today.”
“I took care of it.”
Trinity held her arms out, then let them drop back to her thighs. “What are you even doing here?”
“When Adria found out you had to leave for a tiny-tot emergency”—he bopped Emmy on the head with his palm—“she called me in for backup at the store.”
“Oh. Okay. Well, thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Tate turned back to Jon. “About those horses.”
“I’m hungry,” Emmy announced.
He knew that was coming sooner rather than later. “I’m sorry, but we’ll have to discuss that another time. I need to get her home and fed. She’s got a homework packet to catch up on.”
Tate smiled down at Emmy. “I’m glad I got to meet you, tiny tot. I love your hair. Very sophisticated.”
Emmy hid her smile and face in Jon’s thigh.
Jon appreciated the way Tate engaged Emmy. Especially today of all days.
“Don’t forget to take the food,” Trinity reminded him.
“I really need to talk to you.” He didn’t want to leave things unsettled between them.
“It can wait. I need to get to work.” She tried to walk past him, but he took her trembling hand to stop her. She looked up at him, something strange and unsure in her eyes.
“You have no idea how much I appreciate having you with me today. Emmy and I needed you, and you being there made everything better. So thank you.”
Trinity’s eyes glassed over. “I love her.”
His chest went tight. He hoped that love extended to him, too, because what he felt for her, he’d never felt for anyone else. And because it was so big and new and all-encompassing, he didn’t have words to adequately express it. So he kissed her, hoping she felt everything he poured into the simple yet poignant touch.
Deep inside, he wished Trinity was Emmy’s mom and that she was his forever.
He ended the sweet kiss and stared into her eyes, hoping she saw those wishes and how earnest he was about making them come true.
She put her hand on his chest and fisted his shirt in it. “I’ll see you soon.” She still seemed conflicted, but she wasn’t backing away.
“I will explain everything.”
Tate jumped in. “What’s going on with you two?”
“Leave it alone,” Trinity warned.
Nathan stood in the entry and interjected, “She’s selling the shop.”
“Almost Homemade is not for sale.” Fed up, she gave Jon a disgruntled look, then walked back into the main part of the store.
Tate and Nathan looked to him for an answer. “This is between me and her.” He picked up Emmy and followed Trinity back into the shop to pick up the food she’d packed for them, say one last goodbye, then reluctantly head home. All he wanted to do was have a conversation with Trinity, but somehow that had become complicated. And it shouldn’t be. Not after all the time they’d spent together and how close they’d become.
But he needed to get home and call his lawyer and prepare for a visit from the authorities investigating whether or not Steph’s neglect and abuse meant he got full custody.
Probably not. Because they always favored the mother and gave them every chance to do right by their kid. Yes, Emmy needed her mother. The psychological damage of taking her away could be deep and long-lasting. But Steph could inflict even more harm if given a chance she didn’t deserve.
Trinity was helping a customer at the counter. He didn’t want to hover and take her away from work any longer than he already had, so he picked up the bag of food, gave Trinity a smile, and hoped she’d call him later.
If not, he’d call her after he put Emmy to bed.
He walked out of the store and found Tate standing off to the side of the lot. They met by Jon’s car as he loaded Emmy and the bag of food. He kept Emmy’s door open and turned to Tate. “What’s up?” He really didn’t need a brotherly interrogation about his and Trinity’s relationship right now.
Tate pointed his thumb over his shoulder. “What happened in there?”
“What do you mean?” He didn’t give anything away.
“She got totally spooked. All the blood drained from her face and she fled.”
So this was about Trinity’s emotional state. He pulled his phone out and tapped the color-matching game Emmy liked to play. “Here, sweetheart, you can play this while I talk to Tate.”
Emmy took the phone and he waved Tate to move to the back of the vehicle where they could speak without Emmy overhearing them.
“Do you blame Trinity after what happened with that guy Clint? I know you and Liz had a deadly run-in with him, and so did Trinity.”
Tate raked his fingers over his hair. “I was scared to death he’d kill her.”
“She was, too, which is why she doesn’t like anyone sneaking up behind her. It sets her off. The nightmare comes back.”