Tate gripped the back of his neck. “I had no idea this was still going on. In the beginning, sure, we all saw how guarded she was and how she’d gone quiet. But I thought . . . over time . . . well, I hoped it had faded away.”
“Maybe it was easier for you and Liz because you have each other. She lives alone in the place she was taken from. This is supposed to be a safe place for her. For the most part, I think she sees it that way, but I parked out back once and I could see that going out there disturbed her.” He didn’t want to give away all of Trinity’s secrets, but Tate’s deep concern allowed him to open up. “She checks the locks here and at my place at least three times. She tries to stand so that no one can come up behind her. She doesn’t have nightmares most nights, but believe me, the couple times she did were not fun. She kicks and screams and wakes up in a cold sweat.”
Tate stared up at the sky, taking that all in. “We knew she had some lingering anxiety and . . . overly cautious behavior. But I didn’t think it was still this bad.”
“She gets by most days without it really interfering in her life. I’d like to think being with me and Emmy helps her focus on good things and not the past.”
“We’re all happy that she has you. At the last family dinner, we all noticed the difference in her. We hadn’t seen her so relaxed and happy. She teased and engaged everyone like she used to before everything happened. It’s why I was so surprised to see her kind of lose it over something that seemed as innocuous as Nathan coming up behind her.”
“She told me a little about Drake. I’m sure he’s got his good days and bad. Though he went through a hell of a lot more than her, it’s all trauma.” He glanced toward the shop, thinking about Trinity. “This thing today with Emmy was emotional. Trinity turned Emmy’s distress into a day of pampering and helped her get past the bad stuff and smile again. I think that’s all we can do for Trinity. Be there for her when she needs us.”
“That’s the thing—she doesn’t lean on us.”
“I think she leans on Adria the most because they work together. But she knows you’re all there for her.”
That seemed to ease Tate’s mind and relax his tense shoulders. “Okay. But you’ll let us know if things change or get worse for some reason.”
“I will. Like I said, most days it doesn’t intrude on her life. Others, like today, something happens and she deals with it the best she can. She’s really strong. She understands it’s her mind’s way of dealing even if it is hard on her.”
Tate shifted from one foot to the other and hit him with his next concern. “What’s this about you trying to buy Almost Homemade?”
“I’m a businessman. I have some experience in the grocery store industry. I want to talk to Trinity and Adria about it. That’s all.” He wanted to clear things up with Trinity himself without Tate going to her and explaining for him. He wanted to make his plans for the business, and for them, clear.
“They’ve worked really hard to build this thing. I can’t imagine they’d simply want to just sell it all.”
“Their plans to expand it are impressive.”
Tate tilted his head. “You believe in what they’re doing.”
“They are smart businesswomen. The concept is great. I’m not surprised others have made offers on the business. Getting in now, while they’re still expanding, it’s a smart move.”
“And you’re a savvy businessman.”
Jon nodded, but didn’t add to what he’d already told Tate, except . . . “I’m looking toward the future.” With Trinity. But that was also for him and Trinity to discuss. So he changed the subject this time. “About the horses . . .”
“I can have them delivered this week if you’re ready. Unless you want to check them out first.”
“You’re the expert. I trust you found suitable horses. But instead of just the two for me and Emmy, I want a third for Trinity, so she can ride with us.”
“I can bring her horse over from Cedar Top.”
“That would be great. She spends a lot of time with us, and now she’ll be able to have her horse there, too.”
“I’m sure Luna will be happy to spend more time with her.”
“I like the name.”
“Yeah, she’s white with gray speckles. She looks like the moon, so that’s what Trinity named her.”
“Emmy will love to hear about that and see Luna.”
“I’ll text you with the delivery details.”
“Sounds good.”
“Are you planning on running cattle?” Tate studied him.
“Eventually. Right now I have my hands full with my daughter.” And the very real possibility that Steph could decide she wanted to go home to California where she had family support that would bolster her case for keeping Emmy.
“Maybe Declan and I can talk to you about that. We’re looking to expand our operation to supply Almost Homemade as they open new stores.”
That fit into his plans with Trinity perfectly. “Great idea. Let’s talk soon. Right now, I need to get Emmy home.”
“No problem. And hey, I like seeing the way you and Trinity are together. She deserves to be happy.”
“I’ve never been as happy as I am with her.”
That earned him a nod of approval from Tate. Not that he needed it. He intended to keep making Trinity happy.
“Get tiny tot home. I’ll see you later this week.” Tate waved bye and went back into the shop.
Jon went to Emmy’s door to close it. She was still playing her game, but when the phone chimed with a text, she handed it to him.
He closed the game and pulled up the text.
STEPH: DPHHS came to my work!!!
STEPH: They interviewed me and are coming to my place tonight.
STEPH: My lawyer is not going to let you get away with this.
So Daddy came through and hired a lawyer for Steph. He expected it, but it still grated that her family was helping Steph continue to make Emmy miserable. And now they all had to go through this tedious process that would end with Steph doing what she had to do to keep Emmy but ultimately wouldn’t change who she was or how she acted when no one was watching.
He sighed and checked Emmy’s buckle. “Ready to go, sweetheart.”
“When is Trinity coming?”
“We might not see her until tomorrow.” He hated that she didn’t plan to drive out to stay overnight with him like she’d done so many other nights. Distance was the last thing he wanted from her.
Maybe he should have kept business out of their relationship. But when he had an idea, especially one this good, he had to go for it. And that it included Trinity, well, that just made it better.
He hoped he could get her to accept his proposal.
Chapter Nineteen
Trinity once again read the text messages Jon sent last night. They made her smile and hope for things to go back to the way they were before he had decided to talk business.
She wanted something much more personal with him.
JON: Emmy’s in bed I’m alone and missing you