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“We both will,” Fallon says, giving me a rare smile.
“I missed this.” I can’t stop the rock lodging itself in my throat. “I missed you. And I’m proud of you. I don’t want you to do this, but I understand why you will.”
“You’re sappy when you’re pregnant.”
“Deal with it.”
Fallon considers me. “Be real or bullshit, right?”
I laugh through my tears. “Right.”
“Then…” Exhaling, Fallon slugs down the last of her beer and sets it down. “You are my best and first friend, Dakota,”she says, looking straight into the sun like she’s willing it to blind her so she doesn’t cry. “You are my absolute heroine. My big sister. My Calamity Jane. And I’m proud as hell of you for burning your entire life down and coming back.” Fallon smiles. A brilliant, beautiful smile that lights up her face. “Our mom couldn’t mom…but you will. You’re gonna have a kid and be the best mother that’s ever fucking lived.”
“Yeah,” I say breathlessly, turning my teary gaze to the sunset. “I damn sure will.”
I dip a spoon into the cream cheese frosting and taste it. It’s bright and sweet, like the first bloom of good love. Setting the frosting aside, I wrap the cake halves in plastic wrap to keep in the fridge until Ruby’s party this weekend.
I hum along to the Eagles as I move back and forth between the fridge and counter. With each sway of my movement, Squish kicks. “You and me, huh?” I smile and caress a hand over my stomach. “We got this. Don’t we, Squish?”
Outside the windows, the evening light is a dusky hint of purple as it settles over the ranch. Tomorrow’s May, and in eight more weeks, my son will be here.
A shadow in my periphery has me freezing, but my heart rate stays calm. I feel his steady presence and I turn.
Davis stands in the kitchen, sweaty and dusty from ranch work. That blue T-shirt I’ve come to love is stretched tight over those bulky biceps. Keena skitters beside him, her expression wary as she regards me.
Stepping around the island, I hold out a hand to her. “Hey, girl.”
Keena whines and leaves the kitchen.
I arch a brow. “Still chopped liver.”
Davis chuckles. “She’ll get there.”
I lift the spatula in greeting. “How goes the ranch?”
“Ranch is good. Finished getting the summer pasture ready. All that’s left before we open is redoing the sign.” He strides toward me, a force of rippling muscles. “Hi,” he says, pulling me in for a kiss, one big hand cradling my belly.
“Hi.” I press a kiss to his warm mouth, his whiskered jaw.
He drops his forehead to mine. “You happy?”
I squeeze him around the waist. “Uh-huh.”
Davis stares at me. With a bemused grin on his face, he taps the smile on my lips. “Who did this?”
“Fallon.”
He arches a brow. “That’s new.”
“We talked. Had words.”
“Dakota,” he growls.
“First…the good.” After drying off my hands, I reach into my purse and pull out the check from the insurance company. I exhale and slap it on the counter. “I got my claim from the fire. I’m going to buy The Corner Store.”
“Okay,” Davis says slowly. Thoughtfully.
“And I’m going to turn it into a bakery.”
