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“Nothing in particular.” He hesitated. “It was just the way he was looking down at you—like you were really special to him.”
She shrugged. Having a son who’d been a Navy SEAL meant he noticed every tiny detail. “We’ve known each other since we were kids. We’re good friends.”
“I know that, but this was something new.” He looked at her. “If you want to have a relationship with him, I wouldn’t mind.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Like I’d be consulting you?”
He smiled. “You’d think I’d be worried you’d forgotten Dad. I wouldn’t. I want you to be happy.”
“That’s very nice of you, but maybe I can’t get over your father. Maybe it’s me who’s the problem,” Bella said.
“There’s no shame in moving forward, Mom,” Jay said gently. “I had to learn to let go of the past, and trust Erin.”
“I know you did.” She smiled at him. “I’m very proud of you both.”
“I just want you to know that I love you, and that I’ll always have your back whatever you choose to do.” He came over to drop a kiss on the top of her head. “Thanks for everything you did for me when I came home from the hospital. You were my rock. I don’t tell you that enough.”
“Oh, get along with you.” She gave him an affectionate smack on the rear. “I’ve got to get back to the kitchen. Avery found me a great dishwasher as well, so I hardly have to do a thing anymore.”
He laughed, and went out leaving her sitting there feeling like crying again. His words had hit home, but she still wasn’t sure what she wanted to do with them. She glanced down at her desk, her gaze coming to rest on the menu options Billy had given her.
Whatever she did next, she owed Billy an explanation. They’d been friends for too long to not seek closure. She’d give him a call later and ask him to come round to discuss the details when he was next in town.
* * *
“Did you hear back from Bella?” Ruth asked Billy as he sat down to eat his dinner at the crowded family table.
“Yeah. I had a text from her today, actually. I’m going to sort out the details with her this evening after my AA meeting.”
Billy was glad he had something to report. After three days of silence he had started to wonder whether Bella would ever speak to him again. And he already missed her company in so many ways....
“Good, because if we are going to pull this party off, we really need to get the supplies in just in case it starts snowing and the roads become impassable.” Ruth passed him the jug of iced tea.
“Good point.”
“I hear you’re going to do all the cooking, Dad.” Chase spoke up from the other side of the table.
“Yeah, seeing as Gustav isn’t here, I thought I’d pitch in.”
“I keep forgetting you can cook,” Chase said.
“That’s because no one up here seems to require my help.” Billy met his eldest son’s gaze, aware that everyone else around the table was now focused on their conversation. Maybe it was because he was heart sore over Bella, or maybe it was just time for some plain speaking. “I offered to run the guest kitchen, but you all shouted me down.”
Chase frowned. “Because that’s not who you are.”
“What exactly am I, then?” Billy asked. “You’re the financial wizard, BB takes care of the horses, Ry and HW manage the special programs, and Roy runs the whole goddamn ranch with Ruth.”
“That’s not fair.” Blue Boy, his bluntest son, was quick to get into the conversation. “You gave up those things. You said you didn’t want the responsibility.”
“I said I didn’t want to rock the boat,” Billy responded. “You know why.”
BB glanced around the table at his siblings. “Because you don’t deserve any of this, right? Because you walked out on us.”
“Yes.”
BB shook his head. “You still tiptoe around here like you’re a paying guest—like you can’t comment on anything in case you offend someone.”
Billy just stared at him. “Go on.”
