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Adam wasn’t sure he was comfortable hearing about his father being an ass from the woman who had left him, but he didn’t doubt she was telling the truth. His father was a stubborn man. He had a sudden memory of his mom endlessly folding laundry and the washing machine working every single day.
“The only reason I got a new washer was because Ruth shamed Jeff into it by calling him out after church one day.” Leanne half smiled. “It wasn’t a new one, but it did the job. I was ecstatic.”
“Daisy and Kaiden both earn an income outside the ranch, and Evan and Danny contribute as well,” Adam said in his most neutral voice. He refused to get drawn into a discussion about what had gone down between his parents. If she was playing on his sympathy and wanted him to take her side, she was way out of luck. “They help out a lot these days.”
“That’s wonderful.” Leanne took a deep breath. “I think I’m okay to get out now.”
“Then hang tight, and I’ll come round and help you down. It’s muddy out there.” Adam opened his door. Despite his decision not to engage, he couldn’t help but feel some compassion for her obvious uncertainty. “Dad stayed home especially to welcome you.”
Chapter Eleven
“How did it go?” Daisy asked as she sat down beside Adam at the kitchen table where he was just finished sorting clean silverware from the dishwasher. She’d chosen not to stay home to see her mother, and had gone into town to open up her shop as usual. It was now late in the evening and everything had quieted down.
“Leanne’s visit?” Adam grimaced. “It went well. Dad stayed with her all morning showing her around the house and outbuildings, and then took her out for a ride in the afternoon, just the two of them.”
“Dad took a whole day off just to spend with Leanne?”
“Yeah.” Adam met Daisy’s surprised gaze. “It was quite a sight. They seem to be getting on really well together.”
Daisy frowned. “And she’s kind of nice to everyone, too.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” Adam teased her. “Maybe she is nice.”
“She left us, Adam.” Daisy didn’t sound convinced. “She walked out that door without a care in the world.”
“Hardly that,” Adam objected. “I was there, remember? Dad basically threw her out. He even picked her up and dumped her in the seat of her truck when she kept arguing with him.” He paused. “She didn’t want to go, Daisy. She was begging him to listen to her, and he just . . . wouldn’t.”
“You make it sound like Dad was the bad guy in all this.”
For the first time in years, Adam reluctantly let himself consider her words. If he couldn’t be honest with Daisy, who loved him and would never judge him, he might as well stop talking entirely.
“Dad certainly wasn’t blameless. Watching Leanne walk around the house today made me think about when she was here. I don’t remember a second when she wasn’t working. Sometimes she’d fall asleep at the dinner table. I’d find her there after Dad had taken himself off to bed.”
He recalled awkwardly trying to wake her, and how she’d hug him close, and thank him with a kiss on his forehead before getting up and making her way to bed.
“Adam.” Daisy folded her arms over her chest. “She. Left. Us.”
“I know.” Adam shoved a hand through his short hair. “And I’m glad we had Dad, because he’s been a great father, but that doesn’t mean he was a great husband.”
“It sounds like Leanne has won you over without even trying,” Daisy commented.
It was Adam’s turn to take a deep breath and meet his sister’s gaze. She had no idea how much his opinion on what had happened had changed. “Maybe no one has to win, Daiz. Maybe we all lost something when Leanne decided to leave.”
* * *
Lizzie curled up on her couch and checked her cell phone. There was nothing from Adam or Gabby, just a note from her mother checking Roman’s clothing size, which meant Lizzie should be expecting a parcel soon. Even though her parents had moved to Las Vegas, they were still connected to their grandson. They were due to visit in two weeks to take him on vacation. She replied to her mom, and then went to check if Roman was asleep.
