The door opened and closed soon after. Seth didn’t come right out. Damn, Joe should have answered it himself. He washed his hands off, wiped them on a towel then hurried into the foyer.
Seth knelt on the floor in front of papers that had spilled out of a big manilla envelope. “What’s that?”
The boy looked up, holding a note and a photograph. “I’m not sure about the papers but this is a picture of a pony.”
“Give them to me buddy. We’ll see what this is about.”
Seth handed it to him. “Read the note out loud to me.”
He read,
Dearest Joe,
I’ve done something that you might initially be upset about. All I ask of you is that you think about this carefully. I’ve bought one of the foals Stanley sired. For Seth. It breaks my heart that he can’t come here and pet Stanley anymore. And won’t it be fun for him to have his own pony? Please don’t react to the money I spent. Instead, think of the difference Cinnamon will make in your sweet little boy’s life.
With all my love,
Scarlet
Seth’s eyebrows skyrocketed. “Please, don’t say no, Daddy.” He rarely used the childhood nomenclature.
Joe swallowed hard. Since his mother left them a year ago, Seth expected so little out of life, it made his heart hurt.
“I’m not going to say no, honey. It’s very generous of Scarlet to do this since you can’t see Stanley. We’ll keep the papers and wait for Cinnamon to come.”
Seth started to cry. “Honest, Dad?”
“Honest son.” He dropped down onto the floor and hugged the boy. “Let me see the picture.” He stared at the absolutely beautiful foal. “We’ll talk over dinner about what we need to do to get ready for her.”
Seth kept hold of him and mumbled, “Thanks,” against Joe’s chest.
After a bit, he drew back and picked up the papers. They were ownership documents. “We should call her before we eat and thank her.Let’s go to the kitchen and get my phone.”
When they were settled at the table, he clicked into her number and handed the cell to Seth. “Oh, my gosh, Scarlet, thank you for the pony. Dad said we can have her.”
He couldn’t hear her answer.
Seth said, “She wants to talk to you.”
“I’d like some privacy.”
Seth frowned. “You aren’t going to change your mind, are you?”
“No, I promise I won’t. Now skedaddle.”
When he was alone, he said, “Scarlet. Thank you for doing this for him. I am going to accept your gift because, like you said, Seth can’t see Stanley.”
“Which is my fault.”
“No, it’s the culprit’s fault. You have no idea how much this means to us.”
“I do know, Joe. I do. And I’m so happy you’ll take her. Now when do you want her delivered?”
“As soon as possible. We can get the stall ready fast. I don’t want to wait until we build the paddock.”
“I could help with that, financially.”
“No way. You’re doing enough, darlin’”
