“They wouldn’t hold anything against you, Trish,” he assured her. “They were once mortal enemies themselves, and now they’re madly in love.”
She chuckled and shook her head. “I don’t believe it. Mortal enemies?”
“Since grade school,” he said. “They were constant rivals over grades and even arm wrestling as the stories go. And when he was mayor, she was constantly complaining to him.”
“Wow, I wouldn’t have believed that,” she said. “Not with how sweet they were with each other.”
“She didn’t call him an old fool?” he asked. “Because that’s what she used to call him. And she was the first to call him Old Man Lemmon, too. Now most everyone calls him that.”
“What changed between them?” she asked.
He shrugged, then sighed. “I’m sure they would say love. They think it’s the most important thing there is.”
“But you’re not convinced,” she surmised.
“Are you?” he asked curiously.
She shrugged then. “Between a man and a woman? I don’t know if that love can be trusted.” She cleared her throat. “Or, more specifically, I know that I wouldn’t be able to trust it.”
“Me neither,” he agreed. He should have been happy that they were on the same page about this, but there was an odd hollow feeling inside his chest.
“I know I love my children,” she said as she patted her belly that stretched the bib overalls she wore. “But I guess kids can hurt us, too. Like I hurt my dad.”
“Trish, you have to stop beating yourself up about that,” he said.
“I just wish I could talk to him,” she said. “Explain everything. Apologize…” Tears glistened in her eyes.
“So do it,” he said. “I go to his grave and tell him about what’s happening around the ranch.” Sometimes it made him feel less alone since his brothers and sister had significant others now, and he was the odd man out. But sometimes it made him feel even lonelier that all he had of his old friend was a tombstone.
She nodded. “Maybe I will do that.”
“I can drive you over there this morning if you like,” he offered.
She shook her head, and her curls tumbled around her face. “I have a meeting with the contractor to go over the final things that need to get done for the bunkhouse.”
“I can join you for that, too,” he offered.
But she shook her head again. “No. I’ve got it. I know you have things to do on the ranch.”
“Yeah, but I’m happy to help out,” he reminded her. “We’re all partners.”
“Yes, we are,” she said. “And Maci verified that everything’s been settled, by the way.”
“That’s good,” he said, and he waited for the wave of relief he’d expected when that was confirmed. “Frank would be happy.” Brett should have been, too, and he was. But he was also concerned. Even though he’d been talking about being Trish’s partner, it felt somehow bigger now that it was official. Like they were partners in more than the ranch. That wasn’t what either of them wanted, though.
Her lips curved into a slight smile. “I do hope he’s happy,” she murmured.
“So did you stay out with Maci to celebrate?” he asked, curious about why she’d gotten home so late.
Her smile widened. “Maci and Frankie and I had a sleepover at Maci’s house. We used to alternate houses when we were kids.”
“But you came home,” he said.
“You were waiting up for me?” she asked.
Heat rushed to his face. “Just couldn’t sleep.” But he hadn’t even noticed that Frankie hadn’t been home. He’d just been waiting up for Trish.
“I came home instead of spending the night because I have this meeting.” She glanced at her watch. “I better get to it,” she said, as she rushed out the side door of the kitchen.
