“After I left your office yesterday, I saw Ryder shooting hoops and joined him for a while.”
“What did he say?” When Owen hesitated, she placed her hand over his. “If I know why he’s upset maybe he’ll talk to me. Please? I’m begging you.”
His hand twitched under hers before he yanked it away. “He’s upset because he overheard you on the phone saying he’s a pain in the ass and once he graduates, you’re free to live anywhere.” The accusation in his voice drilled into her. Oh, Lord. Her foot trembled against the barstool, her boot clanging against metal. She shifted in her seat. “There has been a mistake, I never said—” Her words trailed off as conversations with Reese flitted through Carly’s mind. How often had she said something similar to her best friend? How could she have been so careless? No wonder Ryder wanted nothing to do with her.
“Not that it excuses what I said, but I thought I was careful on the phone when I talked to Reese about my frustration. I shouldn’t have said anything like that, but it’s been so hard the last few months.”
Carly tucked her hair behind her ears more out of nervous habit than needing to get hair off her face. “He must’ve heard a conversation I had with her. I didn’t mean I couldn’t wait to get away from him, but I can see how he’d think that. What have I done?”
Chapter Thirteen
Since Owen wasn’tplanning on staying in Service, knowing Carly was leaving shouldn’t make him feel as if a mule had kicked him in the gut, but it did. He pushed aside his dinner. What he’d eaten already churned in his stomach, setting off a wave of heartburn.
“What’re your plans?” he asked.
“You can’t tell anyone what I’m about to say.”
Not sure he wanted to hear but unable to resist, he took a big swig of wine and nodded.
The words poured from Carly. Her promise to her mother to help raise Ryder, but how she’d ended up being his primary caregiver, something he’d realized in high school. After graduation she’d temporarily helped her father with the ranch finances, but that, too, became her responsibility. The promise she’d made to her mother determined every decision she made, often ending with her putting her brother and father’s needs, before her own. She told him how instead of living on the Texas Women’s University campus, she’d commuted to Denton and lived at home because it was best for Ryder.
“I always thought you were going full force into the college experience.” Owen shook his head as his irritation vanished, replaced with admiration for the sheer strength that had allowed her to carry incredible responsibilities on her slim shoulders for so long. Ryder he understood because he was a kid, but her father? The man had no right dumping on Carly. “And what you were doing was driving an hour and a half one way to get to class. Guess that means you didn’t stick around on campus long.”
“It wasn’t easy, but it was doable. I arranged my classes to be home by the time Ryder got out of preschool and then later elementary school.” She toyed with the stem of her wineglass. “Now that Ryder’s graduating, I can do what’s best for me without thinking about anyone else. I feel like I stumbled into my life and career because I had to stay in Service, and you know how limited choices are here.”
He nodded. His mind now processing well enough thanks to therapy to follow conversations better, he said, “Go into business, ranching, work at the plant, a store or a restaurant, or be self-employed in finance or the law are about it for choices.”
“Or work as a physical, occupational, or speech-language pathologist at Horses for Heroes,” Carly continued. “But now I can work anywhere.”
“The world’s a big place. When it gets tough, a place like Service isn’t a bad place to be.”
“That’s because you’ve got a supportive family. One who gives you as much as they take. If you had one like mine, if you’d had to fend for yourself while taking care of your family, you’d have a different opinion.”
Knowing all this, he couldn’t blame her for wanting to spread her wings.
“You still haven’t said what your plan is.”
Her finger traced the rim of her wineglass. “I haven’t told anyone, but I want to move to Denver. It has a lot of recreational options as well as the big city entertainment. I hope to find a job as a therapist before I go, but with what I’ve got in savings, I should be okay for a while if I don’t.”
“Sounds like you’ve really thought this through,” Owen said, his voice sounding lifeless even to him.
“I’ve tried to. My plan was to tell Ryder and Dad after graduation, and then give notice. I’ve even spent the last two months subtly preparing Holly to take over and planned to encourage her to apply. Then I thought I’d put in a good word for her and pray the board realized she’s the best person for the job. That would’ve given me until Ryder leaves for college in August for Holly to make the transition.”
He had until August. He downed the last of his wine and refilled his glass. He realized he wanted more with Carly, but he’d settle for that.
“But now I don’t know if Holly will want the job.”
“What makes you say that?”
“It’s not my place to say.”
Despite her cryptic comment, Owen decided not to push her and instead turned the conversation back to Ryder. “I also wanted to tell you Ryder’s struggling with calc. I offered to help yesterday, and today he texted saying he’d take me up on it.”
“I wish he’d told me. I’d have hired a tutor. Since you’re doing that, I guess I should—”
“If you’re gonna offer me money, don’t. I’m doing this because Ryder needs help.” And for Carly because she worried about her brother.
“Thank you for helping him.” She shook her head. “Considering my occupation, how did I miss all this going on with Ryder?”
