Page 36 of Nixon’s Promise

My dad was a lot like Nixon in his thinking. After my mom’s funeral we never went back to the cemetery. He told me my mother was always with me, and I didn’t need to go anywhere to feel her love. He also told me he didn’t want me to be beholden to a place. He gently explained that my mother wouldn’t want me to stay in California my whole life just so I could put flowers on a tombstone.

“McKenna?” I’d been so lost in my thoughts I hadn’t heard him come out of the barn. I lifted my gaze to meet his and something changed. His face went hard, he tore the work gloves off his hands, shoved them in his back packet, and rounded on me. I stumbled back until my back hit the wooden planks and he brought his hands up to my face. “Babe, what’s wrong?”

I shook my head.

“Why are you cryin’? You hurt?”

I shook my head again.

“Zack?”

“I heard,” I croaked out. “I know it wasn’t cool but when Mandy started talking, I couldn’t help it.”

Nixon’s face went soft, the transformation took my breath. There was no doubt he was good looking, but when his eyes went liquid and his jaw slack, he was downright gorgeous.

“Are you okay with what I told her?”

“Yeah,” I rushed out. “Thank you for talking with her. She won’t talk about it with me. I didn’t think…” My voice lowered. “She wants to visit them. It never crossed my mind.”

His thumbs were rubbing my cheeks, the gesture was so sweet I felt tears stinging my eyes.

“Everything okay?” Mandy asked, coming out of the barn.

Nixon didn’t step away. He just looked over his shoulder at my sister.

“Yeah, I was coming over to tell you guys lunch was ready if you want to take a break.”

“I’m done with the stall, Nix. What do I do now?” Mandy asked, and the stinging was back. There was no bitchy teenager in her tone.

“Go with McKenna and me and Zack will be in in a minute.”

Nixon turned, kissed me on the forehead, and walked away.

“You hungry?” I asked my sister and braced for her nasty attitude.

But it never came.

“Yeah, a little.” She took off her gloves and looked down at her hands and frowned. “After lunch will you show me what to do next?”

“Do next?”

“With the stall. Do we need to put down hay or something?”

“Hay is what Sally and Goat eat,” I gently told her. “We use wood shavings for their bedding.”

“Oh. I didn’t know.”

“It’s okay. I’ll show you.”

Mandy nodded but didn’t say anything.

“Is there anything you want to talk to me about?”

Immediately she closed down. Damn. Shit. Fuck. I totally sucked at this. I should’ve just left it alone and not pushed.

“No.”

She walked past me toward the house and I mentally kicked my own ass. Nothing I said or did worked with her. Giving her space allowed her to retreat further. Getting mad and arguing with her made her pull away.