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“Wait, you’re what?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Wow,” she whispers.
“What?” I frown as I look at her, wondering what on earth is going on in her head this time.
“You never apologize, Blue.”
“I do now.”
“I don’t want this.” She begins shaking her head and before she can completely panic, I gently press my hands on her shoulders. She immediately goes still.
“You do. We both do.”
“I wish you’d stop that. Just because you think you know me doesn’t mean you do. I’ve changed over the years.”
“Maybe, but I want to know that person, too. I’m anxious to get to know that person. Now, I said yes, and I shouldn’t have without checking with you. You need to know, though, that pond is just out back at the end of the yard. I keep it stocked with fish, and the boys always love to go down there and fish. I keep some old cane poles in the small shed beside it. It’s not real deep, but regardless, I also know that my ranch hand Beau is out there with his son, Ty.”
“He is?”
“Yep. So, the boys won’t be alone. Even if they were, though, honey, the boys are smart, and River can swim like a fish. He’d take care of Adam and send Tommy after me.”
“I need to put Adam into swimming lessons. Since taking over the shelter from my mom, it’s been a little tight.”
“I can teach him.”
“Adam? I couldn’t ask—”
“You didn’t ask, I offered. If you don’t trust me—”
“Of course, I do. It’s not that.”
“Then, I’ll talk to Adam and if he wants, I’ll work out a schedule with him.”
“I’m not sure my brain can handle so much change. I keep thinking all this is going to bite me in the ass,” she finally responds with a heavy breath, sounding really tired.
“Well, I will admit that I do have one small favor to ask.”
“What’s that?” she questions, and if it’s possible she looks even more wary.
“I want to go to the doctor appointment you have scheduled.”
“They probably won’t do a lot, Blue.”
“I still would like to be there, Doe. I want to be a part of everything I can.”
I feel like I’m waiting on pins and needles as I await her answer.
“Okay,” she replies, not even trying to argue.
Maybe my luck is turning.
Chapter 24
Meadow
Spending the day with Blue has been something of an eye-opener for me. He’s been like the boy I fell in love with forever ago. His house is a showpiece. It’s elegant, yet gives a nod to a simpler way of life at the same time. The wood floors, ceilings, and walls are simple, but are beautiful and shiny. Yet there is granite and high-end cabinetry that is completely modern. There’s an island in the middle of the kitchen that is bigger than most conference tables. There are six barstools around it—with room for more. It’s the bedrooms that take my breath, though. He took me on a complete tour of the place. There are six bedrooms. Six! Each room has its own bathroom attached, except for two. Those two are without a doubt made for children; they have a large empty space for a play area, and they even share a Jack and Jill bathroom. Every bedroom is big enough to have a sitting area and have walk-in closets. It’s as if he wanted to make them all master suites. The basement has a game room and a theater room, along with a bedroom and a small kitchenette.
The pond—as he put it—looks like a small pay lake that was fully stocked. The boys had a ball. If I’m honest, I did, too. Now, we’re all back at Blue’s house, and he’s grilling hamburgers and hotdogs. Luka is out by the grill with him, and Petal and I are slicing tomatoes and things to go on the burgers.
“How are you doing?” she finally asks, even though the question has been lying heavily between us.
“I’m not sure,” I murmur with a short laugh that’s really not a humorous sound. It’s more filled with confusion. “I feel like the change in Blue has happened so quickly I’m living in the twilight zone. I don’t trust it.”
“Men can be tricky creatures to handle,” she says. Her knife stills mid-cut as she looks at me. “My brother is complicated, but if you can crack through those walls he has, it is worth it, Meadow.”
“Petal, I know how amazing your brother is. I’ve been in love with him even when I shouldn’t be. Sometimes I wonder if that’s the reason Clark turned out the way he did.”
“What do you mean?” she asks.
“Maybe his gambling and drinking was my fault because I could never love him completely.”
“Don’t put that on yourself, Meadow. What you need to do is look at it from a different perspective.”
“Now you’re the one that’s left me lost,” I respond, finishing up and setting the plate of tomatoes and chunks of lettuce to the side and going to the sink to clean my knife and cutting board.
