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“Yeah, my mom was a nurse. She worked a lot of overtime, too. I was spoiled, but so what? Why do people have kids anyway?”
“Let’s talk about that.”
“I guess we’d better.”
“I just assumed we would have kids. Did you hear me tell my dad I hoped to be as good a father as he was? I never really gave it much thought until that minute.”
Emily didn’t say anything. She never thought about having kids because she never thought she’d get married. A lot had changed in a summer.
“I feel like the value of my life right now is protecting my students and preparing them for the next year. It usually means hoping they can stand up to the negative crap that comes their way. I feel sorry for the little tykes.”
“You’re a good teacher. I think my mom felt that way, too. I need to remind her that you have that much in common.”
“Do it next Sunday before she attacks.” She laughed and then immediately felt guilty. “It’s not your job to negotiate a relationship between me and Clare.”
“I think it is,” Paul said, pulling off the highway at their exit.
Every time he made the trip, he felt the same way, leaving the world behind, climbing the mountain road toward home. They’d automatically stop talking about the dinner and start again on their life together.
“I want to stay over at your place tonight.”
“You do? Why? It’s so uncomfortable compared to your house.”
“Remember we hinted around at selling my house and buying the cabin. I should give it a try by staying there more often. Drop me off and I’ll get my bag and drive over so you don’t have to bring me home in the morning.”
“What if I don’t want you to get away? Ha!”
“Oh, I see. We can have morning delight! So does this mean you want to spend thewhole daytogether?”
“I do. I’ll have a special surprise.”
The next morning, Paul crept out of the bedroom to go to the barn, where the first signs of fall greeted him. Even in Southern California there were a few subtle changes. A huge sweetgum tree in the front yard had yellow-tinged leaves, and when Paul saw it, he smiled. He loved autumn, pumpkins and scarecrows and things that reminded him of Halloween and childhood. Now he’d make new memories with Emily that didn’t include Fashion Week like it had with Bethany.
The horses were frisky in the cooler morning weather. He made sure they had water and hay and some grain.
“I’ll be back in an hour with a guest, so be on your best behavior.”
Checking out the saddles came next, and just as he left the barn, his heart sank when he heard the roar of Faith’s diesel engine coming up his driveway. He waited for her to park, figuring she was coming to do something for the horses.
“Hey, hope I’m not coming at a bad time,” she said, looking over at Emily’s car.
He decided to be honest with her for a change instead of worrying about offending her. “I’d appreciate it if you’d check them during the week,” he said with his nicest smile.
Taken aback, Faith wasn’t able to hide the response right away, feeling a mix of embarrassment, anger and humiliation. But he was right. Sundays were conventionally family times, and she took advantage of his good nature visiting on Sunday to make the week easier with one less visit to make.
“I’m sorry. I took it for granted that I could stop by on a Sunday, and I shouldn’t have. Please forgive me.”
“Forgiven. I work Tuesdays and Fridays, and that would be a convenient time for a vet visit.”
He’d told her that at least ten times.
“So would it be okay if I looked in on them now?” she asked, persistent.
Annoyance building, Paul decided to let her go into the barn, but it would be the last time. He’d get in touch with Barney and tell him no more weekend vet visits.
Emily was up, hiding behind a window shade. So what did the skinny vet want? If she’d had her makeup on, she’d have run out to meet Faith, but there was no way she’d embarrass Paul by showing up barefaced.
She watched him follow the vet inside the barn, and they weren’t out of view for more than two minutes before exiting as she walked to her truck. Paul lagged back, bending over to hang up a halter that had dropped to the ground.
