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“We’re not strangers. We met before. She has a baby the same size as Ruby,” Rylee announces as I rise from my spot. Rylee reaches out, takes my hand, and swings it back and forth, a big cheesy grin plastered on her face.
“I do have a baby the same size as Ruby.”
“Where is she?” Her curiosity makes me smile. I love how innocent kids are—they’re pure and bring such life and light into some of our darkest moments. Olive has been my lifesaver.
“She’s asleep, so her Aunty Sybil is listening out for her while I check on the horses I bought today. Do you want to come with me?” I sneak a peek at Sebastian, who remains silent throughout the conversation. This isn’t how I imagined meeting someone famous. Having a total fangirl moment wouldn’t be appropriate, but the pounding in my chest tells me there’s more to him than his superstar career. The way he speaks to me and the gaze we shared across the field today while I did the horses—it shook me. I mean, it’s not right. I’ve lost Eli recently.
“Daddy, can we go see the horses?” Rylee grips his hand and tugs on it.
“I don’t know. We don’t want to put Dee out.”
I wave my hand. “No, it’s okay, but you can’t come into the pen with these ones as they aren’t trained well yet. That’s what I’m going to do… train them so they can go to a new home or be used here on the ranch so that other people can ride them.”
“Let’s go see the horses,” Rylee shouts, and Ruby squeals, flailing her arms in the air. He chuckles. Rylee grips my hand, practically dragging me alongside her. Is this what I have to look forward to with Olive? Her dragging me around every which way she wants? Heck, I’d do anything for that girl. She can drag me anywhere if it means I can keep her safe from the badness in the world.
The silence between Sebastian and me is filled with a chatting Rylee asking me about the horses. “Is this the one who kicked you?” she chirps and skips beside me as we pass the golden beauty in her stall.
“Yes, it is, but she only did it because she’s scared. She hasn’t been well looked after and needs some training and love.”
“Does your leg hurt?” Sebastian asks.
“Not really, but it has a wicked bruise appearing on it. I checked it before putting Olive down, and it’s already coloring.” Only because I bruise easily. Eli knew this, and when he didn’t want me going anywhere, he’d cause some pain and up would pop a bruise I didn’t want anyone to question. I shake my head to rid myself of the memory and return to the present, where Rylee asks another question.
“What’s its name?”
“Her name is Diamond. She has a diamond-shaped brown patch of hair on her head. I’ll show you when we get there.”
“That’s a pretty name,” Rylee says and then falls silent. My gaze shifts from her to Sebastian, whose focus is on me. My cheeks warm at his intense look.
“You okay?” he asks.
I nod. “I am.”
“You went somewhere a moment ago. I noticed you drifting off.” He tilts his head to the side and studies me.
“I’m fine. Just a memory I’d rather forget.”
“Want to talk about it?”
“I’m not sure I’m ready for that conversation yet. Well, not with a complete stranger. I don’t want to scare you off,” I joke and then fall silent. The sounds of other families and support workers talking among each other and their clients go on around us as we head down to the barn.
“I’m not sure anything would scare me off, to tell you the truth. I’m a little shocked with myself at how easy I find it to talk to you… a complete stranger. Usually, I’m a pretty private person.” He fusses over Ruby in his arms and hands her a cookie from a snack bag he’s carrying. She snatches it from his grip and puts it right in her little mouth eagerly.
I grin as she attempts to eat it. Well, suck on it. “Why me, though?” I blurt out, not really thinking.Stupid question, Dee. I want to smack myself in the forehead, but Rylee gripping my hand reminds me not to make more of a fool of myself.
“Honestly, I’m not entirely sure myself. From the minute I met you, I’ve wanted to talk to you, get to know you. Don’t worry… I’m not seeking anything other than your company and even now, as I listen to myself speak, I sound like a fool. Please feel free to ignore me and my ramblings.”
I laugh, and a lightness fills my chest. The memory that was there evaporated. Sebastian caused it to go away with those few words. “It’s okay. It’s good to have someone to talk to, and maybe it’s because we both have kids around the same age that you’re comfortable with me. It’s easy talking to other parents because the conversation is mostly about the kids and not much else. I’m not too keen to share my ‘much else’ information. My family doesn’t even know it, which is kind of sad.”
“If you don’t mind me asking, why did you leave here in the first place?”
This isn’t where I wanted the conversation to go, but I answer him anyway. “I fell in love with the wrong person, and now I’ve basically come back with my tail between my legs.”
He leans back and says, “There’s no tail, is there, Rylee?”
Her head swivels in my direction, and she shakes her head. “Humans don’t have tails, silly.” She giggles, and it’s a song for my wounded heart. That little sound brings me so much joy.
“Of course not. I know that,” I respond and throw Sebastian a playful glare, shaking my head.
