AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Tristan opened his mouth, then snapped it shut and shook his head. They didn’t need to rehash what was said. They could both be right in their own ways. He wasn’t responsible for how the world treated his son, but he could darn well be the person who helped his son survive in a world that wasn’t ready to love him as he was just yet.
3
Dianna
Dianna poured over the book she’d picked up from the county library. Shane might have given her a brief training to help Mathew with the horses, but she wasn’t convinced that she was completely ready to help the boy get to where he needed to be.
All of this was new to her. She was good with kids. And her own experiences had helped her get a good idea of how to treat Mathew. It was probably just the way Tristan had stared at her like he wasn’t sure she was going to be the best fit.
Diannacouldwalk away. In fact, she hadn’t been sure she wanted to take on the responsibility of this new job. She was busy enough at Slate Rock Ranch; she didn’t need the extra work.
Except Constance had insisted that it would be good for her. And right now, Constance was the happiest one in their family. Whether it was because she’d found a new purpose or she finally was able to get the guy she was interested in, Dianna couldn’t be certain.
Adeline was happily married, Constance was engaged, and everyone else was excitedly looking forward to more freedom in the relationship department. Everyone but Dianna and Brielle.
She placed the book aside and picked up her notebook. Everything that she’d read in Mathew’s paperwork focused on his ability to communicate his needs. She hadn’t heard him say a word and everything his father had mentioned in the report stated Mathew was bright and actually ahead of grade level. He just didn’t like to talk to people he didn’t know.
Dianna grabbed her pen and nibbled on the end. If she could figure out a way to reach him without making him feel rushed, she might be more successful than anyone else who had worked with him. Most of the specialists who had worked with him before would have focused on that goal—expecting Mathew to perform. Trying to get him to talk. Offering him rewards to try to get him to interact more.
But Mathew wasn’t a circus animal. He deserved to feel comfortable with her before she asked anything of him. That was part of the problem when she’d argued with Tristan yesterday.
“Whatcha got there?”
Constance wandered into their bedroom and plopped onto her bed. “Stuff forShane?” She said his name in a sing-song way, as if that would make Dianna more inclined to discuss her new boss with her sister.
“No.” She lifted the book up to show Constance her reading material.
Constance tilted her head. “Ten Things Every Child With Autism Wished You Knew.” Her focus shifted to Dianna. “Is that for the kid?”
“Technically, it’s for me. But yes. It’s supposed to help me learn how to work with him better.”
“I thought Shane had given you some training.”
“He did. But it wasn’t specific to autism. He taught me what to do to support the kid while working with horses. Most of the studies suggest that working with animals is therapeutic and the other stuff will come.”
“So why are you researching? Don’t you think you’ll be able to work with him just fine?”
Dianna peeked at her sister. “I’m not worried about Mathew. I’m worried about his father.”
That knowing smile appeared on Constance’s face. “Oh.”
A sigh burst from Dianna’s chest. “No. Don’t even go there. He’s here for his kid, and I’m here for his kid. There will be none of this ‘oh’you’re insinuating.”
Constance shrugged. “I just figured since you finally had the opportunity to meet someone, you might take the chance.”
Dianna ignored her sister’s suggestion. They’d been down this road before. Dianna wasn’t interested in dating anyone and probably wouldn’t be for a while. Now that the pressure was off, she didn’t feel compelled to even consider a relationship so that her younger sisters would have their chance. She was more like Brielle in that respect.
Her sister dropped down onto her stomach and rested her chin on folded arms. “How long do you get to work with these guys?” Once more, Constance was interrupting Dianna’s quiet space. She almost wished they could go back to the time when Constance would sneak out to be with James. But since that wasn’t happening anymore, it was as if her older sister had a one-track mind—a “let’s ask Dianna a thousand questions and see if she snaps” kind of mind.
“I don’t know. I think Shane said that this kind of therapy is usually a minimum of ten weeks. But Tristan probably has to get back to work, and I’m sure Mathew is missing all kinds of school.”
“Maybe you could help him.”
“That’s the idea.” She sighed. Honestly, for how smart Constance was, she could be really annoying.
“No. I mean, you were really good at school stuff and you love to read. I bet you could work something out where you help Mathew with his schoolwork while he does his therapy.”
Dianna lifted her head and looked at Constance. “That’s actually not a bad idea.”
