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“Thank you both. My grandmother taught me to make it, and it’s always good on a cold day like this.” Vada couldn’t remember a time when Theron had complimented her on her cooking. He ate. He thanked her politely for the meal—sometimes. He went back to his room. She might just go out to the barn after supper and kiss Buttercup right between her pretty brown eyes for the change she had brought about in him.
And then kiss Lucas right on his sexy lips?the pesky voice in her head asked.
“Yep,” she said under her breath.
Chapter Nine
One year later
Vada awoke before daylight that morning, eased out of bed, and went to the kitchen. When she reached into the cabinet for the coffee, she noticed that there was a big red circle around the date on the calendar. She smiled and let her mind wander back to what had happened one year ago—the day that she and Theron had come to the ranch for the first time.
A lot had changed in that year, and every single bit of it for the better. She and Lucas had gotten married in June. They’d thought about building a new house, but Theron loved the bunkhouse, so they had just built on to it—a bedroom and bathroom for Theron, and an office for Vada. They’d removed the bunk beds and put in a couple of recliners, and she’d added a few feminine touches to the kitchen to make the place homier.
Vada’s pride and joy was a simple little sign hanging from chains that squeaked every time the wind blew. Sonny had helped Theron make it to give to her and Lucas as a wedding gift. The lettering for “Buttercup Farms” wasn’t perfect, but every time she looked up at it, a new rush of love filled her heart. Buttercup Farms was the name that Theron had given the bunkhouse, and Lucas had adopted it for his therapy business as well. Now, it was home—all three of them had finally found a place to belong and a family to belong to.
As usual, she felt Lucas’s presence long before he slipped his arms around her waist and kissed her on the neck. “Good morning, darlin’.”
She turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Happy anniversary.”
“But we haven’t been married but six months.” He frowned and then a flashed a brilliant smile. “It’s been a year since y’all came to the ranch the first time. That was the best day of my life.”
“You said our wedding was the best day.” She tiptoed and kissed him on the cheek.
“Every day since a year ago today has been the best.” He pulled her in tighter to his chest. “And every day from now on will be even better.”
“Mornin’.” Theron yawned as he came out of his bedroom. “Are we going to put up our tree today? Buttercup is excited that she gets another one this year.”
“Yes, we are, right after you take your final exam for the semester,” Lucas said.
“I got up an hour ago and finished it.” Theron went to the refrigerator and brought out the orange juice. He poured himself a glass and downed half of it. “I’ve decided to major in agri-business for my bachelor’s degree when I start taking college classes next fall.”
“We could always use that kind of brain power right here on the ranch,” Lucas said.
“I hope I’m a real Ryan by the time I start my college courses.” Theron sighed.
Lucas locked gazes with Vada, who gave him a brief nod.
“We were saving this for Christmas, but you’ll have lots of presents that day.” Lucas headed off toward the bedroom and returned with an unwrapped box. “This is for you, son.”
Theron took the box and sighed again. “It feels kind of light, so it can’t be new boots. Mine are getting too small, so I thought that might be what you and Mama got me.”
Vada was so excited that her hands shook. “You are right. It’s not boots. Go ahead and open it.”
Theron gently removed the lid and picked up a new leather belt. “But I didn’t ask for this.”
“Turn it over and look at the back,” Vada said.
“Oh. Oh. Oh!” Theron gasped when he saw the name “Ryan” engraved across the back of the new belt. “Does this mean…”
“Your copy of the adoption papers are right there in the box,” Lucas said. “You are officially my son now and…”
Theron jumped up and hugged Lucas for the first time. “Now you are my daddy. This is the best Christmas ever. My high school diploma will have the name Ryan on it, and so will all my degrees.”
Vada’s eyes filled with tears, and she didn’t even try to stop them from flowing down her cheeks. She had been worried that Travis would refuse to sign the papers and let Lucas adopt Theron, but he had sent them back with his signature on them within a week.
“Why are you crying, Mama?” Theron asked.
“These are happy tears,” Vada said.
