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“Darling, Eloise woke up very early this morning and joined me in the kitchen asking for some chocolate milk.”
“She did?”
“Yes, she did. I gave her some chocolate milk and then I tucked her back into bed. I know Arya did not spend the night there. Now, it could be that Arya spent the night in another bedroom, but I don’t think she would leave Eloise. So then I got to thinking she spent the night with my scoundrel son.”
“Mama, it’s not…”
“I don’t want to hear the details, that’s between you and Arya. But if you are going to be messing around with that girl, you better be a gentleman.”
“I’m always a gentleman, Mama, you know that.”
“I don’t think so, because if you were a real gentleman, you wouldn’t have taken her to bed.”
“Oh my gosh, Mom, we’re not in the 1940s anymore. People can sleep together without being married.”
“Yes, they can, but is that what’s right for Eloise and Arya?”
“Mama, what’s that supposed to mean?”
“You’re getting close to them both. Arya is a good girl, and Eloise is a sweetheart. She’s going to start thinking of you as her daddy. And when you’re gone, you’re going to break that little girl’s heart all over again. She already doesn’t know her real daddy. Her mama left her. They came here searching for her father. You got to think about someone other than yourself right now, Chet. I know you like Arya, I know you’re attracted to her. I know you want to explore and see where things could go, but Arya can’t afford that right now.”
“What do you mean, Mom?”
“I mean, she can’t just explore and see where things go. She has other things to think about.”
“I know. And that’s why I’m not going to do anything else with her, because I know that I’m not ready to take on the responsibility of being a father.”
Mom looked closely at me. “Is this because Eloise is someone else’s child?”
“No, Mama. I love that little girl. I don’t care that she has different blood from me. That doesn’t make any difference.”
She gazed at me adoringly and put her hands on my shoulders. “I raised me a good boy. I’m proud of you, Chet.”
“You are?” I frowned, “Even though Arya slept in my bed last night?”
“I’m not proud of that, but I’m proud of the fact that you love Eloise.”
“Of course I do, Mom.”
“Eloise is a good kid. I would like to be her grandma for real.”
“Mom.”
“I know you’re not ready yet, Chet, but sometimes…” She paused and looked away.
“What, Mama? Sometimes what?”
“Sometimes by the time you are ready, they’re already gone.” She patted me on the shoulder. “Now you go outside and do some work. I’m going to finish making these rolls.”
“Okay, Mama, thanks.”
I headed out the back towards the stables, Mama’s words ringing in my ears. Sometimes when you’re ready, they’re already gone.
But that didn’t apply to me. Arya wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon and neither was Eloise. I had time to think everything through and figure out how to make things work.
Chapter One Hundred Nine
Arya
