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“Yeah.”I push my hand through my hair.“I am.Haven’t asked her yet, though.”
“When I walked in here, it was as if this was always the way it’s been.The four of you.And I don’t mean that to sound disrespectful to Jess; you know I liked her.”
“I get it,” I reply.“I know what you mean.And yeah, it fits.The whole thing just fits perfectly, and part of me wonders when the other shoe will drop, and I’ll realize that it actually doesn’t fit the way it should, but then I decide to stop borrowing trouble.”
“You’re giving yourself good advice,” he says with a smile, but then he turns serious again.“Your kids are way invested in her.”
“I know that.Didn’t plan on it, but I don’t think it’s a bad thing.”
“I’m happy for all of you,” he says, just as Erin hurries back in.
“Okay, they’re settled, and there should be no spillage on the bed.Just in case, I put an extra blanket over the comforter to catch any crumbs.”
“You’re pretty smart,” I reply with a smile.“And handy to have around.Thanks.Okay, Chase, what’s up?”
“Well, I just got off the phone with the parole officer in Washington.The asshole hasn’t missed even one appointment.From what we can tell, he’s in Washington.So far, we can’t prove that the flowers came from him, but when we do, he’ll likely go back to prison for fucking up his restraining order.But the best news is, he’s not in Montana.”
“Thank God,” Erin says with a relieved sigh.“I can start work again at the coffee shop.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
“Why not?”she counters.“Imiss it.And it’s only on Sundays because your mother has claimed that day as her grandma day with the kids.It works.”
“She’s safe,” Chase says to me.
“I need this.”Erin crosses to me and takes my hand, pressing it to her cheek.“I’m an independent person, Grumpy.I need to be able to go back to my job, see my friends without a chaperone,allof it.The ranch is not a prison for me.I love it, but I need the rest of my life back.”
“That was a damn good speech,” Chase says with approval.
“Go away, Chase.”
“See you later!”He waves and leaves the kitchen.I hear the door shut behind him, and then his engine roars to life.
“Okay,” I say at last with a gusty sigh.“We’ll still watch your back.”
“Oh, yeah, I won’t do anything stupid.I’m soexcited.” She bounces and then throws her arms around my neck and kisses me hard.“Thanks, Grumpy.”
“You’re welcome, Doc.”
“I can’t believethe school year is over,” Erin says as she puts the finishing touches on Holly’s pretty braids for her kindergarten graduation ceremony.“This spring just flew by.”
“Don’t forget,” Holly says, as if she’s the parent, “we have seats saved for you and Daddy and Johnny.”
“I won’t forget,” Erin promises.“What about the rest of the family?”
“They’ll have to sit in the back,” Holly says.“There are too many of them.”
I laugh and usher everyone out to the Suburban so we can drive into town for the ceremony at the elementary school.
Speaking of time flying by, how is it possible that Holly’s going into the first grade next year?My kids are growing up too quickly.
“I was invited to Aurora’s birthday party on Saturday,” Holly reminds us for the fifth time today.“At two o’clock.”
“We won’t forget,” I reply.
“Okay.I hope some of the others come to my graduation.Like Grandma and Grandpa and Aunt Millie.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
