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“Of course.”I can’t help but laugh.Leave it to my dad, the former professional quarterback, to worry about that.“It’s even warm enough to start walking to and from work again.I’m on my feet all day.What’s new with you guys?”
“There’s alwayssomethinggoing on with the family,” Mom says.“You know how it is.”
“Yeah, everyone’s been great about texting me updates.But what’s new withyou?”
They look at each other, and I frown.
“Are you getting divorced?”
Dad laughs, and Mom just stares at me in shock.“What?Why in the world would you ask something like that?”
“I’m as obsessed with your mother as I was the day I married her,” Dad assures me.
“You look…serious.Is Zoey okay?”
“She’s great,” Mom says.“Dad and I are thinking about selling the house and moving into something just a little smaller.We’re empty nesters, and we don’t need this huge house anymore.”
My heart pings at the thought of them selling the house I grew up in.All of my firsts live in that house.
“At least it’s not divorce,” I reply with a forced smile.
“But it makes you sad,” Mom guesses correctly.“I know you.”
“It makes sense for you.If that’s what you guys want to do, I say do it.Buy something fancy and modern, but a little smaller.I can’t wait to see it.”
“Zoey had a harder time with the idea,” Dad says.“In fact, there were tears and threats.”
“She’ll get over it.”I sigh and then yawn.“You don’t have to save my old stuff.Donate it or toss it.”
“That’s my sentimental girl,” Mom says with a laugh.“I miss you, baby.”
“I miss you, too.When are you coming to see me?”
Dad’s eyes narrow.“Maybe sooner than you think.”
ChapterTwo
Remington
“Your mother wants to retire.”My dad and I are sitting on horses, almost ready to pack it in after a long day of checking calves.
“You’re already supposed to be retired,” I remind him.“That’s why I’m in charge now.Yet, you come to work every day.”
“Hell yes, I do.I get to enjoy the ranch without any of the responsibility for the first time since before you were born.I’m having a hell of a time.Am I in the way?”
I can’t help but laugh at that and shake my head.“Of course not.I don’t know what this place would do without you.So, what does Mom mean, exactly?”
“Shewants to retire,” he says, stressing theshe, and I nod slowly.“She’s been taking care of the books for this place since we got married, and she’s damn good at it.But she’d like to pass the torch to someone else.”
“We tried.”I rub my hand over the back of my neck.“We’ve been through several bookkeepers, but they’re never up to Mom’s standards, and we end up letting them go, and Mom goes back to business as usual.”
“I know,” he says with a sigh.“Maybe it’s time we look for another one and see if that one sticks.Joy wants to travel, and you know as well as I do that I could never tell that woman no.”
“She wants to travel?”I stare over at him in surprise.“Shehatesto fly.She’s always sworn that she wouldn’t get on a tin can with wings.”
“She’s changed her mind.”He shrugs.“Maybe it’s hormonal.How in the hell should I know?Anyway, I wanted to let you know so it’s on your radar.”
Great.One more thing on my already overloaded radar.
