Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
“ Y ou got this, Dylan,” Mack called out to the boy the next day. “You’re doing great.”
He and Judy stood just inside the fence as they watched the boy lead the pony in a slow circle around the corral.
“Look at that smile,” Judy said. “He loves this.”
“Duke told me that mare turned twenty this year, so she doesn’t get ridden much anymore, but she’s doing great with Dylan.”
Judy nudged his arm. “Us old gals can still have a little spunk left in us.”
“Come on, Miss Judy. What would you know about being old?”
A hearty laugh burst from her. “You definitely inherited the Lassiter charm. But I’m feeling every one of my years today. Raising a grandson in your sixties is not for the faint of heart.”
“Seems to me like you’re doing a great job with him. And you scored major grandma points by bringing him out here today.” Mack couldn’t imagine his mother ever treating him to a special outing like this, let alone taking him out of school for it. He pointed at Dylan, who was giggling as the horse broke into a trot. “He’s really getting the hang of it. Might just turn out to be a cowboy yet. Although that astronaut thing should probably still be considered as a contender.”
“I’m sure he’ll keep it in mind. He’s also tossed around fireman and furniture salesman. He’s a fan of our recliners and thinks it would be nice to get a discount on the next ones we buy.”
Mack laughed. “Smart kid. And thankfully, he’s got plenty of time to decide.”
“I notice that my grandson isn’t the only one who can’t stop smiling today,” she said, her lips quirking up in a teasing grin. “You seem to be in a pretty good mood, too.”
He gave her what he hoped looked like an innocent shrug. “Yeah, I guess I am.”
“Does this good mood have anything to do with the date I heard you were on last night with a certain pretty coffee shop owner?”
He grinned. “Yes, it just might. But how did you hear I took Lorna on a date last night?”
Judy chuckled. “Oh honey. Of course I heard. This is a very small town. And apparently you were holding hands and walking right down Main Street.”
Maisie was right. And it seemed like their plan had worked. People were already talking about them as a couple.
Hopefully Lyle had heard about them as well.
“I ran into her at the grocery store this morning, and she seemed pretty happy, too,” Judy said. “It’s nice to see her smiling again. Especially after what that douche-hole Lyle Williams put her through.”
Just thinking about Lyle had Mack’s temper flare, and he curled his hands into fists. He took a deep breath and tried to let his rage out with his exhale. “I haven’t heard that particular terminology, but I’d agree it seems fitting.”
“I don’t know a lot about their marriage,” Judy said. “But I know enough to tell you that Lyle is bad news, and there is nothing good about him being back in town. A lot of people felt bad for Lorna when he took off on her, but I was glad to see him go. And I wasn’t the only one.” She shook her head and wrinkled her nose as if she’d just gotten a whiff of cow manure. “I can’t imagine why that sweet Misty would give up everything and leave town with him. And I honestly can’t believe he’s back. I’m not one to gossip, but I think he left owing money to more than one person in this town, and I can’t imagine he found that much while they’ve been gone.”
“I agree on the bad news. And it seems to me that the best thing Lyle ever did for Lorna was to leave her.”
Judy brushed a hand over his shoulder. “I’m glad she has you now.”
“Thanks. I’d like to make her happy, but sometimes I’m not sure I’m the right guy for her.” He wasn’t sure why he’d just admitted that to someone who was practically a stranger, especially since the whole plan was to make them seem like an established blissful couple. But the older woman was easy to talk to, and the words had just come out.
Her brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”
He looked down and kicked at a clod of dirt with the toe of his boot. “I like Lorna. A lot. But I’m not sure I know how to do this whole serious dating thing. I’m not sure what Duke’s told you about my past, but my dad was never around and even when my mom was home, she might as well have been gone too, because she could care less about me or what I was doing.” He stared out over the mountains behind the corral. “I want to be a good boyfriend, but what do I know about how to have a healthy relationship?”
“Well, it sounds like you sure know what an unhealthy one looks like.”
“I do.”
“So, just do the opposite of that.”
He huffed out a laugh. “Good advice. Although I have to say I expected something more from someone who’s older and wiser, such as yourself.”
“Aw hell. What do I know? Being older doesn’t always make you smarter. Sometimes it just makes you older.” She laughed at herself. “But I do know plenty of people who came from broken homes and crappy lives who are wonderful partners in marriage.”
“Yeah, I guess.” His brothers had also been abandoned by their mother, and they all three seemed to be good guys and to be in strong relationships.
“I wasn’t just being a smart ass when I said that you know what not to do. Loving someone means showing up and being there and listening and doing your best to take care of them. I was married for forty years before that bastard cancer took my husband, and I can tell you that relationships aren’t always easy. They take work and commitment. But dadgumit, if you find your person, the one who makes you happy, who you can’t imagine living your life without, and who you want to do that work for, they sure are worth it.”
He nodded but wasn’t sure how to respond.
“And don’t assume just because you had shitty parents, you aren’t still worthy of being loved.” She held his gaze. “I understand a little about your situation and your mom. My daughter is an addict, too. I love her, but she has a disease, and she doesn’t know how to overcome that disease enough to focus on being a mom. But I’m thankful every dang day for the chance I have to be with my grandson. It’s not always easy, but I’m so glad I get to watch him grow up and be here for him. I love that boy more than I could ever imagine.” She jerked her thumb back toward the ranch house. “Your grandfather loves you the same way.”
Mack frowned. “I might be growing on him, but I can’t imagine he feels anything like what you’re describing.”
“Why not?”
He shrugged, uncomfortable now with the focus being on him and how his grandfather felt about him. “He barely knows me.”
“Oh, honey. You’re wrong. You are a child of his child. He loved you from the moment you came into existence. I can promise you that. I think he’s so glad for the chance to get to know you now and to make up for all that time you two lost.” She nudged his shoulder. “And don’t sell yourself short. You seem like a pretty lovable guy. I imagine Lorna sees that. Now you just have to let yourself be loved.”
“Thanks Judy. You’re a good grandma.”
“Anytime. I knew your grandma, and June Lassiter was a pretty amazing woman. I think she would have told you the same thing.” She sighed. “I wish you would have had a chance to know her.”
“Me, too.”
She glanced down at her watch. “Shoot. I’ve got to get back to the office. But this has been fun, for Dylan, and for me.”
He called for the boy to bring the horse over then gave him a quick lesson on how to remove her saddle and blanket and brush down her coat. They made a plan for him to come out again the next week, then Mack waved goodbye as they hurried toward Judy’s Subaru.
His phone buzzed as he was giving the mare a handful of oats and praising her for a job well done that day. He pulled it from his pocket and smiled at Lorna’s name on the screen. He tapped to accept the call. “Hey, beautiful.”
“Lyle has Max,” she cried, her voice panicked and shaky. “He picked him up from school without my consent, and I don’t know where he took him.”