Chapter 19
CHAPTER 19
ROSE
M y phone has buzzed three times, and I’ve used Thanksgiving dinner as an excuse not to even glance at the screen. But my plate is empty, and now we’re all sitting here laughing while members of Matthew’s family share stories.
I’m not sure how I’ll have room in my belly for a second meal today, but if dinner at the ranch is anything like the dinner with Tandy and Matthew, I’d show up and just sip tea.
Matthew’s family has been wonderful and welcoming. A few of them are people I’ve seen around town. As I’m making these new friends, I try not to think about how things will change—or if they will—after the pretending is over. Will Tandy want me to move? I can’t expect Dallas to keep subsidizing my rent.
This is an inconvenient time to ponder those questions, so I pack up the thoughts and tuck them back in my worry chest. Normally, I wait for bedtime to think about what will happen. But this Thanksgiving has been so different than what I’m used to, and I’ll miss not being a part of it next year.
Dallas drapes an arm around my chair. “Have you looked to see who keeps calling?”
“I should in case it’s an emergency.” I slip the phone out of my pocket. “It’s Sage.” Since this isn’t at all what I expected, I spring up from the table. “I need to call him.”
As I walk out of the room, Dallas explains that I need to call my brother. Sage and Cara posted pictures on the beach yesterday, so I assumed they went on the family vacation. Why is he calling?
Concern has morphed into panic by the third ring.
Then Sage answers. “Rose, hey. You aren’t sitting at home alone, are you? Dallas better make sure you get turkey and all the fixin’s.” It’s unusual for my brother to call me out of the blue. We just aren’t close like that.
“We just finished eating. We’re visiting with his aunt’s soon-to-be husband’s family. So much food. And all delicious. How are y’all? Having a good time?”
“It’s been a trip for sure. Mostly good. But you’ve been on my mind. And I wanted to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving. I understand why you didn’t come, and I think it’s crummy that Mom refuses to acknowledge your relationship with Dallas.” He pauses, and the several beats of silence are heavy. “I might need tips for how to reinforce my spine, Rose. The moms are trying to railroad the wedding planning, and it's hard seeing Cara in tears.”
“I’m sorry they’re being that way.” I’m not sure what advice to give my brother about facing down my mom. “But it’s been a great help to have Dallas right beside me, backing me up, when I put my foot down. I’m learning that everything comes with strings. You need to decide if the strings are worth it.”
Sage chuckles. “You are a regular advice columnist, Rosie.”
“I don’t mean to sound that way. And I imagine that it’s even harder now since I’ve pulled away.”
“A bit, but you made the right decision. If you decided to date Richard, I’d take you to the hospital myself to get a brain scan. He showed up at the airport with a leggy blonde. She only talks to him, ignores the rest of us. But maybe she’s nervous being around his family. Who knows? But he’s not good for you.”
“True. I wish Mom and Dad would realize that.”
“Listen, I should go. The moms have Cara cornered, and I just got the rescue-me look.”
“Go be her knight. Good luck.”
Confusion etches on Dallas’s face. “Be her knight? And I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I wanted to check on you and overheard the last thing you said.”
I wrap my arms around Dallas and bury my face in the curve of his neck. I’m not upset. Just thankful.
He rubs my back. “Hey. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah.” I hug him a moment longer. “Sage called to wish me a happy Thanksgiving, and he mentioned how the moms are trying to take over wedding planning. He hung up to rescue Cara who was being cornered. And I told him to go be her knight. Like you’ve been mine.”
“This is a first. I’ve never been called that before. And honestly, I’m more like an empty suit of armor. You’re the one doing all the work.”
I give him a quick peck on the cheek. “I need pie.”
He scoops me into his arms. “As you wish.”
I’m desperately trying not to read too much into that phrase, but we did watch the Princess Bride recently. My whole heart wants his answer to drip with that meaning.
After a second amazing feast, Beau points toward the door. “We’re doing dessert in the living room. The game is on.”
Dallas takes my hand and leads me through the game room into the main house. The living room is spacious, and dotted throughout the room, there are extra chairs set up.
He leads me to an armchair, drops into it, then pulls me into his lap. “This okay? I figured it’ll free up space for someone else.”
“This is great.”
Nestled in the chair, Dallas quietly feeds me information about the folks on the ranch. He tells me that Beau and Lilith met later in life and have only been married a few years, which is a little surprising. But as Dallas shares more, I realize that all the middle-aged couples around here found love after forty.
Dallas works his way around the room telling me about the ranch hands and how they got tagged by cupid. Poor Daphne was so disappointed when they showed up and she learned they were all married. She wants to find love just like I do. Maybe I should convince Daphne to give Tandy’s ranch a try once it opens.
“And you’ve met Bailey. She’s cute as a button and sharp as a cactus.” He chuckles. “The first time she met me, she was afraid of me. Can you believe it?”
“Really? She didn’t seem the least afraid of you at the rehearsal dinner or at the wedding.”
“I convinced her that I wasn’t scary. And she told me to smile more.” He winks. “And over there is Mason. He’s always full of relationship advice. And it’s normally spot on. It makes me wonder if his dad, Kent, is secretly a romance columnist. That would be a hoot.”
Mason trudges across the room, pie in hand, and drops down onto the floor near our chair.
“Hey, bud. That pie looks good.” Dallas is turning the attractive dial all the way to eleven today.
Mason nods but doesn’t smile. And that seems unusual from the stories I’ve heard.
“Is something bothering you?” I ask.
He shrugs, then nods. “My friend moved away. I didn’t even get to say goodbye, and she doesn’t have a phone. So I can’t call her.”
I lean closer, resting my weight on the arm of the chair. “I’m sorry.”
“Clementine moved?” Dallas trails his hand up and down my back.
“Yep.” Mason sighs. “And the worst part is that I never told her that I thought she was pretty. Now, I might never see her again.”
I’m feeling choked up. “But maybe you will.” I wish I could guarantee the kid that he’ll get another chance to share his feelings, but I can’t. “Has your mom tried calling her mom? Maybe y’all can get in touch that way.”
“Mom tried. But Clementine’s mom said that she lived with her dad now in a different place, and she wouldn’t give out the number.” He stabs his slice of pie. “I really miss her.”
“I imagine so. And I’m sorry, bud. I know you really liked Clementine.” Dallas is using that same calming voice that he does with me when I’m upset.
Mason points a chocolate-cream-covered fork at Dallas. “If you think she’s pretty, tell her. Because you might not get another chance later.”
Now I’m emotional. How is this kid only eleven? “You’re a smart young man, Mason. And I hope one day, you’ll see your friend again.”
His head bounces in agreement, and then he grins. “And when I do, I’ll tell her that she’s beautiful. Maybe even before I say hello. But that might be weird.”
“She’ll love it.”
Mason gives me a thumbs-up, then digs into his pie. When he finishes, he jumps up. “I see Fred. He moved here with Mr. Carson, the new ranch hand. I like him. He’s cool. I’m gonna go see if he wants to play video games. Because I don’t care who wins the football game.”
“You and me both.” I give Mason a high-five. “Have fun!”
“He seems in a better mood now. You must’ve said the right thing.” Dallas brushes the tip of his nose on my cheek as he whispers in my ear. “Want me to grab us some pie?”
I stand. “I’ll get it. Don’t let anyone steal my seat.” I point at Dallas’s lap.
“Wouldn’t think of it.”
I return, a plate in each hand, and Dallas takes the desserts and holds them out to the sides as I sit on his lap. Once I’m settled, he hands over my plate.
When my first bite is halfway to my mouth, Dallas whispers in my ear. “I think you’re beautiful, Rose.”
Crying in a room full of cowboys watching football would be embarrassing, so I blink away my tears and choke back what I want to say. Am I imagining a shift? Are we still pretending? There has been no talk of changing the deal, so I can’t tell Dallas that I love him. He’d probably freak.
Instead, I say, “Thank you.” And I smile and offer him the bite of pie that’s on my fork. Gaze fixed on mine, he opens his mouth, and I feed him dessert.
Feeding a man pie is almost like saying I love you, right? And it’s pecan, so I feel like that’s an I love you a whole lot. I mean, I gave up a bite of pecan pie for him.