10. Schooled
TEN
Schooled
WILLOW
Bright and early Wednesday morning, I stood in the tiny kitchen of the cabin and focused on making Ro a lunch to take for her first day of school. How had my baby grown another year older?
I prayed this new chapter we started meant good times were heading our way. New town. New school and everything. For her and for me.
I still didn’t know how to feel about this being Ash’s place, though. Ash had given up his cabin for us. Everything I touched was his. Why did he do that? Out of guilt?
Then, a knock on the door startled me. My eyes flashed to the time on the stove. Way too early for visitors unless the bus driver came knocking.
“Ro, are you almost ready?” I called up to the loft.
“Almost.”
When I opened the door, Ash stood there, one arm propped against the door frame, the other holding a bag. I gasped at how gorgeous he appeared in a blue flannel shirt, his mouth forming a slow smile upon seeing me.
“Morning,” he said, voice low. “Thought I’d come see Ro off for her big day.”
I blinked. “You didn’t have to.”
“I know, but I wanted to.”
Before I could figure out what to say, Ro came bounding down the stairs, hair wild and backpack already on. She had a light blue blouse and dark denim jeans with her on this trip that paired perfectly with her new boots. A great first-day outfit.
At some point we’d have to return to California to pack up the rest of our belongings that we’d hastily placed in a storage locker, if we truly were making this move to Montana permanent.
“Uncle Ash!” she shouted, tossing her old backpack on the couch and throwing her arms around his legs.
“Look at you, ready for the big day,” he teased, squatting to her level.
“Yep,” she boasted.
“Eat a good breakfast yet?”
“Nope.”
“I have toast and peanut butter ready for you,” I said.
“Toast? Now, wait just a minute. That won’t do on your first day. Here,” he handed me the bag. “Eldon cooked up chocolate chip pancakes special for Ro.”
She gasped and clapped her hands.
“Well, you just figured out the way to her heart,” I quipped.
In fact, he figured out the way to mine, too, showing up here like this to be a part of her first day.
Add to that, the way he’d danced with her Sunday night—was he finally ready to step up and be a part of Ro’s life? And what about mine?
The next half hour passed in a blur. Ash helped calm Ro’s nerves, offering plenty of laughs and quiet encouragement as she ate.
When the bus rumbled up the hill toward the ranch, she’d insisted I stay back on the porch so that Ash could walk her to the end of the gravel road, just the two of them together.
I should feel offended because I didn’t walk my baby to the bus, but when Ro’s tiny hand slipped into his, my eyes watered.
He leaned down to say something, and her giggles carried back to me. I watched their interactions in awe. He had no idea how much influence he had on her, being the strong presence, the father figure she’d been missing. Exactly what she needed, and my heart, too.