Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
GEORGIA
Grant
Will you tell me how today goes?
Georgia
It’s a riding lesson
Why are you worried?
Not about the lesson
About Luke’s first day at school
You want me to spy for you?
That makes it sound bad
Because it is
I just want to make sure he had a good first day at his new school
You know, you could just ask him
And what if he doesn’t tell me?
I think you’re worrying for no reason
What if our kid doesn’t tell you anything when you ask how their day at school was?
That will never happen
Our kid will always tell their mother how their day was
Until they’re a moody teenager
Stop trying to make me worry about something that won’t happen for more than a decade
Now you know why I’m trying to get insider scoop on how his day went
You’re incorrigible
I’ll make it worth your while
Ugh
I really shouldn’t encourage this
But it’s really hard to resist you
That was my plan all along >
Go teach your soccer game
Seriously?
It’s a good thing you like me
I don’t know why….it’s baseball, Cowgirl
>
I may need to see you in some baseball pants to confirm
This whole conversation has gotten off track
Your fault
Go learn things about my kid
And teach him how to ride a horse
One of these days I’ll get you on a horse
Locking my phone, I put it away in my desk drawer and head out to meet Luke. Since Kade started an afterschool program at the ranch, I know Luke is grabbing the bus out here.
I’m anxious to spend some more one-on-one time with him. I like Grant—a lot—and I want Luke to like me too.
When the bus pulls up, I nervously adjust the hat sitting on my head. I wait as the kids get off the bus before spotting Luke. When he sees me, he walks over and waves at me.
“Hey, Georgia.” His voice is more quiet than usual.
“Hey, Luke. How was your first day at school?” I try to inject cheeriness into my voice.
He shrugs a shoulder. “Fine.”
“Just fine?”
Luke kicks a rock, not answering me.
“Yeah, fine.”
“Okay.” Guess I’m not getting much out of him today. “Well, Queenie is all ready to go if you’re ready to head out.”
“Sure.”
Luke follows me into the barn where Queenie is waiting for us. I have a helmet ready to go as he sets his backpack down.
He’s quiet as he puts his foot in the stirrup and swings a leg up and over to get settled in the saddle.
“Is Mrs. Sosa still teaching at the high school?” I ask, trying to make conversation.
“Who’s that?” he asks.
“She was my geography teacher freshman year. I really liked her. Made me excited to come to school.”
“I don’t have her.”
More silence.
“I also had a great psychology teacher, but I always came out here after school to work on the ranch. I loved it.”
I’m yapping. I know I am, but I can’t help it. I know Grant was worried about how his first day of school was going to go, and based on how he’s not talking about it, it makes me worried.
I remember being that age. I don’t know if I would have survived high school without my girls. They made it bearable. I can’t imagine what it must have been like for Luke to change schools before high school and not know anyone on the first day.
I only get a few one-word answers from him before he asks to do a few laps on his own.
I blow out a breath. It’s hard getting through to kids when they don’t want to open up, and I don’t want to push too hard.
At least Luke looks like he’s enjoying himself.
“How’s it going?” I call out.
“Good. I like being out here.”
“I’m glad. You’re a natural up there.”
He smiles as he passes and I do my best not to get overly excited and deter him from doing something that he enjoys.
Is this what parenthood is going to be like? Trying to encourage our kid to do something he likes without being too much? This is going to be a fine line to walk.
“Want to do a few more laps, or do you want to brush her out?” I ask.
Luke shifts the reins in his hands. “I think I’m ready to be done for the day.”
“Okay.”
I go over to help him down and he leads Queenie back to her stall. I take off her saddle as he takes care of the bridle and goes to brush her.
He’s focusing on the task at hand. There’s an edge to his stance. Before I can ask him, he tells me what is on his mind.
“My mom canceled my visit,” Luke states while brushing out Queenie.
“She did?”
That’s news to me. Grant hasn’t mentioned anything about the trip being canceled.
“Something about a trip coming up with her new husband being more important right now. Not like I miss my friends or anything or home. But whatever.”
I don’t miss the bitterness in his tone.
“When were you supposed to go?” I ask.
“Fall break.”
“I’m sorry, Luke.”
“Whatever.”
I pat him on the shoulder. “It’s okay to be upset. You were looking forward to the visit.”
“I asked if I could come earlier, and she said no.”
My heart aches for him. I know what it’s like to not have your parents want you. Even though Luke has a dad who shows up for him, it doesn’t make it hurt any less when one snubs you.
“We’ll make sure you can go another time.”
“We?” Luke asks, looking at me.
“Your dad and I. We’ll find a time, and if we have to take you ourselves, we will.”
“Thanks, Georgia.” He goes back to brushing Queenie. “I did meet a few people.”
My ears perk up. “Oh, yeah?”
“One kid seems pretty cool. We rode the bus together this morning. We like the same video games.”
“That’s great. Maybe you could have him over one night after school.”
“Ugh,” he groans. “Don’t make it weird.”
“What? I’m not.”
He laughs. “You’re just like Dad.”
“I’m way cooler than your dad.”
“Are you?”
“Alright.” I roll my eyes at him. “Let’s finish up here and then I’ll take you home.”
Luke’s gaze flits to mine. “You think we could stop and get pancakes for dinner?”
“We can definitely do that.”
“That gets you some more cool points.”
“I knew it.”
Maybe I might get this parenting thing down after all.