Chapter 4
Chet was looking forward to seeing his kids tonight.
Taylee and Tytan were at college now and home for summer break.
The twins stayed at their mother’s but were making rumbling noises about wanted to come to the ranch for the rest of the summer.
They’d even asked about heading down to Wild Vista as ranch hands. Something they’d discuss later.
He’d be thrilled if they did come and stay with him and he was only a tad concerned how Jenna would react to the news.
He’d remained cordial with his ex since their divorce and she wasn’t easy to get along with.
They’d been thrown together as teenagers and things had gotten complicated in a hurry.
He hadn’t really thought about her much until one of his friends said she wasn’t too bad looking.
It had changed Chet’s perspective about her. So, they’d gone out for a while.
She’d been difficult to deal with and he had been about to break things off.
When she’d gotten pregnant, it had been a goat fuck.
He hadn’t wanted kids at the time and yet he hadn’t been able to bear the thought of ending the pregnancy.
They’d talked about what to do. The plan was to have the babies, not get married until after they were born, and see how things worked out.
He’d been confident and content with the plan. As had she. They’d told his parents first, and while they’d been devastated this had happened at such a young age, they’d supported him. Her parents had been a whole different matter.
As soon as the words were out of her mouth that they were expecting, her father declared they’d get married right away.
Chet shook his head remembering. He’d tried to say that wasn’t the plan they’d agreed on, but he had been overrun by her tears, her father’s shouting, and her mother wringing her hands and worried what everyone would think.
All Chet wanted to do was escape the house and high tail it back to the ranch.
But, he’d been cornered. They wanted him to agree to a wedding.
He’d stood his ground and said no. But his stance hadn’t lasted long.
Neither had the marriage. In fact, he’d found out after the divorce that she had planned to get pregnant to keep him, knowing he’d been getting close to ending their relationship.
But in hindsight now, putting up with her for those few years, while painful, had given him the greatest gift. His children.
He drew in a breath and hauled open the freezer in the basement pantry. The cool air billowed out on a cloud of fog and he breathed it in. Even now years later, it angered him how he’d allowed himself to be manipulated and he’d vowed it would never happen again.
Inside the walk-in freezer, he selected eight prime steaks. One for each of them, Jenna, Taylee, Tytan, Mom and Dad, and two extra in case the kids brought friends.
He carried them to the kitchen and spread them out on a baking sheet to thaw and season.
Nothing better than grilling on charcoal.
He selected wine he knew Jenna loved, and made sure the whiskey was full and ice was in the cooler for beer.
Checking his watch, he got excited knowing they’d be here in a few hours.
He heard Jenna on the stairs and went to greet her in the other room.
“All freshened up?” he asked.
“Mmhm, I adore that tub and the room.” She came over and slipped into his embrace lifting her face for a kiss.
He obliged.
“So, not long now until everyone gets here,” she commented. “I want to make dessert. Damn, though, I didn’t check we had the ingredients. I better see what we have.”
Chet followed her into the kitchen. “What were you planning on making. We could have bought something to save time,” he suggested.
“No, I want to make it. Nothing like homemade, right? Hmm, let’s see.” He watched her pull open the cupboards, then the refrigerator, and then stand with her hands on her hips, frowning. She faced him. “We should have gone shopping so I could get stuff.”
“We still have time. The steaks are thawing.” He pointed to them. “If you want to go, we can pick up some corn and veg to put on the grill. You can get what you need for dessert.”
“I guess we could. We could go to that market down the road. I don’t remember the name of it, but they should have what we need.”
“Perry’s. Yes, all farm fresh,” he told her and was glad she wanted to go out so he didn’t have to make up some excuse to leave the house.
“That’s it! Okay, let’s get cracking so we’re not late.” He took his keys from the plank of wood by the back door with used horseshoe nails hammered into it. “Let’s go.”
Belle stood at the door with her tail wagging, and he bent down to rub her ears. “I’m sorry, precious, but we won’t be long. I promise.”
Jenna did the same. “Oh, just look at those eyes. We can’t leave her.”
“It’s best we do; it’s hot out and I won’t leave her in the truck.” Chet called out to his AI device and instructed it to play calm music. “She knows when the music is playing, she must stay home.”
Belle went to her bed by the front window and lay down with her chin resting on the ledge so she could see out.
“We’ll be back soon, Belle,” Jenna called and Chet closed the door behind them.
Ashort while later they parked under a tree at Perry’s Farmers Market. He watched Jenna pause inside the doors, held open with buckets of fresh flowers.
“Oh wow,” she murmured and looked around.
Inside the shop it was very rustic, with rows of wooden bins full of a variety of fresh produce.
Smaller slatted boxes were tipped at tempting angles with all sorts of goodies in them to tease the palate.
There were also modern refrigeration bunkers filled with an array of cheeses, meats, dairy and what all.
Jenna was like a kid in a candy store and started to fill up the buggy that Chet pushed along behind her. She pointed to the chalk boards hanging from chains over the bins. “Those are art in themselves! Just look at the detail in the drawings and letters.”
Chet had never noticed them before. Thanks to her, he was seeing so many things in a brand-new light.
“Wow, this place is amazing. I wasn’t expecting it to have such a variety.” Jenna wandered between the banks of fresh fruit and vegetables. “I didn’t check if we had potatoes.”
“We’ll get some anyway, and anything else you need. Just fill the cart, lady, and I’ll be right behind you.”
He happily followed her around the market, enjoying her joy at her discoveries, and he wasn’t surprised when the cart was soon full of food.
He had no idea what she planned to cook for dessert, but when she laid her eyes on the pies in the bakery section, he saw her hesitate.
He smiled, knowing what was coming next.
She glanced at him and chewed her lip. “Maybe…” she pointed to the pies. “You know instead of making something. I could do that next time.”
He smiled. “Whatever your little heart desires.”
She clapped her hands and reached for a pie, then picked two more. “The bread smells amazing,” she said and selected a bag of fresh buns. She looked at him. “Don’t worry, I’ll buy these.”
He laughed and shook his head. “I’m not worried. Get whatever you like. Let me know if you need a second buggy.”
She swatted him after gently placing the pies and buns in the buggy. “I think we’re good now.”
“Are you sure?”
“Uhm, maybe just a fresh loaf of bread. I can make French Toast tomorrow morning. Do you have bacon in the freezer?”
He nodded. “Yes, I do.”
“Okay, that’s it then. Oh! Maple syrup! I didn’t see any in the cupboards. I’ll go grab it if you want to get in line.”
“I am at your disposal,” he said and wheeled the groaning buggy to the check out.
Never had shopping been such a fun venture before.
But then everything he did with Jenna was a new experience for him and showed him just how much he’d been missing in life.
His serious side had emerged over the years, and he liked this new freeing feeling, thanks to her.
She tried to insist on paying for the groceries, but he wouldn’t have it, and finally she relented. As they left Perry’s, she hooked her arm through his and they walked to the truck, loaded it, and left the parking lot.
She was looking at her phone, which gave him a chance to think about something weighing on his mind.
He had a few plans of his own before tonight’s festivities began and was still sorting out in his mind how he’d accomplish them. He made a turn, and headed to where he had set a few things set up this morning and was glad she didn’t notice they were driving away from the ranch.
“We have to make a stop on the way home.”