Chapter Five
“There will be other kids?” Overflowing with excitement, Sandra’s son danced around her as she stood in the bathroom, applying the last coat of mascara.
She didn’t normally wear much makeup, but her eyes always looked so drawn out and bland if she didn’t at least put on a dash of mascara and a bit of blush. “I expect you to be on your best behavior and listen to what the adults tell you to do.”
“Can we go?” Anyone would think the kid was on his way to the North Pole to meet Santa in person.
“We’re getting picked up in five minutes. Go put your shoes on.”
He bounced out of the room. His excitement would be contagious if she wasn’t already just as excited about stepping back in time, even for one night, and even if it was with a young son in tow. Dinners at the Farraday’s were always a good time. Great food and a family that actually liked each other. This would be a good experience for David. He needed to see what happily married people and large loving families looked like. Up until now, his only example of marriage and family had been her and his father’s strained, almost embattled relationship.
Putting away her makeup, she took in her appearance. Not bad for a prodigal daughter.
“Mom, a truck just pulled into the driveway.” David bolted out of the room and down the stairs.
Of course a Farraday would not only be on time, but respectably early. Her heart did its own little dance. She put a hand on her chest, and hoped like so much else in this old town, that little had changed at the Farradays.
When Sandra walked down the steps, she spied Paxton squatting, talking to David. Had her ex ever brought himself down to his son’s level? Not once could she remember Ed relating to David as if their son really mattered. The sight made her heart do a two-step that had nothing to do with warm memories of sprawling ranches and big families. Now she wondered if Paxton had children of his own. The thought had her battling disappointment. And why? Paxton’s personal life was none of her business. Besides, even if he were single, a good-looking and nice man like him had to have women throwing themselves at him. Attractive women without baggage.
David turned to her. “Mr. Farraday says they have horses where we’re going.”
“They do,” she nodded. “And if it’s okay with the Farradays, yes you can go see them.”
“Yay!” The boy shot up in the air like he wore springs for shoes.
“But,” she waved a finger at him, “remember you have to do what the adults tell you.”
Struggling to stand still, David looked up. “Yes, Mommy.”
“Okay, then. Everyone ready?” Paxton straightened to his full height.
“David, go get your jacket. It might be cold when we come home.” Home? How had she not thought of that sooner? “Oh, dear.”
“What?” Paxton’s eyes filled with alarm as his head shot around in search of David.
“It just struck me. I don’t know how we’re going to get home after supper.”
“Oh that.” Paxton’s shoulders eased. “Grace and Chase live here in town. I’m sure she’s planning to bring you home.”
That made her feel better. For a split second, she was ready to cancel the whole outing if it meant putting one of the Farradays out to bring her and her son all the way to town after dark. “Of course.”
His gaze on David across the kitchen, searching for his jacket in the mudroom, Paxton smiled. “He’s a sweet kid.”
She took in a deep breath. “Thanks. I want him to grow up to be a sweet man—strong, but sweet.”
“Is that why you came home?” Paxton turned to face her.
“The city is not where I want my son to grow up. Besides, every kid deserves to be close enough to his grandmother to be a little spoiled. Though, under the same roof may be a little too much togetherness, but it’s best for now.”
He nodded, then his gaze drifted upstairs and back to her. “Just you two coming to dinner?”
It took her a moment to realize that Paxton must not know about her sorry ex-husband. Odd, she’d have thought that news would have spread across the grapevine like wildfire on kindling. “Just us. Mom already has plans.”
David bounced back into the foyer. “Now can we go see the horses?”
Rolling her eyes at her son’s enthusiasm, she grinned and nodded. “Let’s go.”
David jumped even higher on the way out the door. Her gaze settled on Paxton holding the door for her then to her son skipping down the walkway. For the first time in a long time, it suddenly felt like being hopeful about the future wasn’t just pie in the sky dreams.
As soon as Paxton opened the door, Aunt Eileen rushed up to them and completely ignoring him, scooped Sandra into a familiar bear hug. He couldn’t blame her. He wouldn’t mind giving her a big old bear hug himself. Which was probably why he needed to keep a safe distance. He wasn’t sure what the story was with David’s father, but until he knew more, he needed to keep his hands in his pockets and his thoughts to himself.
“So good to see you, Sandra Lynn. Welcome back to Tucker’s Bluff.” Aunt Eileen’s smile took over her face as she leaned over. “And this must be David. I think there are some kids in the backyard waiting to meet you.”
David looked at his mother, who nodded and mouthed, Be good.
“I’ll take him outside.” His cousin Connor’s wife appeared behind their aunt. “I can check on what that brood is doing.” Pausing a moment, she called over her shoulder, “By the way, I’m Catherine, nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too,” Sandra laughed as David practically dragged the woman toward the back door.
The appearance of her son in the kitchen created a flow of family members descending on Sandra from every corner of the house. She was greeted with smiles and hugs and one person after the other shouting out “remember when” until he and a few others were almost doubled over with laughter. Paxton had almost forgotten how much fun his summers in Tuckers Bluff had been with his family, especially fishing with Sandra Lynn. She was one of the only girls who wasn’t squeamish with worms. Actually, she was the one who turned him onto old horror movies. They could watch Vincent Price movies till sunup if his aunt and uncle had let them.
Linking elbows with her childhood friend, Grace tugged Sandra into the cozy family room. “We need to catch up.”
While the women lingered in the living room chatting, Paxton found himself in the kitchen with his brothers and cousins helping set the table and carry condiments and just about anything their aunt wanted into the dining room. After all, the Farraday household was modern before it was popular. With six sons and only one daughter, Aunt Eileen and Uncle Sean made sure there was no such thing as women’s work or men’s work. Everyone pitched in where needed, and that included setting tables and tossing salads.
Valerie came through the back door. “Sorry, had to take a business call.”
“At this hour?” Paxton looked up at the kitchen clock.
“I got a call from the charity.” Valerie snatched a cucumber slice from the salad. “Seems there’s been a bit of a glitch.”
Owen looked up from the basket of rolls he was about to carry to the dining room. “Glitch for us or for them?”
“Both.” Valerie sighed.
Aunt Eileen looked up from the open oven. “Uh-oh.”
“Well,” Valerie shrugged, “it isn’t too big an uh-oh. You guys have a lot of framing to do before it’s safe for the intended family to come help, but the designated family is no longer interested in the house.”
Now Morgan turned to face his wife. “Why not?”
“Apparently, they’re having second thoughts about moving so far away from Abilene. They’d rather wait for another house to come through for them closer to a big city and family.”
“Put this on the table.” Aunt Eileen handed off the large meatloaf pan to Connor. “I don’t see why we have to bring in strangers from across the state. You’re not going to tell me there aren’t plenty of needy people right here in our own county.”
“I always thought it made more sense to have someone local,” Owen said. “Small-town living isn’t for everyone and there’s a lot of time and money going into this only to have someone move in and hate country life.”
Glancing at the women chatting in the living room, Aunt Eileen nodded. “Y’all do know that Sandra Lynn is going through a divorce. I hear that moving in with her mother is all she can afford. So far she’s only working part time at the Cut n’ Curl. Cost of housing is going up, even in Tuckers Bluff.”
Several heads turned toward the other room and back before shaking it at their aunt. That would certainly explain why Paxton had yet to meet David’s father. Or why no one had even mentioned him.
“Table’s all ready.” Connor came into the kitchen. “I’ll gather up the kids.”
“Great.” Aunt Eileen smiled. “Dinner’s served,” she announced from the hallway. “Better not let the food get cold.”
Chairs scraped and footsteps clacked against the hardwood floors as the group made their way to the dining room. Heads still together, laughing the way they used to as kids, Grace and Sandra Lynn took their time crossing the living room.
“I need to make sure David washes his hands.” Sandra extricated herself from Grace’s arm.
“Connor’s one step ahead of you,” Aunt Eileen said. “Everyone, take a seat.”
A passel of kids, led by Connor, scurried into the room, heading straight for the children’s table beside the main dining room table. Paxton watched as Sandra hovered over her son, helping him settle in with the other children, reminding him to mind his table manners. Not that Paxton would expect much from kids that age, but the little boy nodded at his mother and promised not to forget.
He could see the struggle in her eyes as she forced herself to back away from the table and join the adults. It must be tough for her to have to uproot herself again and move home. A glimpse of sadness in her expression pricked at his heart. There had to be something more he could do to help them feel truly at home.
Paxton managed to secure the seat across from him for Sandra. It was as close as he could get with Grace sticking to her like glue.
“So now what happens?” Owen asked.
Valerie shrugged. “I guess they start all over. There’s a long list of people in need, the problem is not having someone else backing out again because we’re out in the middle of small-town West Texas.”
Handing a bowl of potatoes to Grace beside her, Sandra looked up. “What’s happening?”
“The people assigned to the new house have backed out.” Aunt Eileen reached for her glass. “Apparently, they don’t want to leave the city.”
Sandra shook her head. “They don’t know what they’re missing.”
“Right.” Grace grinned at Sandra.
“Seriously.” Sandra reached for the salad. “This is a great town and that’s going to be an amazing house.”
“You can see that already?” Paxton turned his gaze to her.
“Of course. The plans are clear and I could see it all coming together as you explained what would go where. And that big backyard is fabulous for raising a family and maybe a dog or two.”
Paxton turned back to Owen, whose gaze had narrowed and the muscle in his jaw twitched which meant his mind was working. No doubt the two men were thinking the same thing. But first, he would have to find out more about Sandra Lynn’s situation. Maybe this would be a way to bring that smile to her face and keep it there.