Chapter 16
CAMILLE
Lizzy returned late last night, and Adam picked us up just after lunch for our first horseback riding experience. And oh, boy, is it an experience. Practiced riders make it look so easy. It’s anything but easy.
Adam leads us along a relatively flat trail that borders the creek between his family’s property and the neighboring vineyard.
It’s some of the most beautiful scenery I’ve ever seen.
The creek is shallow and wide with large rocks and trees along its border.
But the real beauty is the mountains. The entire ride feels like something out of a Thomas Kinkade painting.
Especially the way the snow and the brightness of the sun creates a softness that blends the landscape into a picturesque view.
As much as I enjoy the views, I’m glad when we make our way back to the barn.
When I slide down the side of the horse and my feet hit the ground, I almost fall. My legs feel like noodles, and my thighs ache like I tried my hand at squatting with hundred-pound weights.
Adam is right behind me to catch me. “I gotcha. You okay?”
“I will be. I’m going to be sore, though. I’m not as young as I used to be, and I’m going to pay for this, unlike that one.” I point at Lizzy, who seems perfectly fine.
“We’ll get you some wine at dinner, and then a hot bath when you get home.” Adam kisses the top of my head and takes the reins of the horse I was riding. I turn to Lizzy. She’s petting the horse's face and talking quietly in her ear.
“Did you have fun?” I ask.
“I did. I’m so glad Adam invited us over to do this. It was wonderful.” Her smile lights up her entire face. We’ve found so little to smile about these past two years, and seeing her this happy makes my day.
“I’m glad. You really took to it, unlike me. I may not be able to walk tomorrow.” I laugh. I figure it’s better to poke fun at myself rather than focus on the pain that’s already taking up residence in my body.
“You did great too, Mom. You need to give yourself a little more credit.” She holds onto the reins with one hand as she wraps her arm around my shoulder with the other.
“Maybe so.” I shrug. “But I did this for you, not me.” I squeeze her arm and rest my head on her shoulder.
“Thanks.” She lets out a slow breath and looks at me out of the corner of her eye. “So, you and Adam, huh?”
“Me and Adam, what?” I know what she’s hinting at, but I need to hear her say it. She seems fine with us, but I need to know for sure.
“You know what. I see the way you two keep looking at each other. And I saw the kiss he dropped on you before he went into the barn. Something finally happened between you two while I was gone, didn’t it?”
I wince at the thought of telling my daughter what actually happened. We’re close, but not that close. “I don’t think I’m comfortable talking to you about this. I mean, he’s not your … well, you know. Ever since your da—”
“Mom.” She cuts me off. “It’s okay. I like Adam. Maybe he’s exactly what you need. You know, to find happiness after Daddy.”
“So, you’re okay with me seeing Adam?”
She shrugs, and I see a hint of doubt in her expression. “I don’t know, maybe. I really like him. I do. Honestly, I want to see you happy. And I know for a fact he’s very sweet on you.”
“Sweet on me?” I chuckle. “Since when did you start talking like your grandmother?”
“Since my mom started dating a hot architect from Montana.”
“Hot?”
“Oh, please. You know damn well Adam is hot. Between that sexy salt and pepper beard and tight ass. He’s quite the looker.”
“Lizzy!” My jaw drops. I’m not sure how to think about the way she just described Adam.
She rolls her eyes and shakes her head. “Come on, Mom. Don’t be a prude.”
“I’m not a prude. I just don’t think I’m comfortable hearing you talk about the man I’m seeing like that.”
“So, you admit you’re seeing Adam?” She waggles her brows with a smirk.
I want to deny it, but it’s useless. I am seeing Adam, and he makes me happy. I might as well own it. Especially with my daughter. “Yes. I think I am.”
A huge smile covers her face, and she hugs me tight. “Good. As long as he makes you happy.”
Adam’s family may be small, but they make enough noise for an army.
When we walk in from the barn, his two brothers are ragging on each other about something.
There’s another young man about the same age as Joe sitting in a stool at the center island, watching them like it’s the best entertainment ever, while his mom is in the kitchen yelling at them to quiet down.
Adam clears his throat, and the room falls silent. All eyes are on us. The way everyone looks at us makes it feel like our presence is unexpected. I lean over to Adam and whisper, “You told them we were coming, right?”
He nods and places his hand on my lower back to lead me the rest of the way into the kitchen. Lizzy follows behind us.
“Momma, you remember Camille.” He steps toward his momma and kisses her cheek.
“Of course, I do.” Her face beams with joy. “I’m so glad you made it. It sure took Adam long enough to invite you over. I’ve been dying to get to know you better.”
She pulls me in for a hug and holds me tight.
It throws me off. I’m not used to getting hugs like this.
It’s the kind of hug a mom would give a child, not much different than how I hug Lizzy.
But I’ve never gotten a hug like this from my mother.
It’s nice, and I could get used to it. “Thanks so much for having me.”
“Anytime. I’d love to have you over more.” She steps back and smiles when her eyes catch a glimpse of Lizzy. “Well, who is this beauty behind you?”
“This is my daughter, Lizzy. She’s visiting from Georgia for a couple weeks. I hope you don’t mind that we brought her along?”
“Would I mind,” she scoffs. “Never. The more, the merrier at our house.” Rosie walks past me and pulls Lizzy into the same hug I just received.
Lizzy is a little stiff at first, but she quickly relaxes and welcomes Rosie’s embrace.
Sadly, in addition to my parents, Mark’s parents aren’t huggers either.
Both our families are what I’d call prim and proper, old-fashioned southern folks.
Hugging and affection are not words they understand.
In the twenty-seven years I was married to Mark, a scene like this never unfolded at either of our parents’ homes.
Rosie looks between Lizzy and me with her hands on her hips. “I do declare, she’s the spitting image of you. Both of you are such lovely, beautiful women. How’d my Adam get so lucky finding you?”
“Momma,” Adam groans. “Don’t start.”
“Start what?” She frowns. “I’m just pointing out the obvious.”
I shoot Adam what I hope is a comforting smile, letting him know it’s okay. I can tell he’s still worried that I’ll change my mind and push him away. I don’t know how things are going to turn out between us, but I do know that I want him in my life.
I hold out the container I brought with us to give it to Rosie. “I didn’t know what you planned for dinner, but I hope you don’t mind, I made a dessert.”
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know, but my grandmother taught me to never show up to a dinner invite without bringing a dish. I figured a dessert was safe.”
“I think I would like your grandmother very much.” She leans in for another hug. “Thank you so much.”
Rosie walks back toward the oven, setting the pie I made on the center island.
“Camille, you’ve met my brothers, Matt and Joe. This is Sam. He manages the day-to-day operations of the ranch.”
“Hi, Sam. It’s nice to meet you.” I hold my hand out for a shake.
“Ma’am.” He nods.
“And this here is Lizzy.” Adam reaches for Lizzy and pulls her in for a hug. “Camille’s daughter. Lizzy, this is most of my crazy family. Where’s Leann and Emmie?”
“We’re right here.” A young woman calls from behind us. I turn toward the sound of her voice and am hit with a younger version of Rosie. Same infectious smile, same bright green eyes, and same dark red hair. “We were upstairs painting our nails.”
“Uncle Adam!” The little dark haired girl bounces through the kitchen and right into Adam’s arms. She wraps her arms around his neck and hugs him for dear life with the biggest smile on her face. Then she pulls back and plants a wet kiss on his cheek. “I missed you!”
It’s the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen.
“I’ve missed you too, munchkin.” Adam boops her on the nose and looks at her with the most caring smile on his face, and I swear my ovaries flip.
If I could still have kids, this is a sight that would make me want to procreate with this man.
There’s something about seeing a grown, strong man like Adam melt because of a little girl like Emmie.
“Did your daddy get you that horse yet?”
“Adam.” Matt warns with a pointed stare.
“No.” Emmie frowns. “He says I’m still too young. But I’m four now, and I can ride real good.”
“Well, I guess you’re just going to have to keep growing, aren’t you?” Adam hugs her closer. “Keep working on your riding skills, and your daddy will have no choice but to give in.”
“I will!” Her face lights up at the prospect of getting her own horse.
“Let me introduce you and your Aunt Leann to friends of mine. Emmie, this is Camille and her daughter, Lizzy.”
“Hi.” Emmie’s smile turns shy, and she buries her face in Adam’s chest. This girl is too cute for words.
“It’s very nice to meet you.” I smile. “I love your pink dress. Pink is my favorite color.”
She perks up at that. “Mine too. I have a pink and purple room. Daddy doesn’t like it, though. He says pink is for girls.”
“Nonsense,” I say. “A man who’s comfortable with his manhood would wear pink with pride.”
Her face beams as she looks up at Adam. “Is that why you let me paint your nails, Uncle Adam?”
“That’s right. Unlike your daddy, my confidence in my manhood is completely intact.”
Matt groans and rolls his eyes. “Will you stop encouraging her?”
“Never.” Adam’s smile grows. He leans in and kisses Emmie on the cheek before he continues, “This little munchkin is my ticket to torturing you. I’ll never give that up.”
“All right, you guys.” Rosie calls from her place in the kitchen. “Dinner’s ready, so make your way to the dining room.”
We head into the next room, everyone taking their seats. Adam pulls out a chair for both Lizzy and me before taking the seat next to mine. He’s still holding Emmie when Matt reaches over for her, but Emmie buries herself into his arms.
“Come on, Emmie,” Matt says. “Sit over here by me, and let your uncle eat in peace.”
“I wanna sit with him,” she pouts.
“It’s okay, Matt. She can sit here.” Adam turns her around on his leg and scoots his plate to the side, making room for another one. “We’ll be fine just like this. Won’t we, munchkin?”
“Yep.” Emmie nods with a grin.
I’m already falling for this man, but now my heart latches onto him in a way I’m not sure it will ever want to let go.
Seeing Adam like this with his niece reminds me of how Mark was with Lizzy.
That memory should make me happy, but it doesn’t.
I’m suddenly more terrified than I’ve been in a really long time.
Losing a loved one was the most painful experience of my life.
I’ve grown so attached to Adam these past few months. What if this doesn’t work out? I'm not sure I can survive another loss like that.