Chapter 14
Louisiana
“Come on, let’s go!” I rushed down the stairs of my parents’ house, dragging a duffle and stuffing clothes into it at the same time. “We’re gonna be late,” I warned as I stopped long enough to grab a water out of the fridge.
“I’m coming,” Amy called from the bathroom. She opened the door as she was placing the last hairpin in her bun. “Is it straight?” She turned around and showed me the back of her head.
“Looks good enough to me.” I shrugged as I motioned for her to go ahead. We rushed out to the car, jumped in, and headed for the studio. “Shawn called and said he fixed the air so we can stay at home tonight.” Amy did a little dance in her seat at that.
“Good. I like staying with Grandma, but I like my room the best.” She grinned.
“I feel the same way.” I smiled in the mirror as I rushed along. It was open highway between Sunnybrook and Myers and very few cars were ever on the road.
“You know what’s coming up soon?” Amy giggled and our eyes connected in the mirror.
“I think someone is turning eleven soon. I can’t remember who it is, though.”
“It’s me, Mama!” She pointed at her chest. Her smile faded as she cast her eyes down.
“Do you think Daddy will come see me?” My heart squeezed at hearing her words.
Charlie has had nothing to do with us in almost two years.
He hadn’t even called. I wondered at times if he was ok?
If he was drunk somewhere? If he even thought about us.
It was like, we signed the divorce papers and then he disappeared.
All his protesting and fighting just went away.
“I don’t know, baby. We’re going to have the best day ever, though. I promise.” I watched as her smile came back and she nodded. I’d have to call my parents and see if we could set something up at the farm. There was more room there than at my tiny apartment.
When we reached the studio, Amy jumped out and rushed inside.
I watched as eight little girls dug through bags and slipped ballet slippers on.
When Ms. Rachel came out, they all stood and scurried down the hall.
After they disappeared into a practice room, I took a seat and pulled out my e-reader.
I needed a break to think about anything else because life was just too busy at the moment.
Carrie had given me the day off since I was staying at our parents’ place and I just wanted to escape reality for a few hours.
“This seat taken?” His voice was deep, and when I looked up, he smiled at me. A face with perfect white teeth and full lips stared back at me.
“Uh, no.” I moved over a little to make more room. I was sitting on one of the loveseats that lined the lobby.
“There’s room over here,” Sophie’s mom, Janet, called as she patted a chair as if she were beckoning a dog.
“Thanks—” Issac nodded “—but here is fine.” He sat down beside me and sighed as he relaxed back into the soft cushion. Janet frowned as she went back to playing games on her phone. “I hope you don’t mind.” He glanced over at me.
“Not at all.” I smiled but went back to my book.
“I was wondering if you meant what you said about helping me with the costume?” He leaned closer.
“I think I need help. I almost glued my fingers together last night when Hallie tried to show me what to do. We watched some YouTube videos, but I think my hands are just too big for those little stones.” He chuckled and I couldn’t help it, I laughed.
“Sure. I can help.” I giggled as I tried to hide it. “Do you know where Life in Bloom is?”
“That’s the flower shop right on the outskirts of town, right? I pass by that when I go home.”
“If you want to come by there tomorrow evening, I can meet you and we can do this together.” I smiled. “I finished Amy’s last week, so I have time.”
“That’s great. Thank you.” He seemed to sigh in relief.
“I could help if you need anything else?” Janet butted in.
“I think we’re covered.” Issac smiled back at her.
I couldn’t help but smirk at the brush off she was getting.
I’d known Janet since high school and it was like she needed to prove to herself every time she met a guy that he was into her.
I could tell the fact that he was giving me attention was driving her crazy, but what she didn’t know is, I don’t care.
I was not looking for anyone right now, and I’d made that clear to the last two men who had tried to pick me up.
Dating was not in the cards. I had too much going on in my life right now to worry about that.
Ooooooooo
Issac
I was making a fool of myself. I shouldn’t have told her that I almost glued my fingers together.
I mean, I did but she probably thought I was a complete moron now.
I needed to rethink my wardrobe from now on, too.
Even with being indoors in the AC, my jeans were sticking to me.
I cuffed my shirt and rolled up the sleeves and just as I was getting ready to answer a text, my phone rang.
“Craig, tell me you have good news.” I stood up and headed outside.
It was hot as blazes but I didn’t want to have a conversation in the lobby surrounded by women who were probably hanging on every word.
“Great news, sir.” His voice had a bit of a sing-song sound to it. “She’s pregnant, sir.”
“The vet confirmed this?” My breath hitched. I’d sent Lucky Star out twice now and the first foal, she lost. With her bloodline and Eric’s prized studs, I’d been hoping that this would be a success.
“Just this morning, sir. He said he’d be back out next week to run some blood tests to make sure everything was good, but yeah. I think we’ll have a baby late spring or early summer.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We’ve got to make sure she carries this one to full-term. Go ahead and get the farmhands in the stable to prepare a space for her. I want to keep her contained for a little while and we’ll schedule supervised exercises.”
“Yes, boss.” Craig hung up. I couldn’t help but feel relief.
After last year’s loss of Lucky Star’s foal, I’d been hoping she’d be able to get pregnant again.
This was our second meet up with Eric’s stallion, War Hero.
He’d promised me that it would take, but I’d had my doubts until today.
I stuffed my phone in my pocket as I went back inside.
Class was just letting out as I came through the door.
I noticed Hallie chattering away to Lou’s daughter, Amy.
“Right, Daddy?” She looked up at me all smiles and I had to remind myself to ask her what I was agreeing to before I said yes.
Hallie had a way of making me forget that I could say no.
“I told Amy that you had one of the fastest horses in the world.” She rocked on her feet.
“I don’t know about the world, but he’s pretty fast.” I chuckled.
“Really?” Amy gasped. “Mama? Did you hear that?” Amy slipped out of her ballet slippers and put on a pair of flip flops.
“Maybe you can come see him sometime. We have a racetrack in our back yard,” Hallie boasted.
“A racetrack?” Amy’s eyes went wide.
“It’s a practice track,” I clarified. “We use it for breezing.”
“What’s breezing?” Amy’s nose scrunched up.
“It’s like practice racing.” Hallie shrugged. “Daddy gets other people who have fast horses to bring them out and run against our horses. It gives them practice for the races.” She lifted her bag onto her shoulder. “Daddy, can we get ice cream on the way home?” She looked up at me. “Can we?”
“Sure.” I held out my hand for her. “Um, would you guys like to join us?” I motioned to Amy and Lou.
“I can teach you more about racing,” Hallie offered.
“I don’t know. We have a lot to do today.” Lou was obviously nervous.
“Please, Mama?” Amy stuck her lip out in a pout.
“Ok, fine—” she gave in “—but we can’t stay for long. I have to work this evening, and you need to clean your room.”
“Yay!” Amy fist-pumped and then the girls rushed ahead of us.
Ooooooooo
When we reached the ice cream shop downtown, I parked just a few spaces in front of Lou. The girls rushed inside together as I waited for her. “I’m sorry if I ambushed you with this, Hallie just doesn’t have many friends yet and they seem to really be getting along.”
“It’s fine, I owed her anyway. It’s been a pretty rough week,” she murmured.
“Well, let me make it better with ice cream.” I held the door open and she seemed surprised. “It’s my treat. Get whatever you want,” I told the girls.
“No, you don’t need to pay for us.” Lou started digging in her purse, for what I assume was her wallet.
“Nonsense. I invited you; it’s my treat.” I watched as the girls looked in the coolers of all the different flavors and then began reading the list of sundaes.
“I think I want a strawberry cone,” Amy said very slowly as if she was really thinking about her choice.
“Me too,” Hallie chimed in.
“You should get something different and then we can share,” Amy pointed out.
“Oh, yeah. I’ll get the fudge ripple.” Hallie changed her order. “In a cone.”
“And for the lady?” I turned to Lou. I could tell she was really thinking about what she wanted, and I still wasn’t sure she was going to let me pay.
“I’ll take a chocolate malt.” Her voice was timid.
“A banana split for me with all the fixings.” I rubbed my belly. I didn’t eat lunch today and this was a special treat. I might be training a winner this time next year.
“Coming right up.” The guy behind the counter wrote everything down and then started making our order.
After he handed the girls their cones, they went to sit at a table.
They had their heads together and were whispering about something, but every few seconds I’d hear them laugh, so I knew it couldn’t be too terrible.
“What’s so funny?” I asked after I paid and sat down with them.
“Nothing.” Hallie’s lip pressed together as her cheeks turned rosy.
“Yeah, nothing.” Amy giggled harder.
“Doesn’t sound like nothing,” Lou mused and Amy broke first.
“Sophie’s mom has a crush on you.” She cackled as she pointed at me. “She says that her mom is in love with you. Hallie told her that you didn’t even know her mom and she got really mad at us, but it’s true… right?”
“Daddy, you don’t know her, right?” Hallie snickered.
“I don’t know her.” I shook my head and went back to eating my ice cream. If this was what eleven was like, how was I going to survive the teen years? I rolled my eyes as they laughed more.
“Is she your girlfriend?” Amy giggled.
“No.” I shook my head as I stuffed another bite into my mouth.
“Do you want her to be?” Hallie added.
“No.” I looked over at Lou, who was quietly sipping her malt.
She hadn’t said anything about this whole exchange.
She’d just been enjoying her frozen drink and watching it all transpire.
The more I watched her, the more I wanted to know about her, and I wondered if there was anyone special in her life.
Lou glanced at her watch. “Amy we gotta go.” Her voice broke me out of my trance. “I’ll drop you off at Grandma’s if you don’t want to hang at the shop.”
“Ok.” Amy slowly stood up. “I’ll see you in class.” She waved and walked over to the door where Lou was waiting.
“I’ll stop by the stoning class tomorrow.” I nodded and Lou waved.
“Thanks for the ice cream.” She held up her cup as they stepped outside and disappeared down the sidewalk.