Chapter 18
Louisiana
I didn’t know why I agreed to this. I’d been contemplating all day about canceling, but part of me was curious.
After talking with Codie, I agreed to have dinner with Issac.
He seemed happily surprised when I said yes after dance class the other night.
Up until today, I was onboard with everything, but then my nerves and doubts started creeping in and I’d been second guessing my decision all day.
“Oh, Mama,” Amy stopped in the doorway. “You look so pretty.” She came into my room and sat on the edge of the bed.
“Thanks, sweetie.” I stared at my reflection in the mirror.
I was wearing a long blue skirt and a white blouse.
It was sleeveless and had tiny blue buttons up the front.
I’d pulled my hair back and tied a blue ribbon around it.
I’d gone very light with my makeup because it was so hot out.
I didn’t want to sweat it all off. Issac had offered to cook, and he invited Amy and me to both come over.
He said the girls could hang out at the barn while we had our dinner.
His trainer, Craig, would watch them and they could eat with his other staff.
“Do you think this is ok?” Amy motioned to her pink top and denim shorts.
“I think it’s fine. Don’t worry if you get dirty.” I laughed lightly. Amy had always been a girlie girl, but Hallie seemed like the type who might bring her out of her shell. I could sense that the two of them together could spell trouble. “Get your things. We need to go so we’re not late.”
I stared for a few more moments before I forced myself to grab my purse and head to my car. This would be fun, and more relaxed if we were eating at his house, right?
Ooooooooo
The drive to Sunlit Acres didn’t take long.
It was beautiful out, and the sun was just starting to sink behind the trees.
I parked in the circular drive, and as soon as I cut the engine, Hallie came rushing out the front door.
“Come on!” she called to Amy as she took off in a sprint toward the barn.
Amy rushed after her, her bag bouncing along on her back.
I stood watching until they disappeared into the barn and then I turned to climb the steps to the front door.
Just as I was raising my hand to knock, it slowly opened.
“Hi.” Issac was standing there in dark jeans and a blue button down with an apron on top.
He stepped back and motioned for me to come in.
“I thought we could eat on the deck. It’s a nice evening.
” He closed the door and led the way into the kitchen, through the back slider and out onto a beautiful wooden deck.
There was a grill off to the side surrounded by an outdoor kitchen, and several benches with green and white cushions on them.
A table was set up with green and white linens and wine was chilling.
“Would you like a glass?” He motioned to the bottle.
“I wasn’t sure if you were a wine drinker and if so, if you’d prefer white or red.
” He picked up the bottle and began to open it.
“This is fine.” I nodded as he poured two glasses and handed me one. I sat down on one of the benches as he moved about the outdoor kitchen. “Do you like to cook?” He seemed at home in the space and very confident in what he was doing.
“When my wife died, I threw myself into taking care of Hallie. I was always the one managing the business, and June was the one doing all the domestic tasks. One night, Hallie requested her favorite dish, Chinese Chicken is what she called it. I tried, but we ended up ordering takeout. I ruined several pans and almost burned the house down. I decided the next day that I was going to take cooking classes. I have staff who cook and clean regularly, but I wanted to be able to cook for my daughter when she requested it. No, I just find it relaxing.” He lifted the grill and flipped what looked like chicken.
As he sliced up vegetables, he turned in my direction. “What about you? Do you enjoy cooking?”
I thought about it for a moment. I wasn’t sure how much I was ready to share.
Issac seemed like he was genuinely interested in me, but I also didn’t want to scare him off.
“When I have time, yes. Between dance classes and working, I don’t have a lot of time.
My mom taught me the basics and I’ve kinda taught myself over the years. ”
“Is your mom a good cook?” He smiled.
“The best. She’s passed down recipes to my sisters and me over the years.
Some of them our kids enjoy, others they ask us not to make, but my mom is used to feeding a table full of farm hands, so she adapted things over the years.
” I sipped the wine as he checked something in the oven.
“My ex-husband never really appreciated everything I did and would often complain about anything and everything that he could blame on me. I don’t cook like I used to because of it, probably. ”
I watched to see what his reaction would be.
He didn’t falter. He didn’t even skip a beat.
“Sounds like he didn’t know what he had.
” He picked up two plates and began filling them with food.
“A marriage is a partnership. He must have not wanted a partner.” He set a plate in front of me and then removed his apron before sitting down.
“This looks delicious.” I placed my napkin in my lap.
“Thank you.” He smiled softly as he cut into his chicken.
I wasn’t sure how much I wanted to talk about Charlie. Those close to me knew the story, and it really wasn’t the rest of the world’s business. “So, Amy tells me you have a horse that’s pregnant? That sounds exciting.” I changed the subject.
“She’s pregnant for now. This is our third try here.
She lost a baby the last time we did this.
Hallie’s a little excited and I don’t have the heart to bring her down.
We’re hoping we get a winner out of this one.
I only have one racing at the moment, and he’s going to be of retirement age soon.
I went and looked at a three-year-old last week and he seemed promising if the owner and I can come to an agreement on price.
There’s a lot that goes into this business.
You probably don’t want to hear about all of it.
” He chuckled. “Hallie says I talk about work too much.”
“I like hearing about it. I’m surrounded by dance and flower shop talk all the time. This is nice.” I laughed lightly. “I might need this recipe. It’s so good.” I stuffed another bite of chicken into my mouth.
“Not a problem.” He nodded as he finished off what was left on his plate. “So, I know you’ve been a dance mom for years and you work at your sister’s flower shop. What else do you like to do? Has drawing always been your thing?” He sat back and crossed one leg over the other as he watched me.
“I always loved to draw as a kid. My sisters and I assumed we’d take over the farm when my dad retired.
My older sister, Codie, has already started working with him.
She’s an accountant. I went to school for communications.
I’ve worked in PR at different capacities since I graduated.
When I got married, my husband wanted me to stay home with Amy, and I did.
I loved it, but when things started falling apart, I took any job I could within the realm of PR to support us.
Carrie happened to need someone to help out in the shop and to come up with ways to drum up business.
I decided it was the perfect fit. When she asked me to paint the mural, it was like dream.
I haven’t had so much fun working in years.
” I shrugged as I wiped my mouth with my napkin.
“It’s good to find what you love.” He nodded as if he truly understood what I was saying. I was trying my best to be honest without dumping too much baggage all at once. I could hear Charlie’s voice in my head telling me that no one else wanted me. I was used goods.
“Feel like taking a walk?” He stood and offered his hand.
“Sure.” I took it and let him lead me over to the stairs that led down to the grassy yard. We walked beside each other in the quiet until we reached the practice track. The crickets were starting to chirp, and there was a soft breeze in the air. The grass tickled where it brushed my ankles.
“This is one of my favorite spots on the farm. I come here some mornings before the sun is even up and just listen. I lean against the railing, and I imagine the sound of hoof beats as a horse barrels into the final turn. Dirt flying up behind it, a jockey poised in the saddle, the crowd erupting as my horse crosses the finish line first. Sometimes I’ll hang back when Craig is breezing one just imagining what could be.
I’ve caught Hallie out here too. I never realized how much of me is in her.
” He shook his head as he pushed away from the rail.
“Growing up, my favorite spot at our farm was the hayfield. Codie and I would climb on the bales before the farmhands would stack them in the loft. I fell off one when I was nine and broke my wrist.” I laughed. “I was like my dad, too.”
“I wondered when I bought this place if I was making a mistake. I could give up racing and live comfortably, but then I’d see Hallie and listen to the way she’d talk to Craig, and I knew I needed to keep the business going to leave her a legacy.
So, Lucky Star is pregnant and if all goes well, we’ll have a champion in a few years.
” He sighed as we started walking again.
We meandered around the property, saving the barn for last. I knew he wanted to show me the horses, but he also knew that adding Hallie and Amy to the mix would take the romance away. “There’s one more place I want to show you before we head down there.” He pointed to the barn.
“Ok,” I followed him as he led me to the edge of the woods. “I’ve been thinking about this since I saw you at the front door.” One side of his mouth curled up as he turned us so my back was to a large tree.
“What’s that?” I looked up. I felt so much like a teenager in that moment. I had countless memories of escaping my parents’ house and rushing into the woods or the hayfield to hide and sneak a kiss with Charlie. There was something about those memories that made this moment strangely awkward.
“This.” He cupped my cheek and leaned in, pressing a light kiss to my lips. I melted. Part of me didn’t want to, but part of me did and that part won. The girl inside me craved attention like this. It had been withheld for so many years, and I’d almost forgotten what it felt like.
His fingers threaded through the hairs at my nape as his mouth slanted over mine. His tongue licked at my lips deepening the kiss, and sighed as I too reached up, cupping the back of his head. The kiss was slow, as if he were taking the time to taste me and enjoy it.
He pulled back, breaking the contact just as my eyes fluttered open. “I’ve wanted to do that since I first saw you at the studio. It was worth the wait.” He grinned.
I swayed on my feet, heady from the kiss. “Yeah.” I giggled like a schoolgirl.
“I’d like to see you again. Maybe you could show me somewhere new?” He bent his knees to look me in the eyes.
“I could do that.” I smiled. “Can we see the barn now?”
“We can see the barn now.” He chuckled as he reached for my hand, and we began walking toward the barn. When we stepped inside, I could hear the girls giggling.
“Anybody in here?” Issac called and both Amy and Hallie came rushing out of a stall, skidding to a stop.
Hallie looked at Amy and both girls were grinning at each other. “I told you!” Hallie hissed as she grabbed Amy’s hands. “Look.” She pointed at us, and I looked down to realize we were still holding hands.
“Are you ok with this?” I asked Amy.
“Yeah. I’m ok with it.” She rushed over and hugged me. “I like him,” she mumbled as she buried her face in my side.
“I’m ok with it, too.” Hallie bounced on her toes.
“Well, ok then,” Issac teased, and we all laughed.
We spent the rest of the evening looking at the horses and exploring the barn, but all I was thinking about was that kiss at the edge of the woods and I kinda wanted to do it again.