CHAPTER ONE #3
She checked her watch as she drove on the dusty road toward the ranch.
She promised Debbie, Elaina’s mother, that she would take her to town to run some errands today.
It would take about an hour to get her ready, then she expected a half day in town depending how Debbie’s energy holds out.
She liked to take her for lunch too. It was their time together and she enjoyed it.
She’d do it for free if she could afford it because Debbie was more of a mother to her than her own.
She pinched her lips together and decided not to let those thoughts enter her mind.
Her mother had her reasons for being the way she was, and Elaina would do her best not judge her over it.
She just didn’t need to be a part of it.
When she pulled into the long paved driveway of the ranch house, she could see Debbie sitting on the porch swing waiting for her.
She smiled and waved when she saw her.
Tammy shook her head and smiled back. It was her job to get her up in the morning, yet there she was waiting and she even had her cane. Debbie hated using it, but she did to prevent Tammy’s scolding.
She got out of the car and went up the few steps to the porch. “Let me guess. Elaina?”
“No.”
“Marie?” Marie was the Hartley’s housekeeper and cook. It couldn’t have been Elaina. She was so busy with Zane, her overactive baby, that she barely had time to eat herself. He’d just started walking in the last few weeks.
“No. Believe it or not, I did it myself.” Debbie lifted her chin in pride.
“Impressive.” Tammy lifted a single delicate brow.
“I thought so.”
Tammy chuckled and helped the older woman stand.
She was glad to see Debbie more energetic.
Multiple Sclerosis can go into remission and even show improvement.
Debbie was one of those lucky ones. She’d been in remission for about three years now, and she’d been able to do more things in the past year than previously.
“I enjoy my time with you Tammy. This way I can spend more of it in town having some fun instead of in my room while you help me dress.”
“Either way I enjoy our time too.” Tammy responded genuinely.
Just then Colton came out holding his son who was jabbering a mile a minute in baby talk. He was about ten months old now, and as active as his father. He said a friendly hello to both of them. “Heading to town mum?”
Every time he gave Debbie that endearment she felt her eyes water.
Ever since he married her only child, he’d called her mum, mother, or mom.
He moved her into their house, with her daughter, paid all of their debts, and hired a nurse, Tammy, to help her out.
He treated her as well as he treated everyone in the family and she never felt like a burden to any one of the Hartleys.
She truly felt welcome, and if she had a son, she swears she couldn’t love him more than Colton.
“Are you two heading in for breakfast? We could meet up. I’d like to give Elaina a break.
She’s just about to crack.” His sensual mouth curled up into a smirk.
It was an expression that made him completely irresistible to the opposite sex.
Zane squealed and laughed as if on cue, flailing his arms and legs.
Tammy smiled at him adoringly. “We’d love to meet up with you at the diner. We’ll stop at the post office first though. Debbie likes to go through her mail over breakfast.”
“Sure thing. Forty five minutes then?”
“It’s a date,” Debbie said as Tammy helped her down the steps toward the car.
Once she assisted her in the passenger side, and got in behind the wheel, Debbie spoke again.
“How old are you dear?”
“I’ll be twenty-seven this fall,” she answered without thinking too much about it. It didn’t bother her to talk about her age. She did wonder why she was bringing it up, though.
Debbie nodded toward Colt and his son while she backed the car up. “You need one of those.”
“A baby? Debbie, I would love one, but I have to have a man first unless you believe in Immaculate Conception.” She smiled. “Trust me though, I’m no saint so I don’t see that happening either.”
Debbie threw her head back and laughed. “You have a wicked sense of humor Tammy, but why don’t you just do yourself a favor and ask Lance out?”
Tammy rolled her eyes. “Yes, I’ll do that as soon as I see him again.”
“Be careful dear, I might just make you follow up with that dare.”
She chuckled. “I know you would.”
“And you are a saint. You do nothing but help everyone else. You need to take time for yourself.”
“I’m happy.”
“Are you? Because sometimes people stay busy so they don’t have to think about other things.”
“You are not allowed to be as wise as you are,” Tammy countered not meeting her eyes this time.
“I have a disability, so I have plenty of time to think.” She responded with her own sly smile. “Besides, you have love in your eyes whenever you look at that man, and he’s too stupid to see it.”
Tammy spared her a glance. “Maybe I’m too stupid to tell him.” And scared. She didn’t even bother denying it. Debbie was too smart and there’s no way she could convince her or lie to her and say it wasn’t true. It would be pointless. She knew Debbie wouldn’t say anything, just like Tess and Elaina.
Debbie huffed. “Who am I kidding? Neither one of you are stupid. You’re too darn stubborn, and he’s oblivious of anything that could make him happy. Young people are foolish though.”
Tammy laughed. “You are so right about that.”
A few minutes later Tammy pulled up in front of the town’s post office and retrieved her and Debbie’s mail from their boxes.
She didn’t bother to look through it because they always did that over breakfast. Debbie was also waiting in the car, so she just gathered it together and placed it on Debbie’s lap back before she drove a few blocks down to the diner.
Colton was already there and waved through the window.
Tammy saw Zane standing on his lap putting his chubby fingers on the glass.
He smiled and probably squealed when he saw Tammy help his grandmother out of the car because he started patting the window and became more animated.
He had quite the volume for such a small body, but will probably roar like his father when he hit puberty. Tammy smiled at the thought.
Colton and Elaina created a very beautiful baby boy.
He had grey eyes like his mother, and blonde hair.
More than likely it would darken to Colton’s color when he ages, because Elaina’s hair was ebony.
Yes, Tammy was completely envious. With genes like those two had, Zane was going to be a heartthrob just like his father, just like all the Hartley men.
Tammy aided Debbie into the booth opposite of Colton and Zane and slid in beside her.
“The special is Eggs Benny,” Colt said.
“My favorite.” Debbie said just as the waitress came over set with a high chair and waited until Colt put his son in it.
Then Colt rooted through the baby bag he brought and pulled out several toys placing them in front of his active son. Zane immediately picked one up and chewed on it.
They dismissed the menus and ordered knowing what they wanted.
“So, what are you two wild ones up to today?” Colt asked looking back and forth between the women.
“Just getting a few things in town and Tammy has to work an evening shift later at the hospital.”
He shifted his attention to Tammy while Zane happily played with his toys. “Tammy, life’s passing you by. Elaina worries about you.”
She shrugged. “It’s not like I don’t have a social life.”
“You don’t have a social life. You work too much.”
“We were just discussing that.” Debbie said giving her son in law a knowing look.
“You put him up to it,” Tammy accused with humor seeing the exchange.
She was grateful that Debbie didn’t bring up the conversation about Lance.
However, Colton was his brother, and Elaina knew, so chances are, he also knew.
He was just not saying anything so as not to embarrass her.
She appreciated it because Colt really didn’t care what people thought.
It showed her that he respected her feelings. It was touching.
“Actually, Elaina did,” Colton admitted while giving Debbie a sly look. “Also, she’s right. I don’t think you’ve even dated since you’ve moved here. I know there’s interest in you because I get asked about you a lot.”
She shrugged and was grateful the waitress came back and poured them some coffee. She didn’t want another man in her life especially if she couldn’t devote affection to them. It would also be unfair because her heart belonged elsewhere.
After she left, the other two were quiet, and Tammy looked up to see them both staring at her. She sighed conceding to their interrogation. “I’m fine. I really appreciate the concern but can we leave my love life out of this?”
Colt gave her a dimpled Hartley smile; the smile that could make women swoon if they came within sight of it. She was probably the only female immune to it because there was only one Hartley that could make her do that.
“Tammy, we all care about you, and if it hadn’t been for you, I would not have my son and my beautiful wife.”
Tammy felt her face heat up with embarrassment. “You both just needed a push.”
“I needed a push all right, right off a cliff. I was blind. I should have seen the signs with her. I loved her too much and was hurt by her actions. I should have fought for her.”
She shook her head not wanting to take credit for their union. They were both just stubborn, but were very much in love with one another. “It would have happened eventually. Elaina loved you so much.” There’s that smile again. She felt herself smile in return.
“Yes, but stubborn as sin.”
“I agree,” piped in Debbie. “And she’s my daughter. She was using me as an excuse not to be with Colton because she didn’t think she deserved that type of happiness and that it wouldn’t last. Just like you.”