“Okay. Come on, Dixie.” They took off across the yard.
Mick lifted his hat and thrust his hand through his hair. “She scared the fire out of me. I was only puttin’ laundry away, and when I came downstairs, she was nowhere to be found. I was afraid she’d fallen into the cow pond or something.”
“I was pretty surprised to see her here. I would have called once I’d finished grilling her, but you beat me to it.”
He met her gaze, and she wished she could smooth away those lines that creased his forehead. “She loves you, you know?”
“And I love her, too. I’d be happy to have her visit or spend the night. And she can always call and talk to me.”
He nodded. “I appreciate that.”
“Have you told her yet? About the custody hearing?”
“No.” He watched Sadie play. “I’m afraid of how she’ll react. But I will. Soon.”
“If I can help in any way, just let me know.”
His attention returned to Christa. “Are you doing all right?”
“Yeah, I’m just fine.” The words tumbled out too quickly. But seeing Mick, the depth of his concern and love for Sadie, only reminded her of what she was missing.
“Good. Don’t hesitate to let me know if you need anything.”
She nodded, then stood there in awkward silence. No more teasing jabs like they’d exchanged even before Sadie came to live with him, no laughter. They were barely friends.
“Let me grab Sadie, and we’ll be out of your way.”
After hugging Sadie goodbye, Christa watched as they climbed into Mick’s truck and drove away, wondering if this was how it was always going to be. Because if it was, she wasn’t sure she could bear it.
Her phone rang and when she looked at the screen, she saw Jade’s name. “Hello.”
“Oh, good. I was afraid you wouldn’t answer.”
“What is it, Jade?”
“The company I told you about seems to have their heart set on you. I told them you weren’t interested, but they insisted I try one more time. Something about third time being a charm.”
As Mick’s truck disappeared into the woods, grief wove its way through Christa. Perhaps the timing of this call was God’s way of telling her it was time to move on. At least in corporate life she’d have plenty of work to bury herself under and she’d never have to feel.
“Tell you what, Jade. I will speak with them, but only by phone or video chat. If they won’t consent to that, then I have no interest.”
“All right. I’ll let you know what they say.”
Returning the phone to her back pocket, she looked from Dixie to the farmhouse she’d painstakingly restored, fulfilling a long-time dream.
Her gaze shifted to the winding road that led to Mick’s camp house. For the briefest of moments, a new dream had ignited. One she’d never imagined. But that dream had been extinguished by a lie. Perhaps it was never meant to be. Yet she wasn’t sure she could live with the daily reminders of what might have been.
Chapter Sixteen
For whatever reason, Bliss Hardware was particularly busy on Friday. Perhaps the spring window display coupled with warmer than usual weather and the promise of a gorgeous weekend had folks eager to shake off their winter blues and move headlong into summer. Christa was not about to complain, though. She just wished she hadn’t scheduled her video interview for this afternoon. She hadn’t stopped all day. Fortunately, her friend Rae had sent over lunch from her café. Someone must have told her how busy things were. It was nice to have somebody anticipate her needs.
Now the sun beat down on her SUV as she made her way home. Trying to stay focused on her interview would be nearly impossible at the store. Way too many distractions and potential interruptions. And after looking over the information Jade had emailed, Christa had determined to give it her full attention. Yes, it would mean leaving Bliss, a place she loved and had come to think of as home, but could she remain here, seeing Mick day after day, sharing fleeting moments with Sadie, always wondering what might have been?
As she approached the drive, she saw Mick on his big tractor and her heart skipped a beat. What was he doing there? And why was he blocking her driveway?
Drawing closer, she noticed that her cattle guard had been removed and he was cleaning out the ditch beneath it that had collected all sorts of dirt and debris.
Hmm... Just like he’d said he would that day she offered to help him with Sadie’s room.
Something about that made her smile, and not only because it meant her flowers and fountain grass would be safe from that brown cow and her wandering ways. Mick was a man of his word. Someone who followed through. Traits she admired. But lying? Not so much.
She parked far enough away to where her vehicle wouldn’t be in his way, then tried to figure out how to get in. It was either leap over the chasm where the cattle guard had once been—which would be nearly impossible given she was not an expert hurdler—or shimmy between the barbed wires on the fence, which she’d seen Mick do plenty of times.
The warm midafternoon sun beat down on her as she moved toward the fence. She slipped one leg between the horizontal wires, bending at the waist to slide her torso through. Simple enough. Until her Bliss Hardware shirt got caught on one of the barbs. She tried to break free, but she only managed to make things worse.
Chagrin heated her cheeks when she saw Mick coming toward her.
“You look like you could use a little help.” He stepped on the lower wire, his boot drawing it to the ground, then freed her shirt, allowing her to pass through.
“Thank you.” Standing on the opposite side of the fence, she couldn’t help noticing his muscular arms, how his biceps tested the sleeves of his gray T-shirt.
“What are you doing home this time of day?”
“I’ve got a video call at two and the store has too many distractions.”
“Must be important.”
Considering it could determine whether or not she stayed in Bliss... “Yeah.” But did she dare tell him she was thinking about leaving? How would he feel about that? And why did she care?
“I, uh—” she pointed toward the house “—I need to run.” She glanced toward the cattle guard. “Thank you for addressing this.”
He lifted a shoulder. “I told you I would.” He touched the brim of his hat then and gave her a nod—something that never failed to set her heart to fluttering.
But she didn’t have time for fluttering of any kind. She hurried toward the house, well aware that she needed to look and behave in a professional manner for this call. So, after letting Dixie outside, she swapped her polo shirt for a blouse, then touched up her makeup and added a hint of color to her lips.
She let Dixie back inside before making her way to the upstairs bedroom that she used as an office, the one that overlooked the driveway. It was a good thing her desk was on the opposite side of the room so she wouldn’t be staring at Mick the whole time.
She’d barely settled into her chair when the call came through. With a deep breath, she answered it on her tablet.
“Christa, it’s good to see you again.”
Her body tensed. Was this some sort of joke? What was Brody doing on the other side of the screen? He’d let his dark hair grow out and had it slicked back. And he was wearing the red power tie she’d given him for his birthday back when she’d been sucked in by his charm. She knew better now.
“So you’re the client who’s had Jade pestering me?”
“You’re the only person I know who enjoys a challenge as much as I do, and I’ve got an opportunity that’s not only perfect for you, it’s one you’re probably going to thank me for.”
As if she’d want to thank him for anything. “What makes you say that?”
“Oh, come on, Christa. You and I were like two peas in a pod. We’re both driven to be the bes
t and make the most money doing it.”
She may be driven, but they were definitely not the same. Unlike Brody, Christa cared about other people and liked helping them make their lives better, not just her own.
“Let’s cut to the chase. Tell me about the company and the position.”
“Drago Web Services offers cloud services that allow companies of any size to run almost everything in the cloud. And our growth—particularly in the area of start-ups—has been faster than projected. I would like to bring you on board as a start-up account manager to help propel the growth of high-potential early, mid-and late-stage start-ups.”
While Christa may not have any interest in Brody, the opportunity he presented thoroughly intrigued her. This was the type of position she’d once dreamed of. Helping start-up businesses build and thrive. It was a challenge she could sink her teeth into and prove to herself what she was capable of.
For the better part of the next hour, she listened, voiced her concerns and asked questions. Starting with location.
“You’d be right here in Austin. Our old stomping grounds.” He paused a moment. “I’ve missed you, Christa. We always did make a good team, and if we were to pair up on this, the sky’s the limit. We’d have everything we always wanted.”
We? As she recalled, his we had really been more of a me. Brody only thought of himself.
And looking at him now, she couldn’t believe she’d actually been interested in him, let alone wanted a future with him. He was still a self-absorbed jerk who’d sell his own mother if he thought it would benefit him. Unlike Mick, who was doing his best to right a little girl’s world that had been turned upside down.
When it came to business, though, Brody had a keen eye for picking winners. And based on what she’d just learned about this company, she couldn’t argue.
“Brody, this sounds like a promising opportunity. But I’m going to need some time to think and pray on it. I’ve been away from that world for almost five years.”
“And I have no doubt you’d snap right back.”
That’s what she was afraid of. But was that what she wanted to do? Was it what God wanted her to do?
“I’ll get back to you soon.” Ending the call, she stood, rubbing her arms as she rounded the desk. She couldn’t believe she was considering this. She’d always been content in Bliss. She loved her store, her farmhouse, the people.
Approaching the window, she saw that Mick had finished. The cattle guard was back in place, and his tractor was gone.
I know you feel like Mick lied to you and that it stings like crazy, but he never set out to hurt you, Christa. Bum’s words replayed in her mind. He didn’t just open his heart to you, he plum gave it away.
She squeezed her eyes shut, wishing she could believe that. Her time with Mick and Sadie had filled parts of her she wasn’t even aware were there, and for a brief moment, she’d felt loved.
But those times were over. Her idyllic life had evaporated.
Peering out the window again, she found herself faced with a choice. Stay and live with the constant reminders of what she’d lost, or return to her former life and lose herself in her work.
* * *
Mick stared out the open window of his truck as he waited in the line of vehicles slowly inching their way toward the elementary school for student pick-up Friday afternoon. A warm breeze sifted through an ancient live oak on the playground, sending its spent leaves drifting aimlessly toward the ground as new buds pushed forth.
Watching Christa walk away earlier today had him realizing that he’d lost everyone he’d ever loved. His parents, Jen and Kyle, Christa. All he had left was Sadie, and if he lost her—
No! He could not think that way. Sadie deserved to be in a home where she was loved and wanted. Not treated as a possession the Sandersons paid no mind to unless it was convenient for them. He had to fight to make sure Jen and Kyle’s wishes were upheld.
Taking his foot off the brake, he kept an eye on the sedan in front of him as he rolled forward. The hearing was less than a week away, and he had yet to mention anything to Sadie. He sure wished Christa could be there to help him. To fill in the blanks or smooth things over when he said something that wasn’t quite right.
He scrubbed a hand over his face. Man, he missed her. They’d made a good team, though she was definitely the better half.
Some country breakup song started on the radio, and he promptly turned it off. He didn’t need to feel lower than he already did. Seeing Christa today had been as tough as it was unexpected. If she hadn’t gotten caught on that fence, he would have stayed on his tractor where he couldn’t see the hurt in her pretty hazel eyes or be tormented by her apple-scented shampoo. Instead, he was left longing to hold her, trying to play it cool and pretend he was fine with being only friends.
What was she doing there in the middle of the day anyway? Something about a video call. If it pertained to store business, wouldn’t she have wanted to do that at the store, regardless of distractions?
Lord, I miss her so much. I never meant to hurt Christa. God, I’d give just about anything to have another chance with her, but that may not be a part of Your plan. If that’s the case, then help me to accept it. But if it’s not, if Christa is the one for me, show me what to do.
Once he had Sadie, the two of them made their weekly run to the grocery store. And just like every other time, when they were finished, the amount of items in their bags far exceeded what had been on his list. One of these days he’d have to stop being such a pushover where his niece was concerned.
When they arrived back at the ranch, he heard Sadie sigh behind him as they passed Christa’s place.
“I bet Dixie misses me.”
He eyed her in the rearview mirror as he veered off toward the camp house. “I’m sure she does, princess.”
After hauling the groceries inside, he stood at the island to unload them.
Perched atop the opposite side of the counter, Sadie munched on her fruit snacks. “How come Miss Christa doesn’t come over anymore?”
His chest tightened. “We talked about this, Sadie. Miss Christa and I had an argument.”
She ignored her treat long enough to send him a look that said she was on to him. “You fighted.”
Taking a bunch of bananas from a bag, he chuckled. “Yeah, sort of.” He set them by the window over the sink.
“How come?”
Finding a way to explain adult things to a five-year-old was always a challenge for him, but he was getting better. “Well, there was something I should have done that I didn’t. And when she found out, it made her very sad. She felt like she couldn’t trust me anymore.”
Sadie tilted her little head, looking at him as though she was truly trying to wrap her brain around this conversation. Then again, she probably was, because she really missed Christa. “Why don’t you just tell her you’re sorry?”
“I did.” Putting the eggs and bacon in the refrigerator, he continued. “But she was pretty angry with me. So she doesn’t want to be around me much anymore. However—” closing the door, he returned to the island and met her gaze, wanting her to understand “—she still loves you just as much as she did before.”
Without missing a beat, she asked, “Does she love you?”
He wished. “I don’t think so, Sadie.”
She wadded up the empty wrapper and handed it to him. “Do you love her?”
Did the kid know how to go for the jugular or what? “Yeah, I do. A lot.”
She fell silent as he moved the canned goods and numerous boxes of mac and cheese to the cupboard. Finally, “Uncle Mickey?”
“Yeah?” He watched her as he gathered up the empty grocery bags.
“Do you want to marry Miss Christa?”
Oh, to live in a world where life was so simple. “Well, I never thought about—wait, that’s not tru
e. I have thought about it a time or two.”
“So... Do you want to marry her?”
He had to laugh. “Yes, all right. I want to marry Miss Christa.”
“Good, cuz I want you to marry her, too.”
He lifted her off the counter and set her feet on the floor he still hoped to replace. “Oh, you do, huh?”
“Yes.” She gave one firm nod. “You hafta ask her.”
He stared down at her. “Princess, it’s not that simple.”
“Yes, it is. You getted a ring, you tell her you love her so much—” she threw her arms wide “—then she says yes, and you live happily-eber-after.” She sighed, holding her hands against her chest. “It’s like a dream come true.”
Shaking his head, he said, “Now where did you hear that?”
She frowned up at him. “Everybody says it, Uncle Mickey.”
“Oh, they do, huh?” A dream come true. He froze. “Sadie, I think you might be on to something.”
“What?”
“A dream come true.”
Her hand went to her hip. “That’s what I said.”
He lifted her into his arms. “Sadie, I don’t know if Miss Christa will marry me or not, but I think I can make her dream come true.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Okay.” She nodded. “Let’s do it.”
Chapter Seventeen
“You’re leaving us?” Laurel’s eyes were wide, as were Rae’s and Paisley’s as they stared at Christa across her desk at Bliss Hardware Saturday afternoon.
Leaning back in her office chair, she gulped. “Come on, guys. I’ve been offered an amazing opportunity.”
“I thought you hated corporate life.” Rae crossed her arms over her chest, her blue eyes boring into Christa.
“This will give me a chance to help others build their businesses.”
“Yeah, so they can become cutthroat jerks.” Her favorite barista huffed.
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