by Emmy Eugene
One day at a time. When she’d finalized her divorce and come home to Chestnut Springs, that was how she’d gotten through the days. One at a time. Her mother had been ill, her life shattered. But she’d survived.
Beside her, Seth snored softly, and she looked over at him. Fondness for the man filled her, especially watching him sleep. He seemed so peaceful, so carefree. Oh-so-handsome.
But they’d been at the lake for an hour already, and the cowboy couldn’t just sleep the afternoon away, even if he was a billionaire. Not only that, but he’d get sunburnt if she let him sleep much longer.
“Come on, cowboy,” she said, nudging him. “Time to get up and take me home.”
Seth startled, his eyes flying open. He pulled in a stiff breath, and their eyes met. “Oh, hey, pretty girl.”
“No sweet talking,” she said, giggling. “It’s time to get up. You’ve got work to do.”
He groaned. “I always have work to do.”
“I know.” She didn’t have anything to do, and she actually was going to take a nap. It had been a productive day, but her mind was exhausted with all the circling it had done about Seth. She got to her feet and extended her hand to help him up. He took her hand, but he could’ve just as easily pulled her down as stand himself.
Once he was on his feet, he gathered up the trash and stuffed it all in the Crisp’s bag. He really had eaten those two disgusting sugar cookies. No wonder he’d passed out soon afterward. They walked back to the truck, and Jenna felt like a princess with her cowboy boyfriend at her side.
“What do you need me to do for the Edible Neighborhood?” she asked as he started back toward their neck of the woods.
“Nothing.” He yawned. “I have the flyers on my computer. I’ll just get the dates changed and everything and get them printed. We can deliver them anytime after that.”
“Monday night?”
“Sure,” he said. “Monday night.”
Jenna smiled and looked out the passenger window. Everything with Seth felt so easy. Of course, she knew it wouldn’t be, not forever. She’d felt this level of ease and comfort with Marcus too, and that relationship had ended in disaster.
Sometimes things changed, and sometimes she couldn’t even identify when they had. Only that one morning she’d woken up and found her husband packing a bag.
She buried the thoughts again, because they had no right to stain her present or her future.
“Here we are,” Seth said, easing to a stop in her driveway.
Jenna got out of the truck, a little surprised when Seth did too. Her pulse started blipping through her body, faster and faster. Was he going to kiss her? Could she kiss him?
“So I’ll see you Monday night,” he said as they started climbing the steps to the front door.
“Yeah,” she said. “And you’re volunteering on Tuesday in second grade. The background check cleared, thank goodness.” She gave him a coy smile, pleased when he ducked his head and chuckled.
Everything about this man made her happy, and she reached up and took off his cowboy hat. The world around them stilled. “I could come help with the dog adoptions,” she said. “Oh, we forgot to get bandanas.”
“Let’s go tomorrow,” he said, his voice throaty and hardly his own.
“They’re closed tomorrow,” she said.
“Right.” He swept one arm around her waist and pulled her against him. “We’ll be goin’ to town on Monday night to hand out the flyers. Let’s go then.”
“All right,” she said, wondering if she could come up with an excuse to see him tomorrow too. Her eyes dropped to his mouth, and her nerves frayed when he licked his lips. He leaned down, and Jenna closed her eyes.
Forever seemed to pass, and then everything shattered when Isaac yanked open the front door. She almost fell with how fast Seth let go of her, but Jenna managed to stay on her feet.
“Oh, hey, you two.” Isaac stepped out, right in between them, as if he hadn’t noticed Seth was about to kiss her. “I was just about to call you. I just got beeped in. Emergency surgery.”
“Okay,” she said, her voice too high to be normal.
Isaac obviously heard something, because he paused and looked at her. “Are you okay?” He peered closer, like she was the one who needed the emergency surgery only he could provide.
“I’m fine.”
“How did the meeting go?” He looked at Seth, who wasn’t wearing his cowboy hat and therefore, couldn’t duck his head and hide his face behind it.
“Fine,” Seth said.
“Oh, two fines,” Isaac said. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” Jenna said. “Seth was just going over our schedule for handing out flyers this week, and we were talking about deadlines for answering the vote.” She worked hard not to clear her throat, and she stared at Seth so he wouldn’t contradict her.
Isaac’s phone rang, and he sighed. “I have to go.”
“Yeah, go,” Jenna said, not truly exhaling until he reached the bottom of the steps and started across the lawn to the detached three-car garage.
She looked at Seth. “Sorry about that.” She handed him his hat, and he took it, stuffing it on his head a little too violently.
“So he doesn’t know about us,” Seth said. “And you didn’t want to tell him.”
“It’s not…that…exactly.”
“What is it, exactly?” Seth sounded angry, and Jenna supposed he had every right to be. He’d fielded a phone call from his mother right in front of her, and she couldn’t even tell the only living flesh and blood she had that Seth was her boyfriend.
“I don’t know,” Jenna said honestly. “I just need time to process.”
The muscle in his jaw jumped, but he nodded. “All right. See you Monday.” With that, he practically ran down the steps in his haste to get away from her. He strode toward his truck, no hesitation in his step now.
Jenna hurried inside and around the corner to the window that overlooked the driveway. Peering through the slats in the blinds, she watched Seth get behind the wheel and back out like the devil himself was on his tail.
“Great,” she muttered, collapsing into the nearby armchair. She leaned back, which caused the footrest to come out, and closed her eyes. Maybe after her nap, her mind would’ve had time to process, and she’d know what to tell Seth.
Napping didn’t help her come up with a good reason for why she couldn’t tell her brother about her relationship with Seth. Avoiding Isaac helped, but she hadn’t seen him since he’d run down the steps for that emergency surgery.
He’d texted a couple of times, and he was staying at the hospital for the night.
Sunday dawned, and Jenna got up and made coffee and toast, taking both outside with her as she started her Sabbath Day pilgrimage to the duck pond. She’d given up church in any sort of organized fashion after she’d been told she couldn’t have children. She supposed she was angry with God, but she’d managed to work past most of those feelings.
Her parents were buried near the duck pond, and Jenna had finished her toast by the time she arrived in the small family cemetery. “Hey,” she said to their headstones, and she could almost hear her father return the greeting.
How was your date, baby doll? he’d always ask her when she went out with someone. He’d passed away when she was only twenty-five, and a keen sense of missing traveled through her.
She bent down and brushed a couple of leaves from her mother’s stone, her melancholy mood deepening. She’d been closer to her mother during her adult years, and she whispered, “Miss you, Momma.”
Straightening, she looked away from the graves and drew in a deep breath. With renewed oxygen, she could think more clearly. In the distance, on the other side of the trees, dogs barked.
Seth’s dogs.
Without knowing what she might say, she dialed his number, hoping he’d answer. The line rang and rang, going to voicemail after several times.
She sighed, thinking that’s that.
/> Then she remembered that his mother had called him back immediately, and he’d answered then. “He said it was a mistake,” she told herself and the gently lapping water in the pond.
Maybe he’d make the same one again.
She dialed him again, her eyes pressed closed.
The line picked up mid-ring, and her eyes flew open.
“Do you know what time it is?” he asked.
Nerves fluttered through her bloodstream, but she said, “No. Are you going to tell me you were asleep?”
“Well, no.”
“Good, because I can hear your dogs barking, and I don’t want to think you’d lie to me.”
“Like you’re lying to Isaac?” His challenge made her wince, and then sigh.
“Okay, I have to tell you something. Then you can judge me all you want.”
He sighed too. “I’m not judging you.”
Yes, he was, but Jenna didn’t really blame him. She’d probably be upset if he pretended like they were only friends working on the Edible Neighborhood in front of his brothers.
“Okay,” she said. “Let’s table that for now. Here’s why I’m hesitant to tell Isaac about us.” She sat down on the bench near the pond and looked up into the cloudless sky. “I told him I was thinking about dating again, and he suggested I look for a man at Octoberfest.”
Seth remained quiet, and Jenna had already started the story. No backing out now. “I mentioned how none of you Johnson men are dating, and he laughed.” She could still hear the hilarity in his voice.
“He laughed?”
“Yeah, he said I should look farther than the boy next door.”
“Baby, I’m forty years old. I’m not a boy.”
Jenna smiled, because she remembered thinking that too. “I know. Isaac said he’d text you right then and see if you were interested. Still laughing, like the thought of me and you together was an absolutely ridiculous idea.”
She paused, wondering what Seth thought about that. He didn’t say anything, and Jenna’s heart skipped a beat, then two.
“Do you think it’s a ridiculous idea?” she asked.
“Of course not,” he said without any hesitation.
“So then I asked him if he thought you wouldn’t be interested in me, and he said it wasn’t me, implying it was you.”
“Me,” Seth said.
“Anyway, that’s why I didn’t jump to introduce you as my boyfriend. Not that you need an introduction. You’ve been friends with Seth for decades.”
“Yeah,” he said slowly. “So why would he think the issue was with me? Does he think I’m not good enough for you?”
“I don’t see why he would,” Jenna said. “Even without your newly acquired inheritance, Chestnut Ranch is very successful. Right?”
“I mean, sure,” Seth said. “We’re not hurting or anything. And oh my stars, you should see the truck Russ bought.” His voice hushed on the end of the sentence, and he laughed quietly. “If it had a kitchen, he could live in it. Has Wi-Fi, leather, the works.”
Jenna smiled at the humor in Seth’s tone. “Well, he could always drive through somewhere.”
Seth chuckled. “I’m going to tell him that.”
“So…are we okay?” she asked.
He exhaled, and she could picture his face as the wheels turned in his head. “Yeah, we’re okay,” he said. “I do think maybe I should talk to Isaac. Find out if…I don’t know. Why he’d say that.”
Apprehension danced through Jenna. “I mean, if you want. I’m thirty-seven, so I think I can make my own decisions.”
“Oh, I’m sure you can,” Seth said playfully. “And Jenna? Sorry I jumped to the wrong conclusion.”
“Hey, it happens,” she said. “We can’t all be perfect.” That got him to laugh, and Jenna was glad they were back on good ground. The call ended, and she pocketed her phone, those dogs still chattering on the ranch next door.
Her phone rang, and it was Isaac. She squared her shoulders and started back toward the house. “Hey,” she said after answering the call on the fourth ring.
“Oh, good, you’re awake,” he said. “I’ve been up all night, and I’m wondering what the chances are of you making your delicious steak and eggs for breakfast…I’m on my way home now.”
She started laughing, because Isaac knew how to get her to do things she didn’t want to do. “Fine,” she said. “But I hope you’re not too terribly tired yet. I have something I want to talk to you about while we eat.”
“Oh? What?”
“I’m seeing someone.”
“Already?”
“Yes,” she said, steeling herself. “It’s Seth Johnson, Isaac. We’re dating.”
She took another step, waiting for him to respond. Why couldn’t he?
“Huh,” he finally said.
“Why does that surprise you?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” Isaac said. “I just…you know, when we were younger, I told all those Johnson boys to stay away from you.”
“Well, Seth is forty years old now,” she said. “Same as you, you old man. So I’m pretty sure you don’t get to decide who he dates.”
“Seth’s a good man,” Isaac said. “Good for you two.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” he said. “Now, do I need to stop for anything at the grocery store?”
Jenna laughed, said no, and hung up with her brother. She didn’t need Isaac’s blessing to date Seth. Or kiss him. Or marry him.
Seth was a good man, and she liked and trusted him. So why didn’t Isaac?
Chapter Eleven
Seth pulled out the puffy bag of microwave popcorn and put in a new one. “Okay,” he said, pushing the button. “Popcorn’s almost ready.” Just two more minutes, and he’d pour the caramel over it. Then he and his brothers would have something to eat while they played cards, their long-standing Sunday evening tradition.
They got together at the ranch about six, and Russ always made dinner. Travis always made sure there was plenty to drink in the house. And Seth made sure they had snacks for whatever they were doing. Cards. Board games. Movies.
He loved caramel popcorn, and oatmeal bars, and anything with more sugar than a human should eat.
Laughter erupted from the table where Russ, Travis, Rex, and Griffin sat, and Seth looked over to see what was going on. Rex had not taken their father’s advice to not spend a dime for a year, and he’d arrived with a couple of new toys he was currently showing off with.
“And see,” he said. “It has a homing beacon, so I can find it when I go out to get it.”
Seth arrived at the table and looked over Rex’s shoulder. He held a device in his hand, and the screen showed the wreckage of the remote-control drone he’d bought. Smoke trailed up from it, and Seth shook his head.
“You broke it already.”
“Fixing it is half the fun,” Rex said with a grin. “What have you bought?”
“Nothing,” Seth said, because it was true. The ballots for the Edible Neighborhood wouldn’t go out until tomorrow, and they’d give residents a week to vote anyway. So technically, he hadn’t bought anything. “Thinking about getting some bandanas for the adoptive dogs, though.”
“Dude, you inherited almost three billion dollars,” Rex said with a laugh. “And you’re going to buy dog bandanas?”
“Jenna thinks it’ll help the dogs get adopted faster.”
“Jenna Wright?” Griffin asked. “The girl next door?”
“She’s not a girl,” Seth said. “But yes.”
“He scared her last week,” Travis said. “Or the week before. I don’t remember. Sent her to the hospital.” He chuckled like six stitches in the back of Jenna’s head was funny. Seth knew he wasn’t being malicious or anything. Travis didn’t have a mean bone in his body.
“Yeah,” Seth said, deciding to tell his brothers about Jenna. He was surprised they didn’t know already. His mother had known for longer than twenty-four hours. “And I took her to dinner, and t
hen lunch. We’re seeing each other.”
Silence fell over the kitchen, and Seth looked around at the four people he loved best besides his parents. The microwave beeped, and he turned to get the last bag of popcorn out.
“Wow, you and Jenna Wright,” Russ said. “I guess I should’ve known. You said she was coming for dinner the other night. I just didn’t think it was a date.”
“Well, it was,” Seth said, shaking the popcorn in the bag.
“She’s great,” Russ said. “Good for you. I need to find someone to go out with. I feel trapped on this ranch.”
Seth looked at his brother, because he hadn’t heard Russ talk like that before. Other than Rex, Seth was the only one who’d ever been in a super serious relationship. “Jenna knows tons of women,” he said. “She works at the elementary school. Maybe she can hook you up with someone.”
Russ looked interested, but he shook his head. “Nah. I just need to get out more.” He grinned and said, “Now hurry up with that caramel corn. I’ve been craving it all day.”
Seth rolled his eyes and dumped the popcorn into the bowl. He tapped it against the countertop to get all the old maids to fall to the bottom, then he transferred the popcorn to a new bowl, leaving behind the unpopped kernels.
He poured the caramel sauce over the popcorn as his brothers started talking about Octoberfest, and how they might be able to find someone to date there. Isaac had said the same thing to Jenna, but Seth didn’t get it.
“Why would you be able to find a date at Octoberfest?” he asked. “It’s just a big fair.”
“It’s way more than that,” Rex said. “Sure, it’s a fair. A carnival. Food booths. But they have evening entertainment, and one of their biggest activities is the speed dating. October first, bro.”
“Well, bro,” Seth said sarcastically. “I’ve got a date for the activities at Octoberfest.”
“How do we sign up for the speed dating?” Travis asked, and Seth experienced another round of surprise.
“I can do it,” Rex said, setting aside his drone controls. “Who wants in? Russ, me, Travis… Griffin?”
