Tristan stared at what was left as the flames died down. Metal framework sat in a heap. Even his mattress burned.
“In two weeks my divorce will be finalized in Florence. I’m doing everything but gettin’ on my knees and begging for sole custody. My lawyer thinks it looks good due to the…” He made quote marks with his fingers, “due to her new, so-called” lifestyle.”
“Well, I’m glad about that part. What’s the court date? I’ll try to go with ya.”
“Sure. It’s the first week of June.” Jase grabbed the hose to spray the coals. When finished he turned off the nozzle and dropped the hose to the ground. “I’m not losing it, Tristan. With summer here now, it’ll be even harder to track her because the kids won’t be in school. Just say a prayer that I get them back. If she lets me see them before our court date, I’m bringing them back no matter what. Screw her.”
“We’re all saying prayers all the time. Don’t get your ass thrown in jail because that won’t look good for you. If ya ever had to walk the walk, now’s the time.” Tristan placed his hand on Jase’s shoulder. “Douse that pile again. You’ll need to take me home—stay for breakfast so we can get busy moving.” Tristan grabbed a shovel and dumped sand on the hot spots. “I know ya never liked that furniture anyway. It was kinda ugly.”
“Yup.”
***
Two days later, Tristan drove Nora to their new house. He came around to open her door. She stepped out, smiling. “I love the adobe-style home. It’s so, so Arizona.” She perused the exterior of the house, appreciating the floor to ceiling windows across the front, facing the Superstitions. “Our home is lovely.”
Tristan’s gaze followed Nora’s hand to her baby bump, but it sure was more than a bump now. When she came closer, he raised his eyes to hers, lifting her into his arms. “Before the rest of the family gets here, I have to do this.”
He carried her to the door, opened it, and stepped inside, continuing to hold her in his arms. “Welcome home.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. He loved when she held him close like that.
“Put me down, so we can look around at the final product.”
Tristan released her. She spun around, her arms out wide as if to hug everything in the house at once. Her eyes were filled with an inner glow.
In a bubbly voice, she said, “I just love it.”
Tristan thrust his fist into the air. It had been his desire to make her happy with this house. Watching her take in every intricate detail, his heart beat a little faster to know she was pleased. “Where do you want to start?”
“Well, anywhere.” She pulled him toward the hallway. “I like that the baby will stay in our room for a few weeks.”
“You’d probably never sleep with him or her in another room, but they say you’ll sleep better.”
She stopped abruptly. “What do they know, anyway? I’m the mom and this is what I’m doing.”
Tristan raised his hands, palms toward her. “Yes, ma’am. I’m not about to argue with a pregnant woman.”
“Wise decision, cowboy.” Upstairs, she went to their room. The finishing touches had been done. Ivory-colored curtains allowed light to filter into the room. Pictures they chose of landmarks around the ranch hung on the walls. Nora stopped at the doorway. Sunshine hit the hardwood floor, making it appear wet with the shine. Her hands went to her chest. She faced Tristan. “It’s ours.”
Using her favorite colors of teal and ivory for the comforter on their queen-size bed, garnered a peaceful warmth within her soul. “Exactly what I wanted.” Their oak dresser sat on a wall by itself, while the matching chest sat opposite, near the entrance to the closet. When she entered, Nora gazed out the two large windows. “A spectacular view in both directions.” She rotated in a circle. “What a wonderful place to wake up to each morning, with you beside me.”
“Daddy, we’re here. Where are you?”
“We’re up here, honey, come on up.” He put his arm around Nora. “Let’s take her to her bedroom.” They met her at the top of the stairs. “Looks like you won’t be able to slide down this banister.”
“That’s okay, Daddy. I will still use Grammy’s.” She turned to Judy. “Right, Grandma?”
“Yes, darlin’. Consider it yours.” She peered down the hallway. “This is lovely. All finished. Picture-perfect.” Judy inhaled. “It smells brand new. Not like my old house.”
“Your house smells like home, Mom.”
“Well, in reality, it’s your house, but I live in it.” Judy put her hand on Tristan’s arm. “Thank you for that.”
“Consider it your home. It was in the first place, anyway. Besides, someday Dane will come back home, and probably take it over.” He chuckled. “I’ll sell it to him.” Tristan winked at Nora, and then directed his attention back to his mom. “Don’t worry, we’ll be there so much you won’t even know we moved out. As long as the office is there, you’re stuck with us.”
“Especially me, Grammy!”
Judy hugged her. “Aw, my little sweetheart, thank you.” She stood. “Let me check this gorgeous home.” Judy took Destiny’s hand. “Your room first. Maybe I’ll come over now to read you a bedtime story.”
“Okey dokie.” Destiny skipped into her room. Most of her furniture from the other house had been moved in except for her bed, which would remain at Judy’s. Her walk-in closet was twice the size. She twirled around. “It looks the same…but different. Ya know?”
“Yes, it does,” said Nora. “It’s still your same bedroom with a new bed, but different views outside.” She crossed the room to the window. “Come here, Destiny. Look at your filly out here. Now you can see them from your bedroom.”
Destiny crawled up on the window seat and looked outside. Both horses stood side by side near the gate. She knocked on the window. “Hi, horsey.”
“It’s about time you name that horse, Destiny. You’ve had her five months.”
“I have too many names, so I can’t decide.” She lifted her arms to her side, habitually wiggling her loose tooth with her tongue.
Tristan laughed to himself. What would he do when his little girl grew up? He crossed the room and stood behind them. “What if we draw the names out of a jar? That’ll be the name. You have to settle with it though,” said Tristan. “I’m tired of this going on so long. How about after dinner?”
“Sure! Let’s do it,” she said, her little head cocked to the side. Her hands were clenched at her chest.
“You guys, turn around for a family picture.” Judy stood with her cell phone camera directed at them. “Such a lovely family, you are.” She clicked then observed the image on her screen, and smiled. “A memory.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Tristan said. “Please get it enlarged—better yet, send it to me. I’ll take care of it for you.”
Judy squinted at her phone screen, her lips pursed in concentration. “Send it to you? I’m not sure I know how.”
“I’ll show you. It’s simple, Grandma.” Destiny peered at Nora. “Can I see my sister’s room?”
“Des…” Tristan said with a frown. “We don’t know if it’s a sister. Now you better get it straight that it can be a boy, a brother.”
“Nope. Not yet.” She stomped against the wood floor when she got off the window seat. “I want a sister.”
Tristan rolled his eyes at her. “Oh, little girl, you’re a stubborn one. Stop acting that way.”
“Come on, sweetie,” said Nora, frowning at Tristan. “We’ll go see the baby’s room.” She lowered her voice. “You get that stubbornness from your daddy, you know.”
“Yep, ma’am.” Destiny grinned at her dad.
Tristan followed, shaking his head, mumbling, “That’s all I need is three females trying to control me.”
Judy slipped her arm around his waist. “Son, maybe you need to make that four.”
“Not you, too.” He stopped her in the hallway, letting Nora and Destiny gain some distance. “I need someone on my side.”
“That’
s what your brothers are for. Y’all don’t remember the torture you three put me through, ganging up on me and your dad with your boy issues.” Judy howled. Leaving him behind, she caught up with Nora as she entered the baby’s room. She glanced over her shoulder at him with a self-satisfied smirk.
“I’m doomed!” Ah, hell, maybe it is a boy.
Chapter 9
The morning of Jase’s divorce arrived. Tristan was up early pacing. Nora refilled her cup, observing him. He wouldn’t settle. “You’re upset. What’s going on?” she asked.
“Antsy, not upset. I don’t know if Jase will be able to control himself in court today. He’s so angry because he hasn’t seen the kids. There’s been no word from Rebecca. He doesn’t even know if she’ll be there today. Damn bitch.” He picked up his cup. “Come on out to the porch with me. He’ll be here any minute.”
“You can’t control Jase’s feelings and anger, Tristan, because you’re not in his shoes.” Nora stretched her back. “Keep me informed, if you can.” They went out the patio door off the kitchen nook and took a seat on the porch swing. “It’ll be a nice day at least.”
Jase came bouncing up the shortcut from Tristan’s barn. Tristan stood and kissed her on the cheek. Nora waved to Jase. “Good luck today.”
“Thanks, Nora. It’ll be tough one to get through.”
Tristan stepped down one step but faced Nora, speaking in a lowered voice. “Maybe I can’t control what he feels, but I sure as hell can keep his ass out of jail. Have a good day, baby. I love you.”
Jase spoke to Tristan when he got in. Before driving off, Jase nodded to Nora. Tristan waved. They drove out the other road toward the ranch road to get to the highway.
I hope it goes well for him. She wasn’t working today. After taking Destiny to Judy’s, she planned on going to check on her mom. It’d been a while since she saw her, but Brody said she wasn’t doing well. Nora told him she’d go. She had talked to her mother two days ago to plan the visit.
Destiny scratched on the screen. “Mornin’, Nora-Mama. Is Daddy gone?”
Destiny stood on the other side of the door, so Nora entered the kitchen. “Yes, with Uncle Jase.” Nora went to the refrigerator, then the cupboard for a glass to pour them both a glass of orange juice. “Remember I’m going to see my mom today. Come outside to the table on the porch.”
Destiny followed. “Is your mom going to be mean to you again?”
She pulled a chair out at the table. Nora brushed Destiny’s hair back and over her shoulders. “I don’t think so, sweetie.”
“I would never be mean to you.” She gave Nora a hug before sitting down.
“You’re a sweet child. I know you wouldn’t.” Nora was almost brought to her knees when Destiny said that. She still remembered the episode at her brother’s. “The last time I saw my mom she was okay.” Okay for her, anyway.
When Nora asked Destiny what she wanted for breakfast, pancakes was no surprise. The idea popped into her head to ask Destiny to go to her mom’s with her. Destiny bounced in her chair, clapping her hands together. Nora enjoyed spending time with Destiny. Maybe she’d take her out for lunch, giving them both a break from their usual routine.
Destiny wiggled her loose tooth with her finger. “Can I go see my horsey now?” She took a big drink of juice and got off the chair.
Nora looked off into the distance. Oh, how she enjoyed the landscape around her home. The views of the mountain were spectacular from the porch. “Let me put some shorts on first. You get our barn boots out of the closet.”
Destiny stood beside her and placed her hand on Nora’s abdomen. “How is my sister or brother?”
It was the first time Destiny referred to the baby as brother. Did she finally accept it might be a boy? It excited Nora when Destiny asked about their baby. She placed her hand on Destiny’s back. “Doing fine. If you hold your hand there a while, you might feel movement. Sometimes your brother or sister kicks hard.”
Destiny peered up at her. “Did I do that, too?”
“Yes, you did. All babies do. That’s a good thing.” At that moment the baby did kick. Destiny giggled and pulled her hand away. Nora smiled. “It’s okay if you put your hand back. Maybe the baby is saying hi to its big sister.”
That made Destiny grin. She put her hand back where it was.
“Sometimes it takes a while, but it’s not always in the same place.”
Destiny’s eyebrows pulled together with a serious expression on her face as she laid her ear against Nora’s belly.
Nora thought the act was so cute. “What are you doing, Destiny?”
She whispered, “Shh. I want to see if she or he talks to me.”
“Our baby can’t talk yet, but I bet it’ll say hi to you as soon as possible. I know you’ll be the best big sister. You can talk to him or her.” Nora patted her back. “Should we get ready to see Dusty Girl now?”
Destiny nodded. “Yep.” She took another sip of juice and took off running toward the mud room.
“I’ll be right there,” she said to Destiny. She called Judy to tell her they were going to the back corral to see the horses. Also, that she’d be taking Destiny to her mom’s with her later. Judy intended to meet them at the corral with a fresh batch of molasses cookies for the horses.
Destiny’s horse, Dusty Girl and Nora’s horse, Midnight Shadow loved them as much as the other horses. At the last minute Nora asked Judy if she’d visit her mom with her. Judy agreed, saying she’d pick them up after breakfast.
***
Nora and Destiny were ready when Judy pulled up in front of the house. When they got into her vehicle, Judy said, “Tristan is right about that road. Sure is bumpy. I thought I was in an old buggy there for a minute.”
“Grandma, you’re funny. Will you put music on?”
“Well, sweet child, I have to see if you’re paying attention to your old granny.” Judy popped a CD into the player.
“Judy, you’re far from old,” said Nora. “Granny yes, old—not at all.”
“Well, I did have Jase when I was barely eighteen. I don’t make a habit out of telling others. Some always give me the look as if I’d done something wrong.”
“In a way I wish I would’ve had this baby sooner, but then again, I’d have to have met Tristan years ago—”
“You could’ve been my real mom,” Destiny said from the back seat.
It shocked Nora to hear Destiny say that. How much did she know about her mom? She’d ask Tristan later tonight. She shifted around to speak to Destiny. “I wish I could’ve been your real mom. But I love you like a real mom would.”
Destiny beamed with pride and kicked her leg in rhythm to the song on the CD, her head soon following suit with nods. “I love you like a real daughter.”
Nora’s throat constricted. The words caught her off guard. Judy patted her hand. She managed to get out, “Thank you honey,” without sounding like a…a pregnant woman filled with uncontrollable hormones.
“Did you grow up in this house, Nora?” Judy asked when they drove onto East 34th.
“I did. After my dad died, the house was paid off, but Mom couldn’t afford to move anyway. After she met Jake that was about it.” Nora wouldn’t go into detail of how her life changed from the moment her father died. All the animosity and jealousy her mom had always felt toward her came out when her dad wasn’t there to take her side. It only got worse as time went on. Thinking these thoughts made Nora question why she even bothered anymore, but regardless, Sandy was her mother and a part of her still loved her. She accepted a long time ago that her mom would never return that love.
“Grammy, Nora’s mama is mean to her sometimes.”
Nora turned to the backseat. “She won’t do that anymore. My mom wasn’t feeling good that day.” There she went again, making excuses. Roxanne reminded her of that when she was here for the wedding. Roxanne would never forget though. She wasn’t about to make excuses or forgive Sandy.
“Okie dokie. Because I wan
ted to hit her.”
“Destiny!” Judy said. “Dear child, we don’t hit others.”
“Sorry, Grandma.” Her voice lowered. “Don’t tell my dad.”
“It’s all right, I won’t.”
She had no idea Destiny had these feelings. The child was fearful. How odd. Kind of how she felt as a youngster. Nora was glad Judy was with her for Destiny’s sake. If she had known how Destiny felt, she wouldn’t have asked her along—yet she was happy to come. “I’m glad you came with us, Judy.”
“Me, too. We’ll catch up on all the gossip.” Judy nodded her head to the music. “It’ll be fun.”
Judy was kinder to her than her own mother. “The house is up here on the right.” When they pulled in the front, Nora leaned forward. “I wonder why she has the house all closed up, I mean the curtains drawn. She never has them drawn in the daytime.”
“Maybe to keep the heat out,” Judy said in her motherly tone.
“I’ll find out.” Nora got out of the car, checked to see if Destiny was unbuckling herself, and headed up to the house while Judy went around to meet Destiny. She picked up two newspapers from the steps on the way to the door. It didn’t look like anyone had been here for a couple days. Nora pulled the squeaky screen door open and knocked. “Mom?” She knocked harder when there was no answer.
Judy waited at the bottom of the steps, still holding Destiny’s hand. Nora pivoted, saying, “She isn’t answering,” and left the porch. “I’ll go around to the back. Maybe she’s on the back porch or in the yard.” Nora trekked back there. She peered in the side garage window. The car was there. Okay, what’s going on? Two days ago, she said she’d be here. She went up the back steps, but the door was closed.
She cupped her hands around her face to look inside. Judy and Destiny came around the side of the house. “I hope she keeps the key in the same place,” Nora said to Judy. She dug into a flower pot. Sure enough, she pulled out a plastic bag holding the key. Some things never change.
Tristan's Destiny, Bonus Book #1.5 Page 10
