And Then You Dance

by Heather A Buchman

  “Dadadada,” she said, and opened her mouth to give his cheek one of her special kisses.

  “Do you have everything packed?”

  “Nah, I haven’t even started packin’ Willow’s stuff yet.”

  “Give her to me. I’ll pack her stuff, and you can start loading the truck.”

  He kissed Dottie’s cheek. “Thanks Mama.”

  “Gives me a few more minutes with my little angel.”

  ***

  “Thank you,” Renie said to Jace when they got back to the barn.

  “You’re welcome. I hope it helped.”

  “It did.”

  “I think you figured it out.”

  “I guess I did, but I need time to sort through it all.”

  “I’m a phone call away if you want to talk more.”

  “Thanks Jace.”

  He ran his finger down her cheek. “We both know this is the end of the road for us, other than as friends.”

  She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I’m so glad you feel that way.”

  He didn’t. Or he didn’t want to. But listening to her talk about Billy all afternoon convinced him that even if she decided she wanted to be with him, it would be temporary. Irene loved Billy. All she needed to do was conquer her fears, which may not happen quickly enough for Billy, but it would happen eventually.

  ***

  “This is gonna be our home for a while baby girl,” Billy said the next morning as they drove into town. He stopped by the realtor’s office, signed the final paperwork and picked up the keys.

  “Everything will be finalized tomorrow morning,” she said. It didn’t matter, he had the keys, and he was ready to get his baby girl settled in. There was a lot more happening tomorrow, important things, which he needed to focus on.

  He patted his pocket, as he had every three or four minutes in the last couple of hours. Yep, it was still there.

  He hoped he could get Willow to take a nap so he could unpack the truck. This was one of those times he could use his mama’s help, or anyone’s help. Then it occurred to him. There was someone he knew who understood the position he was in better than anyone else. He couldn’t believe it had taken him this long to realize it.

  ***

  “Hey-o Billy. What’s up?”

  “Hey Livvie. I called to ask your help with somethin’.”

  “Yeah, what’s that? What can I do for you?”

  “Could you come into town?”

  “Which town?”

  “Crested Butte.”

  “You’re here?”

  “Yep.”

  “Sure. Where are you exactly?”

  He gave her the address, and filled her in on some of his plans. She told him she’d be there inside of a half an hour. “Let me find Ben and tell him where I’m going.”

  “Sure. Just don’t mention it to Renie.”

  “Not a word, I promise.”

  “Bold move,” she said when he answered the front door. “Not unlike you though.” She reached out for Willow, who held tighter to her daddy.

  “Oh no, you’ve forgotten me. I haven’t been around enough.” Liv started to tickle Willow who got over her shyness quickly once she heard Liv’s voice.

  “They say they remember voices more than faces.” Willow reached out for Liv who took her from Billy. “Let’s go find something to play with, shall we? Where did your daddy put that bag full of toys I know he brought with him?”

  Willow pointed to a canvas bag sitting in the middle of the living room floor.

  “When does the furniture arrive?” Liv asked.

  “I haven’t gotten that far.”

  “Where are you planning to sleep?”

  “I brought Willow’s travel crib, the one she uses when she’s with my parents, and an air mattress for me.”

  “You go unload the truck, we’ll play, and then your daddy and I will talk. Sound good?”

  Willow started babbling a mile a minute and Billy escaped to unpack the truck.

  “Do you want me to order in food?” Liv asked as he made one of his trips inside with stuff.

  “Sure. That Stash place was good.”

  “Perfect. I know their number by heart.”

  Billy had most of the truck unpacked by the time the food arrived. Luckily the house had a built-in microwave so he could heat up Willow’s baby food, which she had little interest in once she saw what her dad and Liv were eating.

  “I don’t want pizza to become her favorite food,” Billy said, watching her dive into a piece.

  “If it does, she’ll live. Kids crave what they need. Tomorrow she may try to swipe your banana, or dig her fingers into a salad.”

  “Sounds as though you remember a lot about raising a baby.”

  “I do, but I’ve also been reading baby books,” Liv laughed and rubbed her tummy. “It’s been a long, long time since I had a little girl around.” She kissed the top of Willow’s head when she said it.

  “Hoping for another one?”

  “Oh, it doesn’t matter. Ben would say differently. He’s terrified of being a little girl’s daddy. Says he doesn’t know how to do girls. He’ll figure it out if that’s what we have.”

  “Do you want to know ahead of time?”

  “I do, he doesn’t. He says that if it is a girl, he’ll have that much more time to worry.”

  It took another hour before Willow settled down enough to go to sleep. Billy closed the door softly behind him, turned the baby monitor on, and set in on the floor near where Liv was sitting cross-legged.

  “You said you had a lot you wanted to talk to me about.”

  “I do. And it starts with a phone call I got yesterday afternoon.”

  Chapter 20

  “Yeah,” he said when the call came in from a number he didn’t recognize.

  “Patterson? Uh, this is Jace Rice calling.”

  “Jace Rice. Unexpected.”

  “Yeah, I know. But hear me out for a minute before you decide you don’t want to talk to me.”

  “I’m all ears.”

  “Wow,” Liv said when he finished the story.

  “I know, right? Gotta give the guy credit. He cares about Renie.”

  “Obviously,” she shook her head and laughed.

  “What?”

  “I hope I’m having a girl.”

  “Why’s that?” Billy laughed too.

  “Those Rice men have some mighty big huevos, don’t they?”

  “Ha! That’s great Livvie. And yeah, they must.”

  “Seriously though, he made a valid point.”

  “What was it like, raising Renie on your own?”

  “You know, I never thought of it that way. My mom and dad were hugely supportive, and then when they passed away, your parents took us in, so to speak.

  “She made it easy though. She was a good baby, a good little girl, even as a teenager, she never got in any trouble.”

  “Renie’s always been a rock…on the surface.”

  “Until recently anyway. She’s been a bit of a mess lately. Thanks to you.” Liv teased.

  “Thanks a lot. But seriously, I appreciate this.”

  “I know you do. And I’m happy to help. I hope you can get through to her.”

  “Have to. Can’t live without her.”

  Liv’s cell phone rang. “It’s Ben.” She got up to take the call.

  ***

  Billy meant it. He had to get through to Renie because there was no way he could consider a life without her in it. He wanted Willow to grow up in a house full of love, the way he had. And without Renie, it would be half what it should be.

  “I’m heading back to the house now, but I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “You’re sure she’s not working?”

  “Ben called and confirmed it. He also made sure that Will knew not to let her switch shifts with anyone.”

  “Okay, I’ll see you around three tomorrow then. Thanks again Liv.”

  “Make her believe Billy
, and then make her happy.”

  “I’ll do my best, you know I will.”

  She kissed his cheek on the way out the back door.

  Billy filled the air mattress and carried it into the room Willow slept in. He kissed her cheek.

  “Big day tomorrow baby girl. Big day. Most important day of your daddy’s life.”

  He spent most of the night staring at the ceiling, planning the next afternoon over and over in his head.

  ***

  It was almost eleven by the time Renie came upstairs. Liv was a nervous wreck by the time she did.

  “Hey there.”

  “Morning Mom.”

  “How did you sleep?” Liv kissed her daughter’s forehead.

  “Okay.”

  “What’s wrong honey?”

  “The same thing that’s usually wrong. I’ll give you three guesses.”

  “Are they all Billy?”

  “First he drives all the way from Monument to Crested Butte, in what started off as a jealous rage over Jace. Now that he’s back home, he’s uncommunicative. He frustrates the hell out of me.”

  “When’s the last time you talked to him?”

  “I talked to him for a few minutes yesterday. We sent texts back and forth a few minutes ago.”

  “And what’s he saying?”

  “Nothing. He’s busy.”

  “How did you leave things with Jace the other day?”

  “We agreed to be friends. You know, he’s such a good man. I wish things were different.”

  “You do?”

  “No, not different that way. I love Billy, but I don’t know whether it will ever work out between us. I’ll love him forever anyway. It’s not something another man will want to live with.”

  “No, probably not.” Liv sat down at the kitchen table next to where Renie nursed a cup of coffee.

  “Sometimes I feel as though I wasn’t the best mother I could be to you.”

  “Huh? Where is this coming from?”

  “You are so independent. It seemed as though nothing ever bothered you. At least on the surface. I wish I would’ve paid better attention honey.”

  Renie started to laugh.

  “How is that funny?”

  “It’s something I’ve said to Jace. That nothing ever bothers him. He set me straight on that mighty fast. I feel the same way he does.”

  “And how is that?”

  “A lot bothers me.”

  “You’re good at hiding it.”

  “Yep.”

  “Tell me how you’re feeling about Billy and Willow.”

  It took Renie a few minutes to start talking, but when she did, she told her mother about her ride with Jace, and what they talked about. Listening to her daughter, Liv’s respect for Jace Rice increased more by the minute. There was part of her that agreed with Renie, it was too bad things couldn’t be different. Jace was a good man. He’d make someone a great husband someday.

  “That’s why I want to talk to Billy. I want him to know how I feel. Telling Jace about him I realized that I’ve never told Billy those things. And now he’s so…distant. I feel as though we’re never on the same page.”

  Liv hoped the look on her face didn’t give anything away. They were definitely on the same page this time.

  “What are your plans for the rest of the day?”

  “I don’t know.” Renie walked to the window. “Maybe I should drive to Monument and have this out with him once and for all.”

  Oh God, what was Liv supposed to say now? “Uh…I heard there was a storm coming over the pass, I don’t think you should risk it.” Liv hadn’t heard that, but doubted Renie ever listened to weather reports.

  “Seriously Mom, I talk big. Can you imagine me confronting Billy that way? I don’t think so. I do want to talk to him though.”

  Thank goodness, thought Liv. Billy better put his plan into action soon. “Why don’t you go for a ride honey? The fresh air will do you good, and the weather won’t stay this nice much longer.”

  “I think I will, especially if there’s a storm coming in. Thanks Mom.”

  That would buy her time to call Billy and find out what his plan was. She wished they’d talked more about it yesterday.

  “Will you calm down?” Billy said when she called him.

  “I know, I’m a nervous wreck.”

  “She isn’t going anywhere. She’ll take a ride, talk it out with Pooh for a while, then…knowing her, she’ll come in, eat, and then crawl in bed with a book.”

  Liv laughed at how well Billy knew her daughter. That was exactly what she’d do. And then when she least expected it, he’d show up and whisk her away. By then, Liv would be at his new house with Willow. She wished she could send Ben in her place so she could be home when Billy got here.

  ***

  “Your daddy looks so handsome, doesn’t he baby girl?”

  Liv’s level of nervousness earlier was nothing compared to how nervous Billy was now. She didn’t think she’d ever seen him nervous, about anything.

  “Are you gonna be okay?” he asked her.

  “Me? What about you?”

  “It’s the rest of my life Livvie. And your life too, right Willow?” Billy kissed Willow for the hundredth time since Liv had gotten there.

  “She calms you down.”

  “Yep. She’s the only one who does, other than Renie.”

  “It’ll be fine.”

  “I’m hoping for a hell of a lot better than fine Liv.”

  “Yeah, that’s what I meant.” She reached up and kissed his cheek. “Bonne chance!”

  “Thanks, I think. Oh, keep your eye on this one, she took a few steps today.”

  “Billy! Are you kidding? Willow took her first steps today? That’s a huge milestone.”

  “I know it is Liv. Jeez. I got it recorded for Grandma and Grandpa. And you can see it tomorrow if you want to. In fact, I’m sure you’ll see it with your own eyes in a few minutes. If you put her down that is. You can’t be holdin’ her all the time, you’ll spoil her.”

  Liv grinned. She loved seeing Billy as a father. If anyone had asked her years ago what kind of daddy he’d be, she wouldn’t have known what to say. Now, she couldn’t imagine a better dad in the world, except for Ben, of course. He was great with his boys, and would be with their baby too. She rubbed her belly and smiled.

  “Ben’s gone, right?”

  “Yep, he and the boys are at a movie, and they’re going to eat afterwards. Then they’re coming here.”

  “Okay, I gotta get this show on the road. Bye-bye Willow. Daddy loves you so much. Bye Livvie, thanks again for this.” He was out the door before Liv could answer him.

  He pulled the truck over twice on his way to the Rice Ranch. He wished he’d had a drink, but he didn’t want Renie to smell alcohol on his breath. It wouldn’t have helped his nervousness anyway.

  ***

  Renie was getting irritated with Billy. She texted him an hour ago, and he still hadn’t answered her. What the hell was he doing anyway? Maybe he was busy with Willow, and surprisingly, that part of it didn’t irritate her. It made her smile. In fact, she planned to ask him to text her pictures. Maybe they’d even try Facetime tonight. That was if he ever answered her.

  A knock on the door startled her. As much as she didn’t want to crawl out of bed, she had to. Ben and her mom were out with the boys for the afternoon, and she was home alone. She looked in the mirror as she walked past it. It wasn’t a pretty sight; she should take a shower soon.

  She opened the door without looking, and took a step backwards. It was Billy, and she wasn’t sure she’d ever seen him look as good as he did at that moment. She looked him up and down, leaning against the door jam.

  “Hi.”

  “Hi yourself,” he smiled at her.

  God she loved his smile.

  “You gonna invite me in or feast me with your eyes out here on the porch sugar?”

  She remembered another night he said almost those same words
to her. She stepped aside and waved him in.

  “I’ve been texting you.”

  “I know.”

  “You couldn’t have told me you were in town? It would’ve been nice if I had at least taken a shower today,” she laughed. “And look at you cowboy…so handsome.”

  “Why thank you ma’am.” He handed her the daisies he held behind his back. “For you.”

  “Wow. Flowers. Thank you, they’re beautiful. My favorite.”

  “I know they are.”

  “What’s going on Billy? When did you get into town?”

  “We’ll talk about that later. Why don’t you go take a shower and get ready?”

  “Ready for what?”

  “Just get ready. Like you’re goin’ out.”

  “Goin’ out where?”

  “Jesus girl, look at how I’m dressed and figure it out.”

  There he was, the Billy she loved so much. She missed him, his self-assuredness, his cockiness. It was one of her favorite things about him.

  “Don’t want to help me get ready?”

  “Yes I do. But I’m not gonna. We’ll never leave this house if I do and I’ve got plans. So stop temptin’ me and go get ready.”

  “Okay, okay. I’m going,” she walked toward the stairs, but turned around and smiled at him. “I’m so glad you’re here Billy.”

  “Whoo-wee Renie. I told you to quit temptin’ me. You keep smilin’ at me that way…”

  She ran down the stairs before he finished his sentence.

  Billy took a deep breath in when she came upstairs. She had on a dark gray cashmere sweater. She knew he loved it. It was so soft, he loved holding her and sliding his hands up under that sweater. Oh God, he needed to stop thinking about sliding his hands anywhere on her body, or his plans would be shot to shit.

  “You look beautiful,” he said as she stood in front of him. He looked her up and down. She had a tight black skirt on that came just above her knees, black tights and little black ankle boots. She left her hair loose, the way he loved it, down over her shoulders. He could eat her up, she looked so good.

  “Let’s go,” he said, pulling her toward the door. “Do you have a jacket?”

  “Will I need one?”

  “We’ll be out late, so yeah.”