by Jill Kemerer
“Yeah!” Harper yelled. She ran after Noah, who was halfway into his snow pants.
Ivy hung back. Brittany bent to talk to her. “You don’t have to swing if you don’t want to.”
“I never been in a barn.” Worry lines grew between her eyes.
“I think you’ll like it. Do you like kitties?”
“I love kitties.” In a flash, her expression brightened.
“Well, Nan has a bunch of fluffy cats out there. We can pet them.”
“Really? My mama says we can’t have no kitties.”
She rose and put her hand on Ivy’s shoulder. “You can borrow ours today.”
For the next hour, Brittany pushed the three children on the tire swing—they all fit on it at the same time—and let them feed, water and pet the cats to their hearts’ delight. She loved every minute of it, even the times they occasionally squabbled.
All three had distinct personalities. Noah had already cast himself in the role of protector. It was cute watching him puff out his chest. Harper wasn’t going to be outdone by a boy, and she did whatever he did and seemed to love every minute. Ivy was content to just be with them. A quieter girl, she preferred to sit with the cats while Noah and Harper chased each other through the barn, throwing straw in the air.
When they’d had their fill of fun, they trekked back to the house through the snow.
“I like snow.” Ivy bent to scoop some into her gloved hands. “We don’t get it where we live. Look at how sparkly it is.”
“I like it, too, Ivy.” Harper clomped over and kissed Ivy on the cheek. “This is fun.”
The sweet gesture pulled at Brittany’s heart. What precious little girls.
“Are we having cookies now, Miss Bwittany?” Noah reached up to hold her hand through his mittens.
“Yes, we are. And you guys get to help decorate them.”
“We do?”
“Yes.”
“Yay!” They all shrieked and jumped and, laughing, fell into the snow.
“Look, I’m making a snow angel.” Noah waved his arms and legs. The girls imitated him. They stood up and admired their work, then they were off again.
As the children ran ahead of her, Brittany’s feet refused to move. It was if an air horn blasted in her brain.
She wanted kids.
Wanted to be a mother.
She ached to have a husband, a home and children to raise.
Her cell phone rang. She fumbled to see who it was. Hopefully, Mason and Ryder weren’t worried about the kids.
The bank. Her heart jumped to her throat and her palms grew clammy.
“Hello?” She climbed the steps to the back porch and let the kids inside.
“I’m sorry I missed your call the other day, Miss Green. We’re still waiting on information before we’ll have an answer on your line of credit. I didn’t want you to think we forgot about you. Expect a call early next week.”
“Thank you.” She hung up, sliding the phone back into her pocket.
The studio beckoned. If the bank came through, she’d be able to add hardwood floors and mirrors to the rooms in the building she planned on leasing, outfit a small waiting area for the parents, hire more instructors, offer more classes and quit her extra jobs.
She’d finally have made it—she’d finally be successful.
She entered the back door.
“Can you help me get my boot off, Miss Brittany?” Ivy lay on the floor with one leg in the air.
“Of course.” She pulled off the boot and unzipped the girl’s coat. The building here in town popped into her mind, but she dismissed it. Rendezvous was tiny. It would never have enough serious dancers to put a team together.
But then again...
Rendezvous might not have the numbers for an elite dance team, but it had its own charms. Nan. Mason. Noah.
Her mother’s voice rang through her mind. Don’t throw away your dreams for a middle-of-nowhere town.
Don’t worry, Mom. She lined up the boots on the rug. It was only a fantasy.
* * *
He didn’t have a good feeling about this. Mason carried a stack of pizza boxes into his kitchen that night. Trying to be proactive about introducing his in-laws to Ryder, he’d invited Bill, Joanna and Eden over for supper, with Ryder’s blessing. But earlier, when he and Ryder had picked up the kids, his brother had invited Nan and Brittany to join them, too.
Naturally, the kids had grabbed Brittany’s hands and pleaded with her to come until, laughing, she’d agreed. Nan had seemed pleased, as well.
He couldn’t un-invite them. But having Brittany and his in-laws together was bound to be uncomfortable.
“Does anyone want pop?” He set the pizzas on the counter.
“Me, me, me!” the three kids yelled.
“I’ll handle it.” Ryder chuckled. “I’ll get them something without caffeine.”
“Good plan.”
“Is it okay if we come in?” Bill’s voice carried from the foyer.
“Come on in.” Mason pivoted and went down the hall to greet them. Joanna and Eden were taking off their coats.
Bill held up a covered casserole dish. “Joanna’s bacon cheeseburger dip.”
“How did you know I was hungry for it?” He kissed his mother-in-law’s cheek.
“It’s your favorite.” She flushed and handed him a bag of tortilla chips.
“Your appointment go okay?” Mason asked Eden.
“It was fine. No cavities.” She flashed her white teeth. “Sorry I couldn’t watch Noah and the girls for you.”
“Don’t apologize. You have a life, too.”
He didn’t miss her slight frown. Had he said something wrong?
“Why don’t you go back to the kitchen. I’ll introduce you to Ryder.” He waited until they were halfway down the hall before adding, “Nan and Brittany will be here soon.”
Bill shot him a backward glance full of suspicion. Mason busied himself hanging up the coats. He’d just keep the conversation flowing and hope for the best.
“Grandpa!” Noah ran from the living room. “I got cousins!”
“That’s what I hear, Spurs. Where are these young ladies?” Bill let Noah take him by the hand to the living room. Mason followed them.
“That’s Harper, and that’s Ivy.” He pointed to the girls, both lying on their tummies with their chins propped on their hands and their feet kicking behind them as they watched a Christmas cartoon. At the introduction, they rolled over and stood. Ivy hung back while Harper went up to Bill.
“Well, I’ll be.” Bill had his happy grandpa voice on. “You have the purdiest cousins I ever did see, Spurs.”
Both girls giggled.
“What were your names again? Curly and Joe?” He pointed to them.
“No, silly! I’m Harper.” The little girl jammed her thumb into her chest.
“I’m Ivy.” She stared up through shy eyes.
“Delighted to meet you.” He shook their hands. They giggled again.
Mason cleared his throat. “And this is Ryder.” He clapped his hand on Ryder’s shoulder.
Bill’s face went blank and Joanna blinked again and again. Eden had paled.
“I knew it was true...but seeing you together...it’s incredible.” Joanna rushed forward with arms wide-open and hugged Ryder. “You really are twins.”
“Good to meet you.” Bill had recovered and shook Ryder’s hand. “You’ve got cute kids.”
“Thank you. It’s a pleasure to meet you, too, sir.”
“Oh, and this is my sister-in-law, Eden.” Mason nodded to her. “I don’t know what I’d do without her. She takes care of Noah for me while I’m working.”
“Good to meet you, Eden.” Ryder shook her hand.
“You, too.”
Noise fro
m the front porch caught his attention. “That must be Nan. I’ll be right back.”
Mason jogged to the entrance and let them inside. After helping Nan remove her coat, he pointed her to the living room.
Brittany caught his arm. Questions swam in her blue eyes. He had the worst urge to hold her again. Instead, he stiffened.
“Are you sure you want us here?” she asked.
What was he supposed to say? No, but my brother insisted and the kids acted like you’re Mary Poppins and I didn’t want to look like the mean guy.
“Yes.” He hung Nan’s coat up. Brittany was twitching around on her feet as she nibbled her lower lip. He sighed. “Come on, I’ll introduce you.”
His in-laws were cordial to Brittany, but Mason didn’t miss the slight narrowing of Bill’s eyes. At least Eden made an effort to talk to her.
“Let’s eat.” Mason extended his arm to the kitchen.
Everyone got a plate of food and found a place to sit, either at the table or counter.
“You’re Joanie’s daughter, aren’t you?” Bill asked Brittany.
“I am.”
“Staying in these parts long?”
“Just until after Christmas.” She took another bite of her slice of pepperoni. “Did you know my mother well?”
“No.” He grunted. “I knew of her. She was younger than me. Flighty thing.”
“Bill!” Joanna whispered, shocked.
“What?” He acted innocent.
Mason decided it was time to change the subject. “Ryder and I met with a friend of our dad’s today, Jake Simmons.”
“His name doesn’t ring a bell,” Joanna said. “How did it go?”
“Not as well as I’d hoped. He’s a nice man, but he lost touch with our dad after high school. He didn’t have any clues to share about why we were separated.”
“He did give us a shoebox he’d kept,” Ryder said. “There were some pictures of our dad and Jake, ticket stubs from movies and concerts and a small book filled with rodeo stats they recorded every summer. Who knew John Fanning was such a bull-riding buff? Apparently he never got on one himself, though. Jake said John loved crunching numbers. Accounting is my line of work. Uncanny, isn’t it? Although, being out here makes me miss ranching.”
“You used to ranch? I took you for a city boy.” Bill shifted to face Ryder.
“Grew up on a sheep ranch in Montana. All that bare, lonely land—I never thought I’d miss it. But being around people all the time isn’t easy.”
“You can say that again.” Bill chuckled.
“I like being around people.” Brittany looked as if she couldn’t believe the words had come out of her mouth.
“Good thing you’re in California, then,” Bill said.
“Yes, it is,” she said quietly.
Mason watched her. A melancholy air had fallen over her, and, against his will, he wanted to cheer her up, the way he used to. She leaned over and whispered something to Nan. Nan nodded, and Brittany handed her a napkin.
“How long you in town, then, Ryder?” Bill asked.
“A week. We’re leaving next Saturday.”
Eden frowned. “The girls won’t see their mother for Christmas?”
“No, she’s on location.” Ryder’s face hardened.
“On location?” Joanna seemed confused.
“She’s an actress.” His face grew red.
“Oh, anyone we’d know?” Joanna asked.
“Lily Haviland.”
“You’re married to Lily Haviland?” Eden’s jaw scraped the floor. “She’s famous.”
“Don’t I know it,” he said, almost under his breath.
“Mom, she’s the one who plays Rain on Courtroom Crimes and was in that romantic comedy we saw in the theater last summer.”
“Oh, right, the striking brunette with those piercing eyes.” Joanna opened her hands, palms outward. “She’s charismatic.”
“She’s a good actress.” Ryder kept his tone neutral. “We’ve recently divorced.”
“Oh.” An awkward silence fell over the room.
“I signed the papers last month.” His shoulders slumped.
“Well, we’re glad you’re spending Christmas here, with family.” Brittany gave Ryder a sympathetic smile as she stood and threw away her paper plate.
The way she seamlessly shifted the conversation to make Ryder comfortable touched Mason’s heart. He’d forgotten how kind she could be. Or maybe over the years he’d convinced himself she had no good qualities.
He’d been wrong. She had plenty of good qualities.
“I’m done, Daddy.” Ivy held up her paper plate. It had half a slice of pizza on it.
“Can you eat two more bites, pumpkin?”
“I’m full.” She patted her tummy.
“I’m full, too.” Harper’s plate held the crust of her slice.
“Not me. I’m still hungry.” Noah got up to get another piece.
“Let me help you.” Eden scrunched her nose as she smiled at Noah. She set a small piece of pizza on his plate.
He blew her a kiss. “Thanks, Auntie Eden. I love you.”
“I love you, too. And we’re going to have fun tomorrow. It’s Christmas Fest.”
“Christmas Fest!” He turned to the twins. “We’re gonna skate and see Santa and feed reindeer and have hot cocoa and...”
“Christmas Fest?” Ryder rubbed his chin. “Sounds fun. Brittany, you should come with us.”
“Oh, no.” She gave him a tight smile. “I can’t.”
Mason knew she was lying, and although he should have been glad she declined, he couldn’t help wishing she’d said yes.
Less than a week. Just keep it together until after Christmas. Remember your promise? Mia was it for you. Period. Brittany will leave and you’ll forget about her.
But something told him she wouldn’t be so easy to forget.
Chapter Nine
“Why don’t you stroll around and have some fun.” Lois Dern nudged her. Brittany had been sitting at the end of the table for over an hour. Nan sat between Lois and Gretchen Sable, behind the display at the Christmas Fest bake sale located in the rec center. Craft stations and displays of toy trains filled the rest of the space. Lois leaned in. “Christmas Fest is for you young ones. Get out there and go skating.”
“I’m happy here, Lois.”
Gretchen had left a message on the machine last night to remind Nan they were taking a shift selling sweets. Nan had forgotten about it, but she’d wanted to go, so Brittany had driven her here and stayed.
Brittany enjoyed listening to their conversation. Gretchen had spent ten minutes fussing over the way some lady named Betsy from church had taken it upon herself to change the meeting place of the women’s group. And Lois was worried her great-grandchild was going to terrorize her Miniature Schnauzer at Christmas dinner next week. Nan had even added to the conversation here and there. They all clearly cared about each other.
“You’re not going to round up a hunky cowboy sitting here.” Lois fluffed her short white curls. “This is prime hunting ground for finding a fella.”
“She might not want a fella, Lois. She’s a career gal.” Gretchen peered around Nan to Brittany. Brittany had never been referred to as a career gal before, but she supposed it was true. Working three jobs didn’t exactly feel like a career, though. “You should at least go skating even if you’re not looking for a boyfriend. We’re blessed the weather cooperated this year.”
“A pretty thing like her?” Lois said. “She should be able to snatch one of these boys right up. Misty Sandpiper’s got nothing on Nan’s granddaughter.”
“That’s not charitable, Lois.” Gretchen shook her head.
“Well, I guess I’m not charitable, then, am I?” The ladies proceeded to engage in a very intense stare-off.
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“If Judd were here, I’d insist he take you skating, Brittany.” Gretchen wiggled her shoulders as her mouth drew into a thin line. She turned to Lois. “Misty has been sniffing around him again.”
Who in the world was Judd? And she really wanted to catch a glimpse of this Misty Sandpiper.
“Miss Bwittany!” Noah dragged Mason by the hand over to their table. Ryder, the twins and Eden weren’t far behind.
“Hey, guys, are you having fun?” Brittany stood to greet them all. Her heart hammered as she tried not to stare at Mason. The girls came over and hugged her. All three of the kids began talking at once, and she laughed. “One at a time, sillies!”
Harper held up a small bag of gumdrops, and Ivy raved about feeding the reindeer. Noah asked her which cupcake on the table was the best. She pointed him to the triple chocolate one.
“Daddy, can I have a cupcake?” He tugged on Mason’s coat. Mason met her eyes and a flash of awareness rippled over her skin. The man got more handsome every time she saw him.
“So the rumors are true.” Lois stood and smiled at Mason. “You’ve got a twin.”
“I do. This is my brother, Ryder. Ryder, this is Mrs. Dern and Mrs. Sable, and you remember Nan.”
Ryder said hello to them all. They chitchatted for a few minutes while the kids picked out cupcakes.
“We’re going skating.” Noah slipped his little hand in Brittany’s. “I want you to come with us.”
“Me, too!” Harper jumped up, clapping her hands.
“Me, too!” Ivy said.
“Go on, honey.” Lois waved her away.
“I should get Nan home soon.” She didn’t want to insert herself into Mason’s day.
“Ada’s fine. We’re getting a bite to eat after the next shift arrives, and afterward we’ll take her home.”
“I don’t know.” Brittany glanced at Nan. “I think I’ll stay with you.”
“Don’t worry about me.” Nan looked content. And she was in good hands. “Go with Mason.”
Did she even have a choice at this point?
“Guess you’re skating with us.” Mason’s eyes gleamed. Was he happy? Mad? Once upon a time, she’d known him, been able to read him. But now...she wasn’t sure what went on behind those caramel-brown depths.