by Ava Walsh
“I want cheese and apple pie,” Logan replied and Lance laughed. He told me to follow him and opened the heavy door for me before we walked inside.
“Well, if it isn’t my favorite boys in this town.” A blonde woman looked up from the register, and her face was soft and wrinkled. She smiled warmly. “Who is this pretty friend of yours?”
“Mabel, this is Brie. She’s Irene’s niece from New York and she’s helping me with Logan. Brie, this is Mabel. She’s run this place for years along with her family,” Lance introduced us.
Mabel stepped away from behind the counter and shook my hand, smiling curiously at me. “You do look like Irene and Sarah. I see the family resemblance. Are you here to stay, Brie?” Mabel asked, and I nodded slowly. “How do you like our little town compared to that big city that you came from?”
“I was in Brooklyn, so there are some similarities. People are far politer here, though.” That earned me a broad smile from Mabel. “I hear that you have good burgers.”
“So they say,” Mabel drawled as she looked over the room, a quarter full of customers. “Where would you like to sit today?”
“There,” Logan said as he pointed across the restaurant. Mabel walked us over to a corner booth and set up a booster seat for Logan before she asked for our drink order. Lance had asked for milk for Logan before he looked at me.
“I’d love a Coke or Pepsi,” I replied as she nodded and asked Lance if he wanted the usual. He nodded and she headed to the back. I looked around. “I like this place.”
“It’s like home to me. I’ve been coming here since I was little, and now Logan is doing the same. It’s a great tradition.” Lance smiled, and I saw the happiness in his face. Life here revolved around family and tradition. I felt like I missed out on that sometimes, as loving as my mother had been. She was just kind of scattered sometimes. I could see the difference between her and her sister.
“I think that I’d like a tradition like this,” I murmured. He looked across the table at me.
“You’re young and starting over. You can have anything that you want,” Lance told me. I felt my cheeks warm. He noticed my age, and it hit me that I was just his nanny, which is how it should be. I just wondered what it would be like to be one of his traditions. “You’re welcome at the ranch as long as you want to stay. It’s like a family there.”
“I can see that,” I replied. I glanced at him before looking at Logan. He was coloring on his placemat with a little box of crayons and a huge smile on his face. In New York, a lot of the places had tablets on the table, and this was refreshing and innocent to me. My mom had always encouraged me to embrace technology but to welcome creativity into my life as well. Logan embodied that lifestyle with his simple drawing and crayons. I thought of her with a soft smile.
“What are you thinking about?” Lance asked me as I blinked at him.
“My mom was an artist among other things. She had a lot of talent but so did people around us. Mom worked three jobs, one of which was at the gallery where she showed her paintings. I can’t help but think of myself watching him coloring like that. That’s all that I did as a kid.” I looked at Logan and he grinned at me.
“Logan liked you a lot from the start. You two seem to get along great.” Lance sipped his sweet tea and looked up. “Mabel’s headed this way. Do you know what you want?”
I hadn’t looked at the menu, but I didn’t have to. “How are the bacon cheeseburgers here?”
“Copycat,” Lance teased me as she stopped by the table and looked us over. He ordered two of them and a grilled cheese with fries for Logan. Mabel assured us that she’d bring it soon and I settled back against the worn cushion of the bench seat and stretched.
Our meals were brought over quickly. The burger looked fantastic. I tried to eat healthy to drop the extra twenty or so pounds that I was carrying around but sometimes a girl just needed bacon and cheese in her life. I dug into it with gusto. Lance laughed at me as I moaned at the first bite. I thought I saw something in his eyes when I looked up, but he directed his gaze towards his plate as he reached for his own sandwich. We ate in silence for a few minutes while Logan chattered about his lunch. I watched him as I tried to eat slower. Lance looked at him every moment that he could. I sensed that he had a fear of losing his son deep inside. Was it because his family was gone? Was it because Logan’s mother left them?
We finished our meal slowly and I pushed my plate away with a long groan. “So good,” I said. Lance laughed.
“We always split a piece of apple pie a la mode,” he said as my stomach protested the large meal. “Want to share?”
“A bite. Any more and I’ll die,” I said. He nodded at Mabel. “How often do you guys eat here?”
“I’d say once a week. It gives us a break from the ranch and some time alone. We eat well and bond with Mabel here. It’s nice,” Lance replied as he looked around the room.
“You’re there a lot, aren’t you? The ranch?”
“Well, when my father passed away I had a new baby. I needed to do something to support him, and the ranch was successful. It was what I knew, so I made it my permanent home. I have a great staff to assist me and now a good nanny. The others weren’t that great and always leaving. I want someone that Logan bonds with,” Lance said. I smiled. “I think that’s you.”
“Thanks. I hope so.”
We talked about the college studies I was planning on as he paid the bill (at my protest) and went out to the car. He secured Logan and showed me around town before winding back to the ranch. Logan was quiet in the back. I turned my head to see him sleeping soundly.
“Time for bed?” I asked Lance. He smiled and nodded before giving me a look. “Why did you take me to the room last night? Your couch is really comfortable.”
“I wanted you comfortable, and I was nursing some wounds. I just wanted to sit in front of the TV and drink, as you saw. Thanks for cleaning that up.” I nodded. “He’s young and wouldn’t get it, but I want to set a better example for Logan.”
“Want to talk about it?” I asked as he stopped at a sign and looked at me.
Chapter Eight
“I don’t know you well enough to dump my drama in your lap,” Lance said as he pulled forward with a hard press on the gas pedal.
“You can, though. I’m a good listener,” I offered, seeing the pain on his face. “It’s okay to let go.”
“Were you able to when your mom died?” Lance asked me. I pressed my lips together.
“I had friends there that helped me through it, though they were all missing her as well. I had support, though.” I shrugged. “I think it’s a process, personally. Did you find that?”
“In a few ways, yes,” Lance admitted as he pulled into the driveway. “You have a day off. What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know,” I admitted as he parked in front of the house. “I might sleep this meal off for a bit. I might spend some time with Irene.”
“I’ll make you a deal. If you’re up, meet me by the pond later and we can check out some stars. I remember a few of the constellations from astronomy class. We can go back to the house and have some coffee on the porch a little closer to Logan.”
“That sounds great,” I told him as I opened the door slowly. “I might see you later.” I smiled as I slipped out of the cab and walked over to the house with my stuff in my hand. I wondered if Lance wanted to talk about what was bothering him. I wondered if he did this kind of thing with girls at all since his breakup.
I walked through the front door to find Irene and the family lounging in the living room watching television.
“Hi, Brie. Last night ran late, huh?”
“I fell asleep and he didn’t wake me up,” I replied. “We went into town for lunch with Logan.”
“Mabel’s?” Michael asked as he stroked Irene’s hair. He grinned at me. “Everyone loves it there, but he’s been going since he was a kid. Mabel’s nice, isn’t she?”
“Very. So warm. The
burger was amazing,” I told them as I took a seat on the recliner and stretched out. “This feels so good. Logan gets up at six. Do you know how much energy he has when he first wakes up?”
“I can imagine.” Irene laughed as she looked at me.
“How does he do that on his own all of the time and work so hard? Has Lance had nobody in his life since Logan’s mom left?” I asked in a tired voice, waiting for the answer with my eyes closed.
“Lance isn’t a casual kind of guy,” Irene explained carefully as I pretended to relax. “If he’s dated, he’s kept it away from the ranch and Logan. I don’t think he’ll introduce a woman to him until he’s serious about her.” Irene paused. “I’m almost surprised that he hired you so quickly, but Kathy quit so quickly on him… It worked out well.”
“It did,” I agreed as the need for sleep washed over me. I snuggled into my chair and sighed as I compared my life three months ago to now. It was so different. I liked my new life.
I woke up a few hours later to the smell of fried chicken and blinked slowly. The television was on and I was alone. I glanced out of the back door to see the sun low in the sky.
How long had I slept? I moved and stretched before I stood up and walked into the kitchen. “That smells so good,” I told Irene as I looked at her and the clock. “I slept that long?”
“You must’ve been tired,” Irene said as she smiled at me. “How did it go with Lance?”
“Good. He’s kind,” I replied thoughtfully. She smiled, almost to herself, and I bit my lip. “Did you have anything… particular in mind when you asked me to move here?”
“Between you and Lance?” Irene asked in what was meant to be an innocent voice. She blushed and looked down at the potatoes that she was boiling. “Well, I’d never force an issue that way, Brie. Never. I just understood that you were a sweet gal, and he’s a good man. I wouldn’t mind if something developed between y’all. That’s all.”
“He’s got a son, though. I’m so young,” I protested.
“A son that you’re so good with. Logan loved you from day one and continues to do so,” Irene assured me as I frowned. “If there’s a connection between you and Lance, I’d see where that goes. I love him like a son, and I want to see him happy.”
“I just feel scattered still. It feels too soon to be getting into anything like that since I’ve been here for just a week,” I told her. I heard the front door open and Michael walked in.
“I fell in love with Michael after just two weeks,” Irene told me happily in a low voice. “Did she get there okay?” she called to Michael. His “yes” echoed from the front entryway. Irene looked at me. “Sarah has a sleepover at a friend’s tonight. We’re eating here and maybe going to see a movie.”
Michael walked into the kitchen. “They’re going to be just fine. Justine’s mom has a whole night planned for them, and I’m confident that Sarah will come home and collapse when she comes back tomorrow.” He smiled at me. “You always pay a price when you send your kid for a sleepover!”
“I suppose so,” I replied. I glanced at the time. “I’m going to take a quick shower before we eat. Is that okay?”
“Sure, honey,” Irene assured me as I smiled and walked back to my room.
I pulled out some leggings and a pink tunic before I walked across the hall for a hot shower. The shower felt so good after my overwhelming day, and I closed my eyes for a few minutes. I washed my hair and used the peppermint soap that I’d fallen in love with since I’d arrived. I wondered if I’d go through with the loose plans that I’d made with Lance tonight. Irene’s words played through my mind, and I couldn’t help but consider her words. Would I be a good match for Lance? Could I handle the responsibility of a stepson–one that didn’t have a mother?
Considering everything, the thought of dating him was silly. He was my boss. What if things went wrong and exploded in my face? I couldn’t shoulder that, and, therefore, I’d remain friends with him and be his nanny. That’s all.
I finished the shower and dried my body and hair. I glanced in the mirror. I was thick around my stomach and hips, something my mother always complimented me on. I didn’t see myself in the same light, and I wondered if Lance thought I was pretty. He’d said so but maybe he was just trying to be nice. People here just seemed friendly to begin with.
There was nothing there.
I dried my hair and pulled my clothes on before I went back to the kitchen to help finish dinner. It was a big platter of fried chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, and some salad. I loved Irene’s cooking. It was so homey and comforting after eating heat-and-eat food for so long. It made me want to learn to cook myself. After dinner, I watched her separate the leftovers into a few plastic containers before she winked at me. “Feel free to drop some off at Lance’s if you’d like.” She held up a large container with hearty servings of chicken and potatoes before she popped it into the fridge. “He loves home-cooked meals, but he insists on giving me weekends off to spend time with my family.”
“Sure thing,” I replied as she and Michael went back to their room to change for their date. I wiped the counters down and turned on the TV when they left. I thought I’d like the quiet house, but I found it reminded me too much of New York.
When I get restless, I bake. I scoured Irene’s cabinets and found the fixings for some chocolate chip cookies. I mixed them in a bowl as I caught myself looking at the clock. I could have some ready for later, at which point I reminded myself that I wasn’t going to meet Lance. I was going to stay home and relax.
That plan went out the window when I sent him a text after eating a few of the cookies and watching bad reality television.
Me: Want to meet at your house? Irene has some food for you.
Lance: Sounds great, Brie. Come over whenever you’re ready. We’re just watching a movie.
I checked my hair in the mirror and added a hint of plum lip-gloss before I groaned. “Stop it. He’s just a friend.”
Chapter Nine
I packed about half of the cookies and added them to the bag with the food before I left. Since it was only a short walk, I slipped my feet into some sandals. I clutched my house key as I locked the door. What was I doing?
Meeting up with a friend and his son. Scratch that. I was meeting up with my boss and the child that I cared for.
I made the short walk and wasn’t feeling too sure of myself as I tapped on his door. I heard a squeal and watched as Logan opened the door and wrapped himself around my thick legs. “That’s a greeting a girl could get used to,” I remarked as Lance watched the exchange. “Let me give this to Daddy and I’ll carry you, Logan.”
“He has you wrapped around his little finger,” Lance teased me as he took the bag. I picked Logan up. He wore loose pajamas and smelled like he was fresh from a bath. I inhaled the scent for a moment with a smile. We all walked inside to the kitchen where Lance started digging in and grinned. “She made dinner and cookies? Right on. Want a treat before bed, buddy?”
“I baked those. I was a little bored and started searching the pantry,” I admitted. “I figured you boys would enjoy them.”
“What kind of cookies?” Logan chirped. I smiled at him.
“Chocolate chip with pecans. You can eat nuts, can’t you?” I asked as he nodded enthusiastically. I knew that already but I liked seeing the joy on his face. “I think that Daddy is getting some milk. Let’s go get you a couple of cookies.”
They both ended up eating a healthy helping of the food as well as a few cookies. Lance groaned as he put everything away and I took Logan to brush his teeth. He wanted us both in there for his bedtime story, and I sat in the recliner while Lance sat on his bed and did the reading, his voice changing with every character, making Logan widen his eyes. What an amazing father.
We both kissed him good night, and Lance let me lead him to the living room. “He adores you, Brie.” I smiled and walked over to the sliding glass door. I saw that he had the monitor. “Want a beer?”
“Sure,” I told him. He said that he’d meet me out there. I wandered out and looked at the comfortable chairs set up under the sky around a fire pit. There was also a fancy BBQ with a lot of space for food prep. I admired it all for a moment. I made my way to the seats, sat down in one, and looked up at the night sky with a happy smile.
Brooklyn was amazing, but this… this was stunning. I could hear the animals around the farm settling in for the night and the moon brightened the land for easy viewing. The stars were bright and twinkling in the sky. I looked up and heard the door open behind me. “Here you go.” Lance handed me a cold beer before he sat down in the chair beside me.
“Thank you,” I told him as I took a deep breath. “It’s so beautiful out here.”
“It’s my place where I let everything go after a long day. I had a chance to move to the city a few times over the years. I never did, even when Lauren suggested it while she was pregnant.” I looked at him, seeing that he didn’t realize that he was telling me about Logan’s mom. “She wanted the city life, but I always loved it here. I thought it would be better to raise Logan here.” Something crossed his face, and he looked at me as if to ask if I minded him talking about her. I just smiled and nodded, encouraging him to keep going. “Anyway, when she left I was worried she would take him away from the farm. That wasn’t an issue, as it turns out.” I saw sadness cross his face as he sipped the beer and relaxed against the cushions.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry that she chose not to be a part of his life,” I told him in a soft voice. He nodded abruptly.
“I’ve accepted it for the most part. I’d rather him being completely without her than dealing with such back and forth.” He took a deep breath. “I saw her at the rodeo that night. She was with one of the riders, and she was carrying a baby. It was about six months old, and she had this smile on her face. What is it about that child that Logan didn’t give her?”