“I’m glad you like it.” Relieved to see her happy and at ease, he smiled back at her, then set the shopping bags on the kitchen counter. He checked to be sure the refrigerator was on and cold, then put away the groceries.
Steph came up behind him and put both hands on his back and rubbed up and down. It used to be that he welcomed her affection. Now, he preferred keeping things simple and civil. He turned to face her, hoping she didn’t take offense. In the U-shaped kitchen, she blocked him from exiting and he stared down into her earnest eyes.
“Thank you, Jon. I love the place.” She waved her hand toward the sliding glass doors off the living space. “If we got a nice patio set, we could sit out back, have dinner there when the weather is nice, or just sit with a glass of wine and stare at the stars.”
She painted a nice picture. And he liked this version of Steph, but he didn’t plan to spend time with her and Emmy at the apartment. He wanted to keep family time to meals out and playtime at the park.
“Sounds nice. Emmy will love it, too.” He didn’t want to spoil Steph’s good mood, so he kept things light and didn’t shoot down her suggestions.
“I can’t wait for the furniture to be delivered. I’m excited to see the place come together.”
Most of her stuff was nice but worn. Steph cared more about her clothes and handbags than her furniture, but maybe a new start here would change her priorities and she’d buy some new stuff and really make this place hers.
“Go check out Emmy’s room,” he coaxed, hoping she liked the surprise he’d set up for Emmy.
He followed Steph toward the sound of their daughter’s chatter.
Steph scanned the room and the brand-new bedroom set he’d bought for Emmy, then looked at him. “How did you do this?”
Steph sold Emmy’s baby set in the garage sale they held right before the move.
“I bought everything when I came to check out the apartment and asked the landlord to let the furniture guys in yesterday to deliver and set it up. I wanted Emmy to feel at home here. She’s never moved before. It’s a new place. New people. I wanted her to start off with everything she needs.”
Steph rolled her eyes. “Of course you did. You can afford to spoil her and make me look bad.” Her mouth pressed into the pout he’d come to see more and more the longer they were together.
He wanted to do something nice for his daughter. But he understood Steph’s position, too, and sucked in a calming breath and tried to sooth her ruffled feathers. “That’s not what I’m doing at all. She needed the furniture, so I took care of it.” Instead of asking Steph to pay her half, or buy it all herself because she should be the one supplying it in the house she shared with Emmy. He still needed to get her new furniture for his place once he settled in at the ranch.
He tried not to spoil Emmy too much, but she deserved a big girl room. He loved the white bedroom set. She’d have plenty of space in the six-drawer dresser. He’d need to make sure he set up her blue lava lamp on the nightstand before he left and make the bed with her favorite blanket and the brand-new comforter and sheet set he bought and packed in his car, too.
Steph wrapped her arms around her waist. “We could have picked everything out together. Maybe bought a few other things for the apartment.” Steph was disappointed he hadn’t bought all new stuff for the whole place.
He managed their relationship the best he could and tried not to give Steph false hope or the idea that she could use him to get the things she wanted.
He walked over and crouched next to Emmy and her new twin bed. “What do you think, sweet girl? Do you like your new stuff?”
Emmy jumped up and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I love it.” She kissed his cheek, then held up one of the dolls that came with the dollhouse. “She looks like me.”
“Kinda. It’s why I picked her for you.” He checked the text on his phone. “Why don’t you play in here while your mom and I help unload the moving van that just arrived.”
She was already engrossed in the dollhouse again.
He stood and cocked his head for Steph to go ahead of him down the hallway. Before they walked out the entry, he slid open the pocket door next to what would be Emmy’s bathroom. “You’ve got a stackable washer and dryer.” He hoped that made up for not including her in the furniture thing and spoiling Emmy and not her.
At her last place, she had to go to a laundry room at the far end of her building and share with the other tenants. “That will be so much more convenient. It’s a definite plus for this place.” She gave him a small smile.
He took the win and hoped to get out of here before the tide changed again.
He headed out to the moving van to get this final chore done. It took some time and maneuvering to unload all of Steph’s stuff, get her bed set up, and stack all the boxes in the right rooms, but once done, Steph looked overwhelmed but happy to have her things in her place.
“I need to follow the movers out to the ranch so they can unload my stuff.” He’d also talked them into taking on the extra job of bringing some of his father’s things to the new apartment since they had to come back through town anyway. It cost him extra, but his dad would be happy to have his place ready when he got out of the hospital. “I’ll be back for Emmy in a couple of hours to take her to visit my dad.”
“Maybe we can go out to dinner tonight,” Steph suggested.
His first instinct was to say no, but instead he began like they hoped to start this next part of their lives. “A family dinner our first night here together sounds great.”
Steph’s eyes went wide with surprise that he’d so easily agree. “I’ll be ready when you pick me up after seeing your dad.”
“Sounds good.”
If she was making an effort to settle into a new place and start a new job, he could meet her halfway and stick to their plan to spend time together as a family once in a while for Emmy’s sake.
He found Emmy lying on her tummy on her bed. “I’m going to take my stuff out to the ranch. I’ll be back in a little while for our visit with Grandpa. Okay?”
“Okay,” she automatically replied without taking her eyes off the princess movie on her tablet.
He kissed her cheek and headed out with a wave goodbye to Steph as he passed the kitchen and walked out the front door. He felt good about everything right now. Steph liked the place, they managed to spend another day together without World War Three breaking out, and Emmy was happy in her new home.
As for him, he couldn’t wait to settle in at the ranch, find some balance in his life, and learn to breathe again.
Chapter Six
Jon was feeling damn good about the start of his week. His father had markedly improved and was feeling better. Trinity loved her flowers and asked him out on a date. Steph was unexpectedly excited about putting the apartment together and decorating. He’d been so happy about that, he’d even given her two hundred bucks to buy a few extra things. Emmy liked the new place and even said she was excited about starting at the new pre-K. They all got through the family dinner they shared at a local barbecue place without any bickering. Another win.
After the movers delivered everything of his to the ranch, they helped him pack up his father’s room, a few pieces from the living room, and delivered them to his dad’s new apartment. By the time his dad left the hospital two days after he’d gone in, he was settled in his new place and signed up for bingo and the weekly poker game in the rec room once he was fully recovered.
When Jon had secured the apartment, the manager assured him his father would be very happy there. Jon noted that there were a lot of women in the common area. The manager gave him a knowing look and informed him the women outnumbered the men two to one and his father wouldn’t want for company if he desired it.
Jon did not allow his mind to travel down that road. He’d simply gotten his father settled and gone back to the ranch to figure out what to do with his new house.
Renovations. He made a list and some calls. B
y the end of next week, he’d have the whole place painted, new carpet in the back bedrooms, and upgraded countertops, fixtures, and appliances in the kitchen. He needed to pick out furniture for Emmy’s room at his place, along with all new furniture for the living room.
His dad told him to make the place his. They’d go through the contents soon. As for the big pieces of furniture that wouldn’t fit in his dad’s apartment, Jon could keep what he wanted and get rid of the rest.
Jon was sentimental about the wide plank farmhouse dining table his mother had loved. But a lot of the other furniture was old, and frankly, not his style.
If this was his chance to start over and make a new life for him and Emmy, he wanted to do it right.
So he had a contractor coming to fix up the stables. He’d start building the ranch with a couple horses. He wanted to teach Emmy how to ride. He also had a landscaping crew coming to redo the yard and get the vegetable garden area cleared out so he and Emmy could replant.
He seemed to have everything under control.
Until today. He hadn’t looked forward to a date, or anything, this much in longer than he could remember. It seemed he couldn’t get Trinity off his mind. Nor could he stay away from her. After he saw the bright smile on Emmy’s face when he delivered the brownies, he’d stopped at Almost Homemade the next day to pick up a few entrées and sides she’d love to be sure Steph fed her well. But Trinity was working in their Billings store that day, so he missed her. The next day he and his father stopped by to stock his fridge at his apartment. Like him, his dad couldn’t wait to see Trinity. But she’d been called to fix a problem in the kitchen at their Bozeman store and he’d missed her by five minutes.
He’d been too tied up yesterday to even attempt to see her. And he was pretty sure Adria would laugh in his face if he showed up three days in a row.
He and Trinity shared a couple of text messages, mostly him letting her know he was sorry he missed her at the store and couldn’t wait to see her for their date. She’d responded right away with regrets she’d missed him, too, questions about how his father was doing, and if Emmy liked her new home and school.
All of that was nice, but he couldn’t wait to be alone with her tonight.
If he even made it to their date.
Because he lived so far out of town and away from Steph’s place and Emmy’s school, he and Steph agreed to a new custody arrangement. He’d pick Emmy up from school on Friday afternoon and keep her for the weekend and drop her off at school on Monday. Since Steph didn’t get off work until five, Emmy would stay at day care after school for a couple hours before Steph picked her up Monday through Thursday, and they’d split the cost.
But here he was on Thursday at quarter to five and Steph had called him and told him to come get his daughter. Steph was done for the week. She hung up after dropping that bomb and refused to answer her phone, making him drive to her place to see what the hell was going on.
Why hadn’t she worked until five? Why wasn’t Emmy still at day care?
The biggest why? Why couldn’t she take care of their daughter?
He felt a trap. Or at least more of the same drama he told Steph he wouldn’t put up with anymore.
Knowing this was going to take more than the five minutes he had to deal with it and still make it to his date on time, he reluctantly called Trinity.
“Hey there. I hope you’re not canceling because I’m starving and deserve a cocktail after the week I’ve had.”
Those words were like a knife to his heart. “Don’t hate me. And please, for God’s sake don’t say you won’t go out with me.”
“But?” Disappointment filled Trinity’s soft voice.
“I’m not saying I won’t be there, I’m just going to be late. Something came up with Emmy. I’m on my way to see her right now, but I don’t know how long it’s going to take to sort out.”
A sigh of relief boosted his confidence. “Oh. Okay. No problem. If Emmy needs you, I totally understand.”
“You do?” He didn’t know why he didn’t expect her understanding, but it seemed so foreign to him after dealing with Steph for so long.
“Sure. She’s your daughter. She needs you. That comes first.”
He didn’t know what to do with all that genuine understanding. “And you’re not mad?”
“Not at all. Why would I be?”
He didn’t know, but if he was having this conversation with Steph, it would be a whole other story. “I just really want to see you tonight and I wanted it to be perfect.”
It took her a moment to respond. “I’m looking forward to seeing you, too.” The shy words touched him. And gave him hope that he hadn’t blown this with her. “How about I keep my dress on, you see what’s what with Emmy, and let me know if we’re still on for later tonight or if we need to reschedule.”
Damn his luck. “You wore a dress?” He’d love to see her in a sexy outfit.
“Adria informed me it was proper date attire. Truthfully, it’s been so long, I’m glad she reminded me.” Her soft self-deprecating laugh lightened his heart. She was taking this really well and not making a fuss over the fact she’d taken the time to get dressed up and it might be for nothing, depending on what he found when he got to Steph’s place.
“I’m sorry, Trinity. I meant to be on time, to wine and dine you, to hopefully make you laugh, and maybe if I played my cards right and you had a good time, you’d agree to a second date.” And maybe he’d get a chance to kiss her. He spent a lot of time thinking about it and a lot more.
“There’s still time. Take care of whatever you need to do with Emmy, then text me and let me know if we’re still on for tonight, or next week sometime.”
Next week?
That was too damn long to go without seeing her again.
“I’ll let you know as soon as I can.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
“I’ve been waiting all week to see you tonight. I really am sorry. I’ll call you as soon as I know what’s what.” With that, they said goodbye and he pulled into the parking space outside Steph’s apartment.
Emmy ran out the door just as he exited the car and headed in her direction. Three steps away from him, she stopped short, fisted her hands at her sides, and gave him her angry face, which was still adorable to him. “I want to go home with you.”
He didn’t even have her room ready, but she could crash with him in his bed until he got that sorted out. Still, it was Steph’s night to keep her, so he couldn’t make any promises.
The door to the apartment stood open, so he walked right in and found Steph in the kitchen nursing a bottle of beer. Boxes were still stacked up in the living room. Laundry sat on the floor in a pile in front of the stacked washer and dryer. The whole place smelled like Steph burned something in the oven.
And she took one look at him and her eyes narrowed with rage. “What are you all dressed up for?”
“Daddy has a date with the brownie lady,” Emmy announced.
He didn’t know how she remembered that, or why he’d even told her. Probably because he was excited about seeing Trinity and he’d shared it with her.
Steph’s eyebrows went up. “A date? We haven’t even been in town a full week and you have a date? I know, literally, no one here.” Steph loved to exaggerate. She’d met everyone at work and even told him she’d met a couple interesting customers at the grocery store. She’d even set up a playdate for Emmy with another mom at school.
He didn’t owe her an explanation and knew from past bad experiences not to give out information she’d only twist and use against him. So he didn’t answer her question, but asked one of his own. “Why haven’t you answered your phone?”
“Because if I did, you wouldn’t have come to get her.”
Yep, he’d played right into her hands because if his daughter needed him he’d come running every time. “Why are you home from work early?”
Her gaze narrowed on him. “I’m not. I get off at four thirty.”<
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“I thought you said five and that’s why we set the pickup at school for five fifteen.”
Her eyebrows went up. “Don’t I deserve a little downtime at the end of my shift before I pick her up?”
Yes. Of course she did. But didn’t she also miss her daughter after a long day?
“Why do I need to take Emmy tonight?”
Emmy took his hand. “She burned dinner and said I have to eat it. I don’t want it.” Emmy wrinkled her nose and shook her little head.
Exasperated by the stupid reason she’d called him here, he took Emmy’s side without hearing her out. “Seriously, Steph. You can’t expect her to eat burnt food.”
“It’s that or nothing.”
“You bought plenty of food when you moved in.”
“You’d think so, but she eats like crazy. And those brownies you bought are gone, too.”
“Mommy ate them.” Tears filled Emmy’s big round eyes.
It killed him when she cried. “This is ridiculous. You work at the grocery store. There’s no reason you can’t grab something on your way home.”
“I worked all day. I didn’t think about picking anything up when I left. I was tired. I’ve been taking care of her all week and trying to put things away here.”
At a glance, it didn’t look like she’d done a damn thing since he left after the delivery guys brought everything inside. She’d been so excited to decorate, yet she hadn’t done anything. Even the sink was filled with dirty dishes. He could practically make out exactly what they’d had to eat all week just by looking at them.
“Steph, we talked about this. Emmy needs a clean and organized home to live in.”
She slammed her hand down on the counter. “I’m doing the best I can. It’s been a long week. And you said we’d spend more time together as a family, yet you’ve been nowhere to be found because you’ve been out hunting up a new girlfriend apparently.”
He wanted to refute that outright, but she had him on being out of touch since they had dinner their first night here. “I’m sorry, Steph. You’re right. I did say we’d do more family things, but my dad was sick, and I had to move him. I’ve had a hell of a week, too.”
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