John heaved a private sigh of relief. He didn’t know how to console an angry little girl but he hated to see her so upset.
“She has a long road ahead of her with that child,” Gladys commented as she packaged the remaining turnovers. “I don’t envy her.”
“That makes two of us,” he agreed. “You think she can change?”
Gladys shrugged. “Time will tell but I’m not holding my breath at the moment. She’s got to adjust that attitude of hers or else she’s just going to spin her wheels with Alexis.”
John glanced away, voicing his private thoughts on the subject. “There’s no excuse for leaving your family behind.”
“You’re right about that and I know you know what that’s all about. Did you ever forgive your father for leaving?”
“No.”
Gladys chuckled. “Didn’t think so. Like I said, that woman’s got a rough row to hoe but in the meantime, we’ll be there to catch the girls before they fall this time around.”
He shifted, hating how he’d somehow, unwittingly, wandered into emotional territory. Gladys was a tricky one. Always had been. Probably why she and his mom had been such tight friends. They were peas in a pod. She prodded at him and he emitted a low groan as her point went straight home. “I’d be a liar if I said I’ve never said or done anything I regret,” he admitted in a tight voice. “But I don’t understand how a mother could leave her babies. Gladys, I don’t think I’ll ever understand and if I can’t understand how is that little girl going to?”
“No one is asking you to figure things out for her. She’s a smart kid. She’ll do that on her own. But,” Gladys sighed as if hating to agree with Renee on anything, and then said, “in the meantime, she needs to be around her mother.”
“Renee suggested I hire her for help around the house with the girls. Said you were too old.”
Gladys chuckled. “That woman’s got spunk, I’ll give her that. But as much as I hate to admit it, these old bones are feeling the years piling up behind them,” she admitted grudgingly. “I could use a hand around here. Chloe is a handful even though she’s sweeter than freshly churned butter and I think she would love to have her mama around. She doesn’t remember her very well and she harbors the least amount of piss and vinegar. I think it would be smart for Renee to start rebuilding with Chloe first. I’ll be here to smooth out the rough spots but she’s right. I am a bit long in the tooth to be chasing after a toddler while the other girls are in school.”
John heaved a heavy sigh and nodded. “I guess I could fix up the guesthouse. Although I hate the idea of harboring that woman on my property,” he added with a glower. “Frankly, if it weren’t something the girls probably need to get over this mess, I’d tell her to pound sand. I don’t give a shit about her feelings in this.”
“What about the court stuff?”
“Oh, Sheriff Casey isn’t going to make a stink over anything as long as those girls are safe and happy. Besides, the order doesn’t say anything about Renee keeping her distance or anything. I suppose as long as everyone is happy, no one needs to be the wiser.”
“So it’s settled, then? Renee is moving in?” Gladys’s mouth firmed, no more happy about it than John but willing to see it through for the girls’ sake just like him.
“I suppose she is.” He walked from the kitchen, his pace brisk, but not even his quickened step could keep him from the realization that he was about to invite more complications into his life and if the warning tingle in his gut was any indication, he might’ve just changed his life forever.
RENEE WALKED WITH TAYLOR’S hand firmly in her own as Alexis practically jogged three steps ahead with John and Chloe somewhere in between.
“I don’t want you walking me to class,” Alexis declared, looking pointedly at Renee before continuing with strong purposeful steps toward the entrance.
Renee looked down at Taylor. “How about you?”
“You can walk me to class if you want to, I suppose,” Taylor answered. “You can show me where these picture books are that you were talking about.”
“Deal.”
The school was an old brick building with a bell at the top, a remnant of when the school was first built in the late 1800s, and it looked right out of an episode of Little House on the Prairie.
“Do you think that bell still works?” Taylor asked.
“I don’t know but we can ask your teacher,” Renee said, smiling.
She glanced up at John and wondered if this was where he went to school. He seemed to know his way around well enough as they went straight to the front office and a few people even nodded in surprise at seeing him there.
“Old school chums?” Renee surmised once she’d caught up to him.
“I guess you could say that,” John answered, but didn’t elaborate further. Talk about a man of little words. If he strung together more than two sentences in a row she’d fall over in shock. Grumbling to herself, she kept the rest of her annoyed thoughts silent as the principal greeted them.
“John Murphy? I haven’t seen you in awhile but I do know you don’t have kids. Who do I have the pleasure of meeting?”
Before John could answer, Renee piped in, saying, “They’re mine. We’re just staying with John at the ranch for now. Renee Dolling, pleased to meet you, Mr.…”
“Curtis Meany,” he answered with a broad smile, coming forward to envelope her hand in a firm handshake. “Don’t let the name fool you, I’m really a softie at heart. If I’m not careful these students run all over me. Are you from around here? I don’t recall the name.”
“No, we’re new.” Renee smiled and left it at that. She didn’t want to go into details and ruin this nice man’s impression of her. It was hard enough dealing with John much less another judgmental local. “My girls, Alexis and Taylor, are starting classes today.”
“Yes, here are their teachers’ names and classroom numbers. If you have any questions or concerns, my door is always open. Good to see you again, John.”
“Curt.” John inclined his head and then gesturing for the paper in Renee’s hand, said, “Let’s get this show on the road. I have a horse coming in an hour.”
“You can go if you like,” Renee offered and was mildly surprised when he frowned in response. “If you’re in a hurry…”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You implied.”
He started to say something but then thought better of it and snapped his mouth shut. “Perhaps I did.”
Renee smiled down at Taylor. “Let’s go find your teacher, shall we?”
She didn’t wait for John nor did she try to convince Alexis to let her walk her to class, as well. She knew her daughter well enough to know any attempt at this point would be rudely rebuffed. She’d have to let Alexis come to her. She fought back a well of fear when she considered the very real possibility that that day might never come and instead focused on the happy start she was being granted with her middle daughter.
JOHN WATCHED AS RENEE LED Taylor to her new classroom. To look at them one would never guess their circumstances. Renee looked every part the doting mother, her eyes fairly shone with love and adoration that John was almost apt to believe, if not for the reminder of Renee’s defection standing beside him wearing a fierce scowl.
“She seems to be trying,” John noted, almost to himself but it was really directed toward Alexis. She took the bait quite readily.
Alexis