Brooke Laughton was his cousin and owned a small horse ranch not far out of town.
“Any luck looking for a new housekeeper?”
He shrugged. “I have two interviews next week, so we’ll see what happens.”
His mother nodded and continued slicing cheese. “You know...what you really need isn’t a housekeeper,” she said and smiled. “It’s a wife.”
“Mom, let up, will you?”
“It’s the truth,” she said, as relentless as always. “I know you don’t want to hear it and you can scowl at me all you like, but I—”
“I’m not scowling,” he said, cutting her off.
His mother grinned. “Oh, yes, you are. But you know, the best thing for the girls would be for you to be happy.”
“I am happy. And I don’t want to have this conversation today.”
“Or any day,” Colleen said. “Liz wouldn’t want you to—”
“Mom,” Grady said, all out of patience. “I know you’re trying to help, but I’m fine,” he insisted. “I’m not going to get married again just so I can have a babysitter on hand.”
“I’m not suggesting that you should do that,” his mother replied. “This isn’t about the girls. I’m talking about you, what it would mean to you to share your life with someone. All I’m saying is that maybe it’s time you opened yourself up to the possibility.”
“Like you did after Dad died?”
Colleen frowned. “I didn’t have three children under the age of seven,” she reminded him. “And we aren’t talking about me at the moment. I know you don’t want to hear it and I know you think I’m interfering, but I only say this out of concern for you. Being with someone else doesn’t mean you love Liz any less. It doesn’t mean she’ll be replaced or forgotten.”
Grady swallowed the thickness in his throat. As usual, his mom was getting into his head. “I know... I just don’t think I’m ready.”
“To love again?”
“To feel again.”
Colleen smiled and patted his arm. “But that’s what makes us human, son.”
“Maybe. And I hear what you’re saying. But I have to do this in my own way.”
She tutted. “The slow way. You’re so much like your father. He also overthought everything. Did you know it took him eight months to ask me out on a date?”
Grady glanced at his mother and groaned. “Is there a point to this conversation?”
“Of course,” she replied and grinned. “You’re a cowboy and it’s time you got back in the saddle.”
“The saddle?”
His mother smiled. “Yes, you know, dating and girls.”
He laughed loudly. “Oh, we’re gonna have that talk,” he said and shrugged. “Too late, Mom, I already know about the birds and the bees.”
Colleen jabbed him with her elbow. “You can mock me all you like. Just don’t dismiss the idea of dating again entirely, okay?”
“I won’t,” he assured her. “If you’ll stop hinting about who I should date.”
She made a face and then nodded. “Sure. These are ready,” she said and pushed a plate of sandwiches across the counter. “I’ll go and get the baby so she can have her lunch.” His mother headed for the door, just as Grady was pulling plates from the cupboard. “By the way, have you seen Marissa lately?”
Grady stilled at the task and groaned inwardly. There was no point lying to Colleen Parker; she’d sniff out an untruth at fifty paces. “I dropped Ebony off there this morning,” he explained as casually as he could. “You know, the old black mare.”
Colleen’s inquisitive brows shot up. “You gave her a horse? That was nice of you.”
He shrugged. “She wants to learn to ride and the mare was just—”
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