“I saw you in Bird Dog magazine.”
He chuckled, sounding a little embarrassed. “Yeah, well, you’d better frame that because it’ll become a limited edition. You’re not going to see another one.”
“I’m sure with your growing popularity you’ll get into it again.” Crossing her arms, she leaned a hip against the counter. “Honestly, I’m surprised you came out here, rather than finalizing things over the phone. Your life is busy. And being the first of June, surely you have a whole schedule of training clinics to get to, right?”
Her moxie surprised her. As a general rule, she avoided confrontation at all costs. But having Grant here put her on edge, which apparently caused her to lose control of her words.
He traced his finger along the rim of his mug, taking a second to answer. “I’m on my way to a clinic this weekend, actually. In Wyoming. Figured the farm was on the way.”
“Sure.”
She should have known that’s why he’d stopped by. It was on the way to something else.
Time to get ahold of herself and remember he’d only come to discuss the will. Grant had a successful life outside this place. According to the magazine interview, he’d been living in Iowa all this time as the executive director of a nonprofit rescue dog facility dedicated to helping setters in desperate need. And when he wasn’t at the facility, he was on the road putting on bird dog training clinics. Traveling a lot, and loving every minute of it, the article clearly pointed out. He obviously worked hard living his dream, and becoming so successful in a matter of two years was likely the reason behind his publicity.
And it wasn’t a career sustainable for a family man. Grant wasn’t a family man.
“At any rate,” he continued, “I’ll be out of your hair as quickly as possible. I just wanted to come out here and tell you I’m sorry about Frank and that I’m not going to accept the inheritance.”
Kallie’s brows shot up, her thoughts derailing. “Are you serious? You don’t want your half?”
Grant shrugged and for a second, it looked as if his thoughts warred behind his gaze. “I don’t know what I would do with it. I can’t keep it. I mean, you and me owning the same spread of land…” He trailed off, then seemed to gather his thoughts and head in a different direction. “It’s just not a good idea. You can understand that, right?”
She straightened away from the counter. “I guess I can.”
“Great. Glad that’s settled, then.”
“Yeah, great.”
Settled. Is that what they were?
It sounded so cold, so final. But then, wasn’t that how their relationship was now? And thankfully, he hadn’t claimed his inheritance only to turn around and sell his half. She’d been afraid that would happen—because if anyone bought the land, it would have to be her. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to afford to stay here, either. Not that she could afford this land if it went up for sale. Money was already tight, due to Dad’s medical bills and the loan he took out to pay for seeds this year. She still needed to sit down and calculate everything—his assets compared to his outstanding balance.
Coffee mugs in hand, they lingered in silence. Kallie watched Grant as her heart squeezed. All their memories, a few triumphs and many regrets, floated between them. Present yet unacknowledged. Was she supposed to ignore them like they’d never mattered? She’d almost married this man.
One thing was certain. No matter how quick this meeting went with Grant Young, it certainly wasn’t going to be painless.
A knock sounded on the door.
“Hello?” Rachel’s voice carried through the screen.
Kallie’s heart dropped. She rushed to the door. Rachel stood there with a baby car seat carrier placed on either side of her on the porch.
“Rachel,” she hissed, hoping Grant couldn’t hear her—though hiding was futile at this point. “You weren’t supposed to be here until seven.”
“Seven?” Rachel’s eyes widened. “You’re kidding! I thought you said by five.”
Five? Dear Rachel Whethers had always been a little scatterbrained, but this was over the top even for her. “No, I need longer than that.” She heard Grant’s chair shift. “Please, Rach. Take them somewhere. Anywhere.”
Concern crossed Rachel’s face, a slight breeze picking up strands of her dark hair. “What’s going on? You okay?”
“That Rachel Gunsing I hear?” Grant appeared over Kallie’s shoulder.
Rachel made eye contact through the screen, and suddenly understanding bloomed across her face. “Grant Young. Well, that’s a surprise I’d never expected.” She glanced at Kallie as if in question, and Kallie shook her head in response. Rachel turned back to Grant. “I’m actually Rachel Whethers now. Got married to Kyle eighteen months ago.”
“That’s great, Rach.” He reached around Kallie for the door. “Why don’t you stop in and catch up?”
Kallie’s heart rate tripped. “Oh, I’m sure that’s not necessary. She’s probably pretty busy—”
Grant eyed her. “She drove the twenty minutes from town to stand on your doorstep for thirty seconds? I don’t think so.”
“Actually, I do need to be going.” Apology slashed her friend’s gaze. “Kyle’s taking me out for my birthday tonight since I have to work on the actual day.”
Just then, Peter began to cry, no doubt eager to get out of his seat.
Kallie cringed. Grant glanced at the babies for the first time, and his brows rose. She closed her eyes and offered up a silent prayer for mercy.
Grant Young glanced between the two car seat carriers on the porch, then back up at Rachel Whethers. No doubt about it, things sure had changed in the span of two years. Last time he saw Rachel, they were all newly out of high school, and she’d been full of life and totally disinterested in settling down.
And now it seemed she’d become a mom.
“Twins?” he asked.
Rachel began to pale before glancing at Kallie. “Yep.”
And Kallie. Grant couldn’t believe how seeing her again had nearly knocked him flat as he’d stepped out of his pickup.
He wasn’t exactly sure why he’d traveled all the way out to the farm just to tell her his simple plans regarding his half of the inheritance. He supposed a piece of him really wanted a reason to see the place again, to remember Frank in the environment the man had loved so deeply and to offer his condolences to Kallie. And, of course, he was curious how she had fared these past two years and what she was up to these days.
But now, after sitting in her kitchen and drinking from a random mug he actually remembered, he realized it was a huge mistake. Emotions he’d assumed were long buried had begun to resurface the instant he saw her standing on the walkway, her sweet blue eyes and waist-length blond hair tucked behind her ear. Man, she still looked good. Sounded good. Still fit snugly into a pocket he hadn’t realized lay open in his heart.
A pocket he knew he needed to close forever. Because he and Kallie would never work. He’d left here a young man scared of commitment and full of big ambitions—and he’d always regretted it.
Growing up with a bum for a father had scared him into