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Turning to look at her daughter, who had been quietly playing with a toy nearby, Emily smiles and nods enthusiastically.
"Well, it's a plan then," I say, feeling a warm sense of anticipation at the thought of spending more time with Mia and getting to know Emily. Perhaps this was the beginning of a new chapter for us all. Is she seeing someone or still with Emily's father?
I wouldn't say I like drama, and I always hear how city men are confrontational without getting all the facts about the situation first. Mia and I dated when we were younger, but I honestly didn't mind if we were just friends, even with our looming attraction.
But I decided to ask about that later as I crouched down with a friendly smile toward her shy daughter.
"Hi Emily, my name is Jake. I'm an old pal of your mom's. Are you hungry?"
The shy Emily nods and holds her doll before her face to emphasize her bashfulness.
I then stand to smile at Mia. "So, what do you say? Lunch? I had planned to have lunch with Dylan after finishing with that riding lesson, and his cornhole tournament with his friends should be about finished up."
Mia's eyes widen in shock at the lunch invitation before her beautiful smile emerges, almost taking up the entirety of her face.
"Sure! Yes, we'd love that!"
Leading the way to the main lodge, I could feel the excitement bubbling within the group. The warm midday sun cast a golden hue over the dude ranch, making it feel like a scene from a Western romance novel.
"So, have you been to a dude ranch since leaving here?" I ask Mia, attempting to make small talk as we walk.
"No, this is a first for me in such a long time, and a very first for Emily," she replied, her gaze taking in the surroundings with evident wonder. "It's beautiful here."
The lodge looms before us, its rustic charm welcoming us in. Pushing open the heavy wooden doors, we enter the dining hall, greeted by the mouth-watering aroma of barbecue. Mia's eyes light up, and even Emily hides her doll momentarily to look around with curiosity.
I nudged Dylan, who was as eager as a kid in a candy store. "You ready to dig in?"
"You bet." Dylan grinned as we joined the food line. The spread was a tribute to country cuisine, with trays of juicy barbecued meats, creamy macaroni and cheese, freshly baked cornbread, and various salads and fruits.
"If you don't mind... could you make her plate for her? She's not used to eating BBQ and stuff like that. She's more of a fast-food child, even with the healthy restaurants we've visited in the city. She hasn't eaten good comfort food before. You and I grew up on this, but it's easy to get pulled into the chain restaurants in the city."
I nod and feel honored that she trusts me to compile a suitable plate for her daughter. I make sure to get a plate with smaller, child-friendly portions for Emily—a bit of macaroni and cheese, some slices of tender brisket that I think she'll find easy to eat, and a biscuit alongside a few slices of apple for a balanced meal.
"Look, Emily, they have mac and cheese, your favorite." Mia smiled down at her daughter, who nodded shyly, her eyes wide at the sight of all the food.
Once our plates were loaded with the delicious offerings, we found a table near the windows overlooking the ranch's vast expanse. "This is incredible," Mia said as she took a bite of her barbecue. "I can't believe it's been so long since I've eaten anything like this. And the macaroni is delicious. Right, Emily?"
Emily nodded vigorously, her initial shyness forgotten in the face of the food, her attention caught between her macaroni and the biscuit.
"I'm glad you're enjoying it," I said, feeling a warmth that had little to do with the sunlight streaming in. "Meals like these bring everyone together, don't you think?"
"Nothing beats good food, good times, and.... and..." Dylan chimed in while struggling to remember the motto.
"Great company." I help him out as he nods widely before refocusing his attention on his plate of food.
Dylan's face shows pure joy with each forkful of food he eagerly devours. His eyes sparkle with a happiness that only a love of good food can bring. "This is the best barbecue I've ever had!" He declares, his voice muffled slightly by a mouthful of brisket. I laugh and shake my head because he says that about every piece of barbecue that he eats.
On the other hand, Emily seems more reserved, picking at her food with a tentative curiosity. Her fingers gently push the macaroni around her plate, and she nibbles on the biscuit as if assessing each bite's worthiness. Her eyes light up at the biscuit taste, and I can't help but smile adoringly.
Mia leans closer to me, watching Emily with amusement and thoughtfulness. "This is going to be quite the transition for Emily," she whispers, her gaze lingering on her daughter."
"She's always been more accustomed to the food we had back in the city. Comfort food is new territory for her."
I nodded, understanding the challenges of adjusting to a new environment. "She'll find her favorites soon enough," I assured her, hoping to ease her worries. "It might take a little time for her to adapt to the changes. She'll adjust soon enough."
Mia smiled a soft, grateful expression that made my heart skip a beat. "I hope so," she whispered back. "I just want her to feel at home here."
"I reckon she will," I replied with a confidence I felt deep in my bones. "There's something about this place that has a way of growing on you. Think back to our childhood. We lived solely off imagination and playing outdoors. I'm sure she's knee-deep into technology from growing up in the big city, but she'll see how fun it is to get out and enjoy the nice weather occasionally."
