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He might joke around and be Mr. Happy-go-lucky most of the time, but how does he feel under the surface? Another pang hits me because I don’t know what to do if things really do resurface. I’m scared of what happens next. We’ve protected our friendship well over the years, I would never want to lose that.
I sigh as I shut down my computer for the day. I send a text to Jodie to let her know we’re all on track for tomorrow. We’ll meet at lunchtime down at the community hall and start organizing the table set up. The flowers are being dropped off early Saturday morning to the venue and the church, so Jodie will be at one location and I’ll be at the other. We’ll then meet up for the ceremony.
Once everything’s done and I’m feeling satisfied that we’re on track, I walk back over into the house where Blake is watching TV with Noodle cuddled up next to her.
“Are you hungry, honey? I can make a snack before you go to your grandparents?”
“I’m good, Mom.”
“You’re all ready for your Nan and Pop to pick you up?”
“Yeah, they’re gonna take me to the pizza place on Main Street. Their veggie delight is amazing.”
“Oh, you love it there. That will be nice.” I smile.
She hesitates for a moment. “Are you and Dad getting back together?”
The words hit me straight away, but it still takes a moment to fully sink in. I feel the instant rise of heat to my cheeks,
“Why would you think that, honey?” I try to keep my voice level, but my heart rate quickly kicks up.
Blake shrugs. “I just wondered since you’ve been seeing each other more lately than normal. And that thing about you not getting divorced properly.”
“Daddy has just been helping me with a few things.”
She knows that I broke up with Kirk and we won’t be seeing him again, but of course I didn’t give her any of the awful details. Just that sometimes people aren’t who they say they are. Maybe this is why she’s curious about me and her dad.
“Do you still love Dad?” she asks.
The question almost bowls me over. I try not to act like I’ve just been winded, especially because it tugs at my heart strings and I feel my chest constrict.
“I’ll always love your dad, Blakey.” I’m doing my best to not get choked up and keep my voice as normal as I possibly can, but tears have already sprung to my eyes. “And you know why?”
She shakes her head.
“Because he gave me you.” I walk over and reach my arms out, pulling her into a hug.
Blake smiles up at me. “Thanks Mom, that’s really cool. It was nice that you came horse riding with us. I think Dad liked it too.”
“Oh, really. Could you tell?”
“Yeah, he never lets anyone ride Misty. She’s a bit precious, but she really likes you.”
“Well it was fun. And Misty is beautiful. So are all the animals. Do you know how proud I am of you helping your daddy on the farm? And growing your own produce! It’s amazing.”
“It’s so cool, Mom. The best part is going out there with my basket and picking all the stuff we can make to eat.”
She brings home plenty of vegetables and herb cuttings all the time. She was proudly showing off her tomatoes over the summer. It’s a wonderful thing that Brook has gotten her involved in the growing process. It’s something she really seems to love.
“Maybe you could help me in the spring redo the herb garden here and show me how to get started?”
She beams. “I’d love that.”
“I’m going to start prepping dinner. Do you think Dad will like a pasta bake and some of your potatoes sautéed in a pan?”
“I think he will love it!”
“Well, it’s settled then.”
