The Delivery of Decor (Shiloh Ridge Ranch in Three Rivers #7) - Liz Isaacson Page 0,102

dormant stove, pasta water spilled all around it on the burner. The oven clicked, indicating it was on, and Ward bent to open it. Meatballs and sauce boiled inside, and Ward quickly turned the oven off and left them.

With one hand, he lifted the pot and poured the water and noodles into the waiting colander in the sink. Judy burped, and he laughed quietly. “What a good girl. Yes, that was a good one.”

He cradled the baby in his arms, and he could’ve sworn she smiled. He bundled her up tight in the pink blanket and took her back to the playpen.

Ida had her eyes closed, and even still she looked exhausted. Johnny sucked away at his dinner, and Ward started cleaning up. He folded burp cloths and blankets, took tiny pajamas into Ida’s laundry room, and straightened the pillows on the couch.

He tackled the kitchen next, pouring the slightly overdone pasta back into the pot and adding the meatballs and sauce to it. With that all stirred together and steaming hot, he put the lid back on and started doing dishes. He filled the dishwasher with bottles and nipples, all the plates and bowls in the sink, and started the machine. He washed the counters, throwing away plastic cups and empty water bottles, paper plates and takeout containers. He scrubbed the flat surface of the stovetop and rinsed out the washrag just as Ida said, “You don’t have to clean my house.”

“I sure don’t,” Ward said, laying the rag out so it would dry. “Dinner’s ready. Are you ready for it?”

She folded Johnny over her shoulder and patted his back too. She glanced at the sleeping girl baby in the playpen. “How do you do this?”

“I’ve been here for thirty minutes,” Ward said. “You do it twenty-four-seven. You just had a bad ten minutes.”

“It’s been so hard,” Ida said quietly. “Don’t you dare tell Etta I said that. She’ll hate me forever.”

“She will not,” Ward said. “Even if I did tell her, which I won’t.” He smiled at his sister and dished up a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs. “Is Brady going to make it to the party?”

“He doesn’t think so.” Ida stood and laid Johnny beside his sister in the playpen. “Thank you, Ward. I needed help, and you showed up.”

He nodded and put the bowl of food on the now-clean counter. “I’m staying for dinner, by the way.” He got himself a bowl too, his phone chiming several times in a row, one practically on top of the other.

“Someone’s trying to get in touch with you,” Ida said, twirling her first bite of pasta around her fork.

“Someone’s always trying to get in touch with me.” Ward didn’t take his phone out of his pocket. “Are you okay now?”

She nodded and finished chewing. After she swallowed, she said, “Please don’t think badly of me. Brady’s been gone a lot the past couple of days, and I really have no idea what I’m doing.”

“I don’t either.”

“Sure,” she said dryly as his phone chimed again. Then it started to ring. She looked down toward his back pocket, but he simply took another bite of pasta. He didn’t want to talk to anyone right now.

“It’s probably Bishop or Cactus with some big emergency,” Ward said, really laying the sarcasm on the last two words. “Or Judge or Ranger, calling to ask me to stop at the grocery store and get something for them.”

“It might be important.”

“I’ll check before I leave town.”

The ringing stopped, and Ida smiled. “You’ve always been so good at being present.”

“This is the best meal I’ve had in weeks,” Ward said, smiling at her.

“Oh, please, I know Holly Ann presented her Christmas dinner for Preacher’s wedding.” Ida grinned and started giggling. Ward smiled back at her but wouldn’t confirm that Holly Ann’s cooking was better than Ida’s.

They settled into silence and ate, and Ward sure did like the comfortable silence. He’d just finished his last meatball when another flurry of texts arrived.

“Ward, I really think you should get it.” Ida’s phone rang too, and she glanced at it. “It’s Etta.”

Ward sighed and pulled his phone out of his back pocket as Ida answered. “I’ve got Ranger calling.” They lived together, so something major must be happening. He swiped on the call and stood up from the bar.

“What’s up, Range?”

“Where are you?”

“He’s sitting right here,” Ida said, and Ward turned toward her.

“I’m at Ida’s.”

Ida opened her mouth and said the same words Ranger did over the phone. “Dot’s looking