“Terry, of course.” He licked his lips. “And someone I’ve been seeing. He owns the ranch we’re staying at.”
“Jake I’m hearing the nerves in your voice, and if you’re concerned that another man in her life would be too much for her to handle or will set her back, you’re wrong.”
“I am?” He desperately wanted not only the doctor’s opinion, but her approval that he wasn’t fucking up his daughter’s recovery by being with Shea.
“Yes. By being with another person in a healthy relationship, you’re showing Stacey what stability looks like. You obviously trust him enough with her to introduce them. I take it she likes this man?”
“Yes. She does. And he’s pretty crazy about her.”
“Then I think it’s wonderful. Take it slow, but you having someone important in your life isn’t going to hurt her.”
“Thank you. Everything is happening so fast.”
“You’ve been on hold for a long time. It must now seem like it’s all spinning out of control, but it’s merely life. Time to move on and enjoy it.”
“I’m going to try.”
“Please make an appointment for when you come back.”
“Absolutely. We already have one scheduled.”
“I’ll see you then, and again, I’m so happy for Stacey and you.”
“Thank you.”
He gazed at the screen saver on his phone—Brian and him holding a newborn Stacey. Time to move on.
He scrolled through his recent photos, found the one of Stacey laughing with her lap full of baby rabbits, and set that as his new background. Lighter than he’d felt in years, Jake left the room and walked down the trail. He might not know what the future held, but he hoped in these final couple of days with Shea, maybe they could figure something out. Together.
Finding the porch empty, Jake continued on to the barn, where he found Craig, Johnny, and Cody mucking out the stalls. Some of the horses were out in the paddock, and the rest were grazing in the pasture. Again his worry drained away, leaving in its wake a serenity he’d never found anywhere but at the Forget Me Not ranch.
“How’s it goin’? Shea get your new phone for you?” Johnny pushed back his cowboy hat and smiled, chewing a wad of gum.
“Yep. All done. I was lucky he was willing to go get it for me.”
Craig came up behind him. “Ain’t no way that man wouldn’t do whatever he could for you.”
Jake’s cheeks warmed. He wasn’t used to having so many people in his personal business, but these men were like brothers to Shea, and he wanted them to know he wasn’t playing around.
“He’s a pretty special guy.”
“That he is.”
He wiped at the sweat forming under his baseball cap and replaced it on his head. “I was wondering if I could take one of the ATVs down to the lake. He and Stacey are there.”
“Sure thing.” Johnny put away his shovel. “C’mon, I’ll get you the keys. You sure you don’t wanna try riding again?”
“I guess I’m a fail at being a ranch hand. I’ll never learn to ride a horse.”
Johnny chewed his gum. “That don’t matter none. Shea don’t care nothin’ ’bout that kinda stuff. He cares more about what you got inside.” He tapped over his heart. “Right here. Just like his daddy.”
He followed Johnny to the four-wheeler and took the keys. “Thanks.”
“My pleasure.”
Jake took off, bouncing on the path. Five minutes later, he rounded a bend in the road, and the glistening surface of the lake came into view. In the distance he spotted Shea and Stacey splashing around in the shallows. The dog jumped in and out of the lake, while a group of ducks quacked away, sailing at a distance, wisely staying out of her reach. The idyllic sight brought tears to his eyes.
Jake drove toward the lake, getting as close as the terrain allowed. Then he stopped, switched off the engine, and began to make his way down the incline. Stacey, who must’ve seen him approaching, left Shea and came running toward him. His heart filling with more joy than he thought possible, Jake kneeled and caught her in his arms, meeting Shea’s smiling face over her head.
“Hey, baby. Having fun playing with Shea in the lake?”
“Uh-huh.”
Holding her tucked against his chest, he walked to Shea, who waited several yards away. Shirtless, with beads of water glinting off his shoulders, jaw dusted dark with scruff, and blue eyes matching the sky, Shea looked like a Viking warrior.