One Night with a Cowboy - Sara Richardson Page 0,7
woman wore a wide, friendly smile. She was one of those people who always seemed comfortable in their own skin. Today, her curly auburn hair was pulled up into a messy ponytail and she wore jeans and a simple T-shirt, yet she still somehow looked elegant. “Thanks for inviting us over. Your home is beautiful.” She glanced around, her gaze pausing on the soufflé. “And look at that dessert! It’s incredible!”
Before Thea could deflect the compliment with a humble shrug, Calvin and their two children sauntered in.
“We’re so glad you could come. Aren’t we, Liv?” Thea sent Olivia a pointed look to remind her she had no problem holding that phone of hers hostage in her pocket if she needed to. She’d raised the girl to be polite, no matter what.
“So glad,” her daughter echoed, rising off the stool with a dazzling smile. “I’m Olivia.” She shook Kelly’s hand first, and then Calvin’s. “It’s so nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too.” The man looked impressed, and Thea had to admit, even with the teenage angst, Liv still had her charm.
“This is Preston.” Cal nudged his fourteen-year-old son toward Olivia. Kelly had mentioned how shy Preston was.
He happened to be pretty cute, too, Thea noted, watching Liv’s eyes light with interest. “Hi, Preston. You can call me Liv.” A subtle shyness softened her daughter’s grin.
Sure, now she was excited. Thea should’ve mentioned Preston long before. Though if she had, she would’ve spent the last hour listening to her daughter complain about how she didn’t have anything to wear…
“Look!” Ryan bounded into the kitchen, carrying his fishing pole. “I’m bringing this to Colorado.” He showed it to the Hershbergers’ other son, Timothy, who was only a couple of years younger than him.
“Wow.” The eight-year-old’s eyes lit up. “Do ya think we’ll actually catch fish in Colorado?”
“I did last year,” her son proudly informed the room. “A rainbow trout right out of the lake. It was this big!” He held his hands a good twenty inches apart, making Thea laugh.
“Roughly that big,” she told Kelly.
“I can tell a pretty good fish story myself.” Calvin chuckled. “That’s the most important part of being a fisherman.”
“Mom, can I show them how good I cast in the backyard?” Ryan was already halfway to the backdoor.
“Sure, that’s a great idea.” She glanced at Olivia. “I have some drinks set up outside. Why don’t you and Preston head out too? I’ll just put the finishing touches on the dessert and be right behind you.”
“Okay.” Her daughter had gone into full flirt mode, tossing her hair over her shoulder as she turned.
Everyone paraded through the back door, except for Kelly. Over the last several months she and Kelly had become close friends—meeting for coffee and walks when Thea wasn’t at work or running the kids around. “Thanks again for inviting us over. And for leading this trip. It means a lot.”
“Of course.” Thea walked to the pantry and pulled out a bag of powdered sugar. “We’re looking forward to getting away.” If she was being honest, she would say they desperately needed this trip. All of them. But admitting that would mean admitting she didn’t exactly have things together right now. Not as a mom, definitely not as a woman.
Outside of work and her two children, she had no life. She rarely met up with friends for a fun night out. And dating? Well, she couldn’t even think about that. Last week, a colleague had asked if he could take her out to dinner sometime, and the invitation had made her so nauseous she’d had to escape to the restroom so she could splash some water on her face. She couldn’t date. Guilt left no room in her heart for anyone else.
Thea quickly poured some powdered sugar into a sifter before her friend could see any evidence of the doubt in her eyes.
“You amaze me.” Kelly leaned against the counter next to her. “I mean, you’ve got a great job, you keep this house immaculate, you always look so beautiful, and you still manage to volunteer leading these trips every year. Even after all you’ve been through.” The woman let out a humorless laugh, shaking her head. “I can hardly manage to get the kids to school on time most days. I thought things would be easier with Cal home, but—”
She stopped abruptly, her eyes wide with obvious regret. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean…I know you’d give anything to have Dylan home…”