After several invitations, Lynn finally agreed to come out to Valley Stables. How could she refuse when Dulcie asked every day, “When are you coming to see our new house?” On a sunny Saturday, she headed north to Valley Stables in the late morning. She stopped on her way to pick up lunch things and to see Polly, and had made plans to come back that evening to visit with her while Kevin and Jasper went to dinner at the Morgans’. Phyllis had been invited to dinner by the elder Morgans at their club, so it would be a good chance for Lynn and Polly to catch up.
As she turned off the main road onto the farm’s mile-long drive, she wondered if this was a good idea. Not only was it hard to be around Gus with her conflicted feelings, she wasn’t feeling all that well and had been having morning sickness the past few days. She had stopped at the café in town to pick up sandwiches, and now she wasn’t sure she’d be able to eat one.
As she drove into the farm proper, the land opened up, and one could see for miles in all directions. Gus’s place was to the south, down a short drive. The house had been built for the farm manager, but Tom Jacobi had insisted they give it to Gus since he was a bachelor and didn’t need a large three-bedroom house. He was happy living in one of the Morgan’s Run cabins. The next phase of building at Valley Stables included two additional houses, one for Tom and the other for the resident vet, Patty Turner, but Ben and Leonora assured Tom that he was welcome to stay in the cabin forever.
The three were waiting in the yard as she drove in, the kids jumping up and down with excitement. As she parked, she marveled at the beauty of Ben Morgan and Spark Foster’s dream, now reality. It had been a while since she’d been to Valley Stables and she was in awe. Miles of green grass, two racetracks, a series of barns, stables, bunkhouses, and corrals were visible from the manager’s house, perched as it was on a rise. The foundations for several other buildings were visible to the south and west.
“Wow!” she said, hopping out of the car. “This is amazing.”
Gus smiled. “This is what millions and the will of two movers and shakers will get you.”
“They are incredible, aren’t they?”
“Yup. Come on, the kids are dying to show you around.”
A sturdy, well-built house in the style of many western homes, it had a wide porch that circled the entire house, affording magnificent views of the valley and mountains to the east and west. The living room was sparsely furnished, with many boxes piled to one side. A beautiful kitchen with island, granite counters, and burnished cherry cabinets had a sunny breakfast nook with window seats that opened into a family room with a stone fireplace. The master bedroom was down a short hallway, and there were two bedrooms and a bath upstairs. Boxes were everywhere as they made their way from room to room.
“This is beautiful, you guys,” Lynn said. “What a great spot. I’d be happy to help unpack a little after lunch, if you’d like.”
“I can’t ask you to do that,” he said.
“You didn’t ask, I offered,” she said, brushing by him to join the children. With every breath, she was conscious of him and his nearness. Keep your distance, girl, she told herself as they headed to the kitchen to prepare lunch.
“It’s pretty warm out. Shall we eat out back? The kids love it out there.”
As they sat on the porch watching Cal and Dulcie chase each other, rolling around on the verdant Kentucky bluegrass, she said, “What a place.”
“Yeah, it’s prey cool. I’m going into Tucson next week to order a swing set for ’em. Thanks for coming, Lynn. It means a lot to the kids and me.”
“Honestly, it feels a little weird, but I’m glad I came, and I’m happy to help with the unpacking. Why don’t I tackle the kids’ rooms or the kitchen for a few hours?”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes,” she said, softly, turning to him with a shy smile. “We have to get through this somehow, and friends seems like a good start, don’t you think?”
“You are the most amazing person I know,” he said, reaching out to take her hand.
His touch seared into her skin, and Lynn quickly withdrew her hand and stood up. Close proximity was going to be tricky when every fiber of her being longed for him. “What do you say? Shall we get cracking?”
Gus called the kids, and they all went in. “I’m sorry I did that,” he whispered as the kids ran upstairs. “I want… I miss…oh, forget it. I’m a shit, and that’s all that needs to be said.”
She gazed over at him. The man she knew and loved was a mess, his beautiful eyes sad. “It’s fine. Don’t beat yourself up. Point me in the right direction, and let’s get to work. Okay?” she said, patting his shoulder.
They spent the afternoon unpacking and breaking down countless boxes. Within a short time, the kitchen was nearly unpacked except for boxes of what Gus had labeled “Wedding China.” Lynn decided to let him deal with those, and she headed upstairs. By four thirty, the children’s rooms were fully settled, books and toys in the beautiful built-in bookshelves that lined their walls. Cal toddled from room to room as Dulcie played with toys she hadn’t seen in three months.
“What do you think, Dulcie?” Lynn asked as she hung the last of four framed pictures on her wall, then placed several family photos on the child’s bedside table. “Is this where you’d like these?”
Dulcie nodded. “I have one more over here,” she said, bringing a silver-framed photo of her mother holding her. “I say good night to Mommy, so she has to be there too.”
“That’s a beautiful picture of two beautiful girls,” Lynn said, hugging her. Dulcie leaned against her, wrapping her arms around her.
“Hey, sweetie, are you okay?”
“Are you gonna be our new mommy?”
Lynn knelt beside her, taking her tiny hands in her own. “Your daddy and I are really good friends, honey, and we both love you.”
At that moment, Cal burst in, running for the shelf where his sister had just arranged her dolls. “No!” Dulcie screamed as Lynn intercepted Cal and scooped him up.
“Hey, guys, I’ve gotta get going.”
“You’re not staying for supper?” Dulcie said.
“Can’t tonight, sweetie. I’m taking care of Polly, and she’s expecting me soon.”
As she carried Cal down the stairs, Lynn felt a small pang in her side and grimaced. Gus spied her and grabbed the toddler from her arms. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
“Fine, just a twinge,” she said, sitting in one of the living room chairs.
“Geez, Lynn, what an idiot I was to let you do this in your condition.” He knelt beside her, eyes full of concern, Cal still in his arms. “Can I get you something?”
“No, really, Gus. I’m fine. I do have to get going, though, ’cause I’m on Polly duty tonight.”
“Why didn’t you say so?”
“Because I’ve been having fun here,” she said, smiling as Dulcie came up behind them. “Wait’ll you see Dulcie’s room. It’s pretty cool, isn’t it?” She winked at the child.
“Dulcie,” he said, “can you take your brother to the kitchen and get him a juice? Thanks, sweetheart.”
“Here, I’ll walk you out,” he said, offering his hand, which she ignored.
At the car, he said, “Thanks again. It was great having you here, and I hope we can do it again soon.”
“Happy to help.”
“You sure you’re okay?”
“Absolutely. Gus, Dulcie seems a bit confused right now. She just asked me if I was going to be her mommy, so you might want to chat with her and explain that we’re just friends. I don’t want to disappoint her or hurt her feelings.”
“Lynn… I am so sorry… I’ve made a shit awful mess out of something that was really amazing.”
She reached over and touched his arm. “I’ve gotta go. Polly’s expecting me. Have a great night.”
With that, she hopped into her car and started off, not daring to look back. Tears clouded her vision as she drove down the farm drive, and she pulled over, scrambling around for a tissue. This friends thing is going to be agony, especially since I love him more every time I see him.