“We thought for a minute there we’d have to come over and get you.” Ace slightly arches a single eyebrow. The shadow of a veiled threat lies in his statement, but so does an unspoken question. Were you thinking of standing us up?
“I received a phone call on the way over here,” I reply vaguely and leave it at that. He doesn’t need to know the details…like the fact I didn’t actually take the call.
He nods in understanding. “We’re glad you’re here now. Are you hungry?”
“Actually, I am. I’m sorry I didn’t bring anything, though. When I went to the store earlier, I only got the bare minimum for me.”
“This is completely my treat. All I wanted you to bring was yourself. We got the rest. Come on in the kitchen. Everything’s ready.”
“I made the salad,” River brags.
“I can’t wait to have some. I’m sure it’s delicious,” I reply.
“Yep. It is,” she confirms confidently.
“I’m afraid I need to work on her self-esteem. It appears to be lacking,” Ace deadpans.
“She seems very shy and timid, too.”
“She gets that from her daddy.”
With that remark, I bark out a laugh that’s a little louder than I intended. “Oh, sorry.”
The gleam in his eye is playful and it feels like we’ve turned a small corner. We’re not quite friends yet, but we’re not enemies either. We walk into the kitchen and I finally put River down in her seat. The food is ready and the table has been set, everything is prepared and waiting for us. As I take my seat beside River, I tamp down the urge to compare everything to Bobby’s presentation and cooking skills. Ace sits across from me and inclines his head toward the table.
“Help yourself. Don’t be shy.”
Ace picks up River’s plate and begins portioning the food onto it, knowing exactly what she likes and doesn’t like.
I don’t think about how this meal feels simultaneously more intimate and more like home than any meal I ever shared with Bobby.
River tries to refuse taking any vegetables by attempting to coerce Ace with her charms. Ace nods slowly at her attempts as he considers her protests, but after just a few words from him that threaten access to her favorite toy, River quickly relents.
I don’t think about what a good father Ace is, how attentive he is to his daughter’s well-being, and how much she obviously adores him.
“Waynie, you should spend the night. I never had a sleepover before.”
“That sounds like a lot of fun,” I stall. “But since I just got here today, I’m not even unpacked yet. Maybe we can do it at my place one night this summer and give your daddy a break.”
“Maybe.” She scrunches her little brow and purses her lips as she considers my idea. “But I want Daddy to play with us, too.”
“Don’t worry about it right now, precious. We’ll figure it out later. You need to finish eating first,” Ace interjects and points toward her plate.
I don’t think about all these beautiful moments others take for granted but are just out of my reach.
“Everything smells so delicious.” The combination of the aromas makes my mouth water and I begin loading food onto my plate. The grilled chicken is covered in barbecue sauce. The baked potatoes are still steaming hot. The corn on the cob is slathered with butter and it’s dripping down the sides. And, of course, the salad looks too perfect to eat. “I hope you didn’t go to all this trouble for me.”
“Honestly, it’s no trouble at all. I cook for River and me anyway. Adding one more person to the mix is just icing on the cake.”
Ace’s smile is full of so much warmth it makes me question if this is the same man I met in the field earlier today. That man was gruff, rude, and condescending. The man sitting here now is definitely still in charge, but with a charming twist that is very unexpected. In the back of my mind, I can’t help but question the sudden change in demeanor.
“Even so, I really do appreciate your hospitality.”
“Layne, there is something I need to say to you.” Ace puts his fork down and looks me directly in the eye. “My behavior earlier today was completely uncalled for, and I’d like to apologize for that. You caught me off guard when I saw you in the pasture with the horses. Some of them are afraid of people and could be dangerous under the wrong conditions. But I was just rude, and you didn’t deserve that.”
“Apology accepted.” I swallow past the lump in my throat, unable to resist the automatic comparison between Ace and Bobby that pops in my head. Bobby never would’ve admitted his fault so easily. “Are those your horses?”
“Not exactly—not the way you’re thinking, anyway.” He cocks his head to the side and the muscles around the edge of one eye tighten. My eyes inadvertently follow his lips as he pulls one side up and considers how best to finish his explanation. “My best friend, Justin, and I own an equine rehabilitation facility. Those horses are part of our program.”