Kate drove slowly so she could savor what had just happened. She hadn’t had so much fun since—she couldn’t remember when she’d been so carefree or said what she thought. She liked working at the ranch and flirting with Waylon. She loved the way his kisses sent tingles all the way to her toes and how he was so impulsive. Who else would pick her up and run through mud puddles with her? She was still living in that aura when she got to the cabin and slung open the door.
Gracie wrapped her arms around Kate and hugged tightly. “You’re home! I missed you. Amanda made cookies and they are so good. Do you want one?”
“You know I do, but I could sure use a big juicy hamburger first. Let’s all go to the Dairy Queen for supper. My treat.”
The little girl backed off a step and looked up into Kate’s eyes. “I love you, Kate. I’ve been wanting a hamburger all day long.”
Kate wasn’t sure at that very second whether Waylon’s attention or Gracie’s meant more to her. That sweetheart of a child could sure put a smile on a person’s face.
“I thought you loved me and wanted cookies,” Amanda said.
“I got enough love for everyone and I can want hamburgers and cookies,” Gracie said.
“Well, then, if you’ll give me fifteen minutes to get cleaned up and it’s all right with your mama, we’ll go to Seymour for burgers.” Kate walked on air the whole way to the bathroom.
“Can we take Mama and Amanda with us?” Gracie asked.
“Of course,” Kate answered.
“I’m in,” Amanda said quickly.
“You don’t have to ask me twice,” Jamie said.
The rain was still coming on strong when they left Bootleg, but by the time they reached the Dairy Queen in Seymour, it had slacked off to a drizzle. Gracie was the first out of the car and ran right through puddles to the door, which she held open for the women.
“I miss that,” Amanda said as gingerly made her way to the café.
“What? Running through puddles?” Kate asked.
“Skipping. Giggling. Puddles. All of it. I want that for my baby when he gets here. But right now I’m so hungry for a double-meat bacon burger and a double order of fries that I’ll just think about that.”
“Amen!” Jamie said.
Gracie went ahead of them to the order counter, stared up at the menu, and pointed at the pictures. Amanda was right behind her, so she answered Gracie’s questions about hamburgers versus tacos or chicken strips.
“Gracie!” Lisa yelled from across the store.
“Lisa! Look, Mama, Lisa is here. Can we sit together?”
“She’s with her dad, and this is Kate’s party,” Jamie said.
“Will you ask if she can sit with us, Kate?” Gracie’s big brown eyes begged.
“Sure, I will. Give me that burger buster basket, a medium drink, and a chocolate malt,” she ordered before she steered Gracie toward Paul and his daughter.
Paul pushed back his chair and stood up. “Hey, you’re Kate, aren’t you?”
“Yes, I am. We weren’t formally introduced when you came to get the bed.” She held out her hand.
He shook it firmly and then let it go. Nothing in his touch made her blush like Jamie did when he was close by.
“Gracie wants to know if Lisa can sit with us. We’ll be at that table right there.” Kate pointed to a nearby one.
“No problem. As soon as her food arrives I’ll bring it right over.”
“Thank you. Want to go with me now, Lisa?” Kate asked.
“Is it all right, Daddy?” Lisa asked.
“Sure, sweetheart. I’ll wait for you right here. We’re in no big rush.” Paul smiled.
Lisa put her hand in Kate’s, and her short little legs did double time to keep up with Kate’s long strides.
“Lisa, who are your friends?” the lady behind the counter asked.
“This is Gracie and that is her mama.” Lisa pointed to Jamie. “And the tall one is Kate and the fat one is Amanda.”
“I’m sorry.” Jamie blushed.
“No need. She’s just saying out loud what I feel like.” Amanda waved off the apology. “Have you decided what you want, Gracie?”
“What did you get?” Gracie asked Lisa.
“A hamburger and fries and the coupon for a free ice cream cone,” Lisa answered.
“We get ice cream, too?” Gracie’s brown eyes popped wide open.
“Yes, you do. It’s on the side of your kid’s meal bag. Is that what you want, Miz Gracie?” the lady asked.
“Yes, ma’am. Mama, I want to come here every payday if we get free ice cream,” Gracie said.
“Sounds like a plan to me.” Jamie smiled. “I’ll have a cheeseburger basket with a side of onion rings and a large drink.”
“And for you?” the woman asked Amanda.
“The left side of the menu to start with, and then we’ll go from there,” she answered. “I’ll have the double-meat bacon burger, double fries, a large drink, and a large chocolate malt with double malt and no whipped cream.”
“Y’all sit anywhere you want and I’ll bring your food out soon as it’s ready.” She set five cups on the counter. “Help yourself to the soda fountain, and you girls don’t forget your ice cream.”
“Never.” Lisa grinned. “Miz Jamie, can me and Gracie sit in a booth all by ourselves?”
“As long as your dad and I can see you,” Jamie agreed. “What do you girls want to drink?”
“Orange,” Lisa said.
“Me, too,” Gracie chimed in.
Kate remembered the days when orange or grape were her choice of soda. That was when her father took her for a burger on Sunday evenings—not every week, but when he did, it was a big treat.
“Can we please take that table over there rather than a booth?” Amanda picked up her cup and headed for the soda fountain. “Booths don’t offer much wiggle room.”
“I remember those days very well,” Jamie said. “I felt like an elephant.”
“Was Conrad there with you?” Amanda filled her cup and headed for the nearest table. “This one okay with y’all?”
“Fine with me,” Kate answered, more than a little jealous that they’d both have a child, even if it was by Conrad.
Jamie set her cup to the side and carried drinks to the little girls. Then she went back and took care of her own drink and sat down at the table with Kate and Amanda. “To answer your question, out of the nine months, I saw him eight weeks. He just happened to be home on the night she was born and was there the next day when we took her home. But on the following day, he left for a week. Of course, he was sad, but he had to work and his import-export business was just getting off the ground in those days,” Jamie said sarcastically.
“So you were basically a single mom, too,” Amanda said.