Page 23 of This Broken Heart

“Fish is fine.” He shrugs. “Fishsticksare the worst.”

“Why didn’t you tell me, bud?”

He shrugs.

“You can tell me if I make you something you don’t like.”

He turns to look out the window. “It’s okay, dad. I know you’re trying.”

“You do?”

He glances at me. “Yeah. You’re doing your best. I don’t mind if we have to eat fish sticks sometimes.”

I drop him off and he gives me a bigger hug than usual. But I’m still thinking about it hours later. I’m supposed to be separating cattle, but my mind is elsewhere. How many things was I coming up short on?

How did Erin get this nugget of information out of him? He was too afraid to tell me and that’s just not sitting well.

A shriek interrupts my thoughts. My head whips around, looking for danger, but my gaze lands on little Maven. She’s bundled up in her snowsuit and winter coat. She looks like a swaddled starfish, walking around with stiff limbs and a huge smile on her face.

Erin chases behind her, heedless of the fact that she’s wearing sneakers and jeans. She scoops Maven up with a mighty roar, eliciting peals of laughter.

I glance back at the cattle, wondering how they’re taking all this ruckus, but they’re implacable as ever.

Mom never had that kind of energy. She loves Maven, that’s undeniable, but she just doesn’t have the stamina to keep up with Maven.

For the first time, my mom’s words are really starting to sink in.

The kids really did need a change of pace. I glance at Erin, careful not to get caught staring.

She’s loud and energetic and… pretty. My brain supplies me with an instant replay of the naughty dream I had about Erin the night before.

I remind myself I am not trying to get in this woman’s pants, no matter how cute she is.

This is especially true since the kids love her so much. I need to make sure I don’t do anything stupid that might jeopardize that.

15.

Erin

Maven’s completely enamored with the snow, that is, until she spots daddy.

Then she’s a single-minded machine.

Relenting, I put her on my shoulders and carry her over to Josh.

He spots us almost immediately, making me wonder if he was watching us the whole time.

Probably checking to make sure I don’t let her fall again. His gaze travels up to Maven’s face, and I realize maybe he doesn’t like her being quite so high. I ease her off my head, letting her reach out to Josh.

He takes her while I dust the snow and muck off my jacket. I have two maven-shaped boot prints on my chest. I scrub at the marks, realizing both Maven and Josh are watching.

A third creature is watching, too.

“That cow is staring.”

He glances back, grinning at the ginormous cow poking its head through the fence. “They all stare.” He grins. “But this one is a friend of mine. Betsy, meet Erin. Erin, meet Betsy.”

I walk forward, trying to act like the giant animal isn’t freaking me out. When Maven puts her little gloved hand on Betsy’s head, I decide to woman up and do the same.